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 S.C.R. No. 140, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to request the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) to work with the community and proceed with the plan to create a state park and nature reserve at Kapua, Honomalino, Okoe, Kaulanamauna, and Manuka districts in south Kona and Ka'u, on the island of Hawaii.

In testifying in support of this measure, DLNR indicated that these areas should be protected and eventually given state park status. However, it cited limited funding and staffing. Supporting testimony was also submitted by The Trust for Public Land.

Your Committee notes that S.R. No. 267, adopted by the 1971 Senate, requested a feasibility study relating to the creation of a state park in the same general area as named in this concurrent resolution. DLNR's Division of State Parks subsequently submitted a request to create a "primitive type" natural recreational and historic park in this area. The Board of Land and Natural Resources unanimously voted to adopt this concept of a "primitive type" park. Your Committee finds that since this decision in 1971, no further action has been taken on this proposal. Through this concurrent resolution, your Committee intends to renew efforts to develop a park in this area.

Necessary funding for this measure may be authorized in the current legislative session or deferred to the next legislative session.

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 S.C.R. No. 140, S.D. 1, and recommends its adoption.