STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3459

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 2000

                                   RE:  S.R. No. 24
                                        S.D. 1




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.R.
No. 24, S.D. 1, entitled:

     "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,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this Resolution is to request that the
Department of Land and Natural Resources 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.

     Your Committee finds that like many popular tourist
attractions, the impact of human intervention has had negative
impacts on the environment.  The impact of many visitors to
Hanauma Bay for example has necessitated parking restrictions and
limits on visitors, rules against feeding the fish, and so on.
In addition, the cost to the State of maintenance and upkeep
continues to spiral upwards as heavy use of these facilities and
locations mean more wear and tear on the buildings and
environment itself.


 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3459
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     Kauai's Kokee State Park, Alakai Swamp, and Waimea Canyon
State Park are other examples of popular locations heavily used
by tourists and residents alike.  In an effort to shift the cost
of maintaining these facilities, this Resolution requests a
feasibility study that can help the Legislature to make a
decision during the 2001 regular session on how best to approach
this issue.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your
Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 24,
S.D. 1, and recommends its adoption.

                                 Respectfully submitted on behalf
                                 of the members of the Committee
                                 on Ways and Means,



                                 ________________________________
                                 CAROL FUKUNAGA, Co-Chair



                                 ________________________________
                                 ANDREW LEVIN, Co-Chair

 
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