STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1765

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.R. No. 101

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred H.R. No. 101 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO PRIORITIZE TESTING AND RESEARCH OF BEACH SAND CONTAMINATION LEVELS AT POKAI BAY AND REQUESTING THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION TO PRIORITIZE RENOVATIONS OF THE RESTROOM FACILITIES AT POKAI BAY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Request the Department of Health to prioritize testing and research of beach sand contamination levels at Pokai Bay; and

(2) Request the City and County of Honolulu's Department of Parks and Recreation to prioritize renovations of the restroom facilities at Pokai Bay.

Your Committee did not receive any written testimony on this measure.

Your Committee finds that over the last decade, beach goers and community members have reported the presence of health and environmental hazards at Pokai Bay, stemming from industrial pollutants washed from local surface streets, parking lots, and sidewalks. Your Committee further finds that a 2015 study conducted by the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering found that Pokai Bay's beach sand holds more fecal indicator bacteria than seawater, indicating that the beach sand at Pokai Bay may be retaining pollutants from the area's restroom facilities. This measure is intended to improve the health and safety of beach goers at Pokai Bay by requesting the Department of Health to prioritize testing and research of fetal indicator bacteria levels and any other pollutants of the beach sand at Pokai Bay.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 101 and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water & Land,

____________________________

LINDA ICHIYAMA, Chair