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THE SENATE                           S.R. NO.              S.D. 1
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2000                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                    SENATE  RESOLUTION

  REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO
    STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING, ASSESSING, AND
    COLLECTING USER FEES TO OFFSET THE COST OF MAINTAINING
    KOKEE STATE PARK, ALAKAI SWAMP, AND WAIMEA CANYON STATE
    PARK ON THE ISLAND OF KAUAI.



 1        WHEREAS, the island of Kauai is known across the world as
 2   the "garden isle" for its unique scenic beauty; and
 3   
 4        WHEREAS, Kauai's scenery has inspired many filmmakers to
 5   produce numerous major motion pictures that showcase the
 6   natural wonders of the island; and
 7   
 8        WHEREAS, three such natural wonders are the Kokee State
 9   Park, the Alakai Swamp, and the adjacent Waimea Canyon State
10   Park; and
11   
12        WHEREAS, because of the unique environmental charm each
13   place possesses, these scenic locations have experienced
14   countless visitors; and
15   
16        WHEREAS, although the State, through the promotion of its
17   tourism industry, invites and welcomes tourists and residents
18   to marvel at all the environmental and scenic wonders Kokee
19   State Park, Alakai Swamp, and Waimea Canyon State Park have to
20   offer, the impact that the visitors have on these areas are
21   surpassing the State and county's financial ability to mitigate
22   the adverse impacts caused by increased visitor traffic at the
23   sites; and
24   
25        WHEREAS, if the Department of Land and Natural Resources
26   was enabled to charge a user fee for visiting these areas, the
27   costs of maintaining these sites would be shifted to those who
28   actually benefit from its existence; now, therefore,
29   
30        BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twentieth Legislature
31   of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2000, that the
32   Department of Land and Natural Resources is requested to
33   determine the feasibility of establishing, assessing, and
34   collecting user fees to offset the cost of maintaining Kokee

 
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                                  S.R. NO.              S.D. 1
                                                        
                                                        



 1   State Park, Alakai Swamp, and Waimea Canyon State Park on the
 2   island of Kauai; and
 3   
 4        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Land and
 5   Natural Resources submit a report to the Legislature of its
 6   findings not less than twenty days prior to the convening of
 7   the Regular Session of 2001; and
 8   
 9        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this
10   Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of
11   Land and Natural Resources.