STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3926

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.C.R. No. 124

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 124 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT TO CONVENE A SEARCH AND RESCUE WORKING GROUP TO DEVELOP AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO DETER HIKERS FROM ENTERING ILLEGAL HIKING TRAILS AND TO ADDRESS RISING SEARCH AND RESCUE COSTS FACING THE STATE AND COUNTIES DUE TO INCREASED ILLEGAL HIKING TRAFFIC,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Department of Law Enforcement to convene a Search and Rescue Working Group to develop and make recommendations to deter hikers from entering illegal hiking trails and to address rising search and rescue costs facing the State and counties due to increased illegal hiking traffic.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Law Enforcement and one individual.

Your Committee finds that despite warnings on certain dangerous trails throughout the State, some individuals and groups unlawfully enter trails that have been closed to the public due to safety concerns, ultimately putting themselves at risk of significant injury and risking damage to native habitats and other natural resources that may be in those closed areas for preservation purposes. Your Committee further finds that the State and counties incur significant costs associated with the rescue of hikers who choose to go on illegal hikes and often ignore signs prohibiting access. Your Committee concludes that it is critical to develop policies that encourage public safety and accountability because of the considerable costs associated with the search and rescue of individuals who willfully disregard the safety of themselves and others by ignoring warning signs.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 124, and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs,

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GLENN WAKAI, Chair