WHEREAS, Hawaii's natural resources, including its unique natural environment, represent a precious and irreplaceable asset of the people of this state; and

WHEREAS, oceanfront areas, including beaches and other shorelines, are a valuable component of Hawaii's natural environment, providing Hawaii's dispersed communities with a gathering place for recreation and spiritual renewal; and

WHEREAS, oceanfront areas also occupy a special place in traditional Hawaiian culture, and preserving public access to such areas is an integral component of protecting and nurturing Hawaii's traditional history and culture; and

WHEREAS, beaches and beach parks represent some of the popular visitor destinations in Hawaii and are critical to sustaining our tourism industry; and

WHEREAS, public access to beaches and other oceanfront areas is being undermined by the encroachment of private interests that acquire and develop shorefront property and fail to ensure adequate beach access; and

WHEREAS, this problem is compounded by the general and gradual erosion of our beaches due to ocean activity; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) is the primary agency responsible for managing, overseeing, and providing stewardship over oceanfront areas; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2005, that this body urges the Governor and DLNR, whenever oceanfront property is acquired and developed by private entities for private use, to acquire comparable oceanfront property for public use as a beach park; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor and DLNR.

Report Title:

Urging the Governor and DLNR, whenever ocean front property is acquired by private entities for private use, to acquire comparable ocean front property for public use as a beach park.