STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1830-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: S.B. No. 2818

S.D. 2

H.D. 2

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2818, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BOATING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to clarify the penalties for violations of boating and ocean recreation laws pursuant to chapter 200, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and the violations that constitute unauthorized conduct.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Department of the Attorney General; and one individual. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Maui Chamber of Commerce.

Your Committee finds that small boat harbors and boating facilities are among the most heavily used facilities in the State, requiring the Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement of the Department of Land and Natural Resources to dedicate a significant portion of its time responding to violations in these areas. Your Committee further finds that stricter penalties are necessary to ensure public health and safety and to effectively deter repeat offenders from engaging in vandalism, theft, trespassing, squatting, and other offenses. This measure strengthens penalties for violations of boating and recreation laws and clarifies violations that constitute unauthorized conduct.

Your Committee has amended this measure by 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 Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2818, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2818, S.D. 2, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair