STAND. COM. REP. NO. 717

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 1267

H.D. 1

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.B. No. 1267 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the Department of Land and Natural Resources to develop and implement an improved management system for the Ka‘ena Point State Park, Mākua, and Keawa‘ula regions on the Wai‘anae coast of O‘ahu.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawaii State Aha Moku, Protectors of Paradise, The Outdoor Circle, Friends of Hanauma Bay, and three individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from four individuals.

Your Committee finds that the Ka‘ena Point State Park, Mākua, and Keawa‘ula regions are significant for their beauty, cultural and historical significance, and exceptional value to the Hawaiian community. Your Committee further finds that in 2016, due to years of overuse and abuse from illegal driving on the beach, unmanaged camping, harmful fishing and gathering practices, and other recreational uses that created unacceptable, potentially hazardous accumulations of dangerous rubbish and human waste, portions of these regions were closed to overnight access. The intent was to reopen these areas with a proper management system in place that encompasses Hawaiian managagement values in balancing public use with the preservation of the ‘āina, wildlife, and cultural resources. This measure would require the Department of Land and Natural Resources to develop and implement such a management system.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Removing the requirement that the Department of Land and Natural Resources deem Ka‘ena Point State Park, Mākua, and Keawa‘ula regions to be a top priority for the development and implementation of an improved management system, as the Department has a responsibility to all park units and does not want a specific park unit to be singled out as a top priority via legislation;

(2) Deleting the appropriation to the Department of Land and Natural Resources to develop and implement a management system for Ka‘ena Point State Park, Mākua, and Keawa‘ula regions;

(3) Changing its effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1267, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1267, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

LINDA ICHIYAMA, Chair