STAND. COM. REP. NO.1429
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2001
RE: H.C.R. No. 183
H.D. 1
Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twenty-First State Legislature
Regular Session of 2001
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Water and Land Use, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 183 entitled:
"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE BOARD OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO LEASE THE KEEHI SMALL BOAT HARBOR AND OTHER ADJACENT LANDS TO A PRIVATE DEVELOPER FOR COMMERCIAL, RECREATIONAL, EDUCATIONAL, RESEARCH, AND LIGHT INDUSTRIAL PURPOSES,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to authorize the lease of the Keehi Small Boat Harbor and other adjacent fast, submerged, and tidal lands to a private company.
The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) testified in strong support of this concurrent resolution indicating that:
(1) The State did not have the $8 million required to make repairs at Keehi including the replacement of all mooring facilities; and
(2) 67 of 355 boat slips have had to be removed from use for safety reasons.
Private capital appears to be the only alternative for correcting the level of deterioration at this facility.
Hawaii Boaters Political Action Association opposed this measure, requesting first the involvement of the thousands of people who use the area.
HGEA/AFCME opposed this measure because of the resultant layoff or displacement of state employees. In its written opposition, Hawaii's Thousand Friends cited a 1978 memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that Keehi Lagoon was to be developed for recreational and wildlife purposes only, with no structures to be placed in the lagoon. BOATS/HAWAII also opposed this measure and asked for a master plan. A private citizen expressed serious reservations and offered suggestions.
Following discussion similar to that which resulted in the deferral of H.B. 684 that would have statutorily authorized DLNR to proceed with such leases, your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Requesting DLNR to meet with all Keehi user groups, including boaters, canoe clubs, environmental groups, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and other stakeholders to develop a consensus approach towards effecting the needed improvement and development of Keehi;
(2) Changing the title to read: "HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THAT THE BOARD OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES MEET WITH ALL STAKEHOLDERS AND USERS OF KEEHI LAGOON TO REVIEW ALL ALTERNATIVES AND TO DEVELOP A CONSENSUS AGREEMENT ON HOW BEST TO EFFECT NEEDED REPAIRS AND DEVELOPMENT OF THIS MARINA"; and
(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purpose of clarity.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water and Land Use that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 183, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 183, H.D. 1.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water and Land Use,
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____________________________ EZRA KANOHO, Chair |
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