Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Transportation, Military Affairs and Government Operations and Water, Land, Energy and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 2308 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to amend section 171-10, Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS), to establish a new class of public lands for maritime use.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Maritime Committee of the Hawaii Chamber of Commerce and Paradise Cruise, Ltd. Testimony in opposition to this measure was submitted by the Department of Transportation, the Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR), Hawaii's Thousand Friends, and the Makai Society.

Your Committees find that under existing law, BLNR is required to classify all public lands into 13 categories, depending on the uses for which the classified land is suitable. Maritime use is not one of the available categories for classification.

Your Committees believe that it is appropriate to designate maritime use as one of the permissible land classifications. Hawaii is the most maritime state in the United States, and your Committees find that BLNR should consider maritime uses when disposing of public lands.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Transportation, Military Affairs and Government Operations and Water, Land, Energy and Environment that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2308 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.