STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 1644-26
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2026
RE: H.R. No. 113
Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2026
State of Hawaii
Madame:
Your Committee on Economic Development & Technology, to which was referred H.R. No. 113 entitled:
"HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING GOOGLE MAPS, APPLE MAPS, AND SIMILAR DIGITAL MAPPING AND NAVIGATION PLATFORMS TO REMOVE, MODIFY, OR RESTRICT THE PUBLIC IDENTIFICATION, LABELING, AND PROMOTION OF HAZARDOUS COASTAL FEATURES, INCLUDING MERMAID CAVES,"
begs leave to report as follows:
Your Committee did not receive any written testimony on this measure.
Your Committee finds that certain confined coastal features, including sea caves and similar formations, are subject to sudden wave surge, unpredictable ocean conditions, limited visibility, and the absence of a safe means to exit. Your Committee further finds that the coastal cave formations along the Nanakuli coastline, commonly referred to as Mermaid Caves, have a documented history of serious injury, near drownings, and fatalities, resulting in repeated emergency response and rescue operations. Your Committee recognizes that members of the public often rely on digital mapping and navigation platforms for travel and recreation and may reasonably assume that certain labeled destinations are safe or appropriate for public access. This measure encourages certain digital mapping and navigation platforms to remove or modify the public identification and promotion of hazardous coastal features.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Development & Technology that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 113 and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Water & Land.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Economic Development & Technology,
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____________________________ GREGGOR ILAGAN, Chair |
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