THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	20
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

strongly supporting the county of hawaiʻi's efforts to develop the kealakehe regional park project.

WHEREAS, the proposed Kealakehe Regional Park project encompasses approximately one hundred ninety acres of county‑owned land in North Kona, bounded by Queen Kaʻahumanu Highway, Ane Keohokālole Highway, and Kealakehe Parkway; and

WHEREAS, the master plan for Kealakehe Regional Park envisions multiple athletic fields, indoor and outdoor courts, a skate park, an amphitheater, cultural gathering spaces, and passive recreation areas designed to serve the entire West Hawaiʻi community; and

WHEREAS, despite longstanding community advocacy and planning efforts, progress on the Kealakehe Regional Park project has stalled, leaving the land underutilized while the population of North Kona continues to grow; and

WHEREAS, the lack of a regional-scale park limits opportunities for organized youth sports, family recreation, cultural events, and healthy lifestyles in West Hawaiʻi, disproportionately affecting working families and school-aged children; and

WHEREAS, the Kealakehe Regional Park project aligns with the State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan, the goals of Vision Zero and Complete Streets, and public health strategies to increase active recreation opportunities; and

WHEREAS, community members, the West Hawaiʻi Parks and Athletic Corporation, local sports leagues, schools, and community associations have consistently expressed strong support for the timely development of the park; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2026, the House of Representatives concurring, that this body strongly supports the County of Hawaiʻi's efforts to develop the Kealakehe Regional Park project; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the County of Hawaiʻi is urged to identify and allocate sufficient capital improvement funding, seek state and federal grants, and pursue phased development to ensure the timely realization of park facilities; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the County of Hawaiʻi is encouraged to collaborate with the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Department of Education, community stakeholders, and local nonprofit organizations to maximize recreational, educational, and cultural benefits; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the County of Hawaiʻi is requested to submit a report to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session 2027, detailing progress made in advancing the Kealakehe Regional Park project; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Mayor of the County of Hawaiʻi, Chair of the Hawaiʻi County Council, Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation of the County of Hawaiʻi, and President of the West Hawaiʻi Parks and Athletic Corporation.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

County of Hawaii; North Kona; Kealakehe Regional Park Project