STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1243-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: S.B. No. 1258

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 1258, S.D. 2, 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 Kaena Point State Park, Makua and Keawaula regions.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Malama Makua and five individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii State Aha Moku. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committee finds that the Makua and Keawaula sections of Kaena Point State Park are of great importance to the State and the Native Hawaiian community. Historically, these areas have been known primarily for traditional Native Hawaiian practices, including fishing practices, warrior training, and medicinal practices, and are places of cultural enlightenment and healing. Your Committee further finds that specific areas within the Makua and Keawaula sections of Kaena Point State Park were closed to overnight access because of overuse and abuse from illegal driving on the beach, unmanaged camping, harmful fishing and gathering practices, and other recreational uses that resulted in hazardous accumulations of rubbish and human waste. Although these areas were intended to reopen with a proper management system in place that encompasses Hawaiian management values, this proper management system has not been implemented. Your Committee believes that a proper management system for these areas is long overdue and the implementation of an improved management system, as required by this measure, will improve public safety and environmental protection.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that the improved management system shall be for the Kaena Point State Park, Makua and Keawaula sections, that is unique and tailored to address the specific public access and natural and cultural resource needs of the two significant and undeveloped portions of Kaena Point State Park;

(2) Clarifying certain requirements of the Department of Land and Natural Resources in developing and implementing the improved management system;

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 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 S.B. No. 1258, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1258, S.D. 2, 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