WHEREAS, the Department of Land and Natural Resources, through the Board of Land and Natural Resources, has the statutory duty of planning, developing, operating, administering, and maintaining small boat harbors, launching ramps, and other boating facilities and associated aids to navigation throughout the State; and

WHEREAS, small boat harbors are constructed, maintained, and operated for the purposes of recreational boating activities, landing of fish, and commercial vessel activities; and

WHEREAS, state laws require that only vessels in good material and operating condition that are regularly navigated beyond the confines of the small boat harbor and that are used for recreational activities, the landing of fish, or commercial vessel activities shall be permitted to moor, anchor, or berth at those harbors or use any of its facilities; and

WHEREAS, the Department's programs preserve and protect our ocean and near shore waters and are wholly self-supported by user fees, vessel registration fees, marine fuel taxes, and boating property rental income deposited to a boating special fund; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-Second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2003, that the Department of Land and Natural Resources is respectfully requested to continue to proceed with improvements to Hawaii's small boat harbors; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the Chair of the Board of Land and Natural Resources.

Report Title:

Small Harbors