STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1742-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.R. No. 62

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred H.R. No. 62 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO COORDINATE THE TRANSFER OF SMALL BOAT HARBORS BACK TO THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND TO ESTABLISH A MANAGEMENT TEAM TO DEVELOP TRANSITION PLANS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of Transportation and Department of Land and Natural Resources to coordinate the transfer of all authority, responsibilities, positions, staff, operations, programs, assets, funds, and accounts associated with the State's small boat harbors back to the Department of Transportation.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committee finds that there are currently efforts to return the Small Boat Harbor Program from the Department of Land and Natural Resources to the Department of Transportation to better align harbor planning, capital programming, operations, and maintenance with the State's integrated, multimodal transportation system. Your Committee further finds that the transfer of authority, staff, operations, and assets requires a structured transition process, sufficient lead time, and clear accountability to ensure uninterrupted services and responsible stewardship of public resources. Although the actual transfer of full regulatory authority, responsibilities, and jurisdiction over the State's small boat harbors would require statutory amendments, your Committee sees the value in initiating coordinated planning to ensure that any prospective transition proceeds in an orderly and informed manner.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 62 and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Transportation.

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

____________________________

MARK J. HASHEM, Chair