HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	242
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THE BOARD OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO ADOPT RULES TO REGULATE THE USE OF PUBLIC BEACHES.

     WHEREAS, Hawaii's beaches consistently rank in opinion polls as some of the most beautiful and pristine public beaches in the world; and

     WHEREAS, tourists from all over the world come to Hawaii to enjoy the sun and the surf of Hawaii's many public beaches; and

     WHEREAS, all beaches in Hawaii are open to the public for both residents and tourists to share and enjoy; and

     WHEREAS, recently, certain hotels have begun reserving public beach areas fronting their hotel for the exclusive use of their hotel patrons or using public beach space for storage or commercial purposes; and

     WHEREAS, these practices appears to be contrary to public policy that reserves public beaches for the use of the general public; and

     WHEREAS, pursuant to section 171-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the Department of Land and Natural Resources is responsible for the management, administration, and control over public lands and coastal areas; and

     WHEREAS, the general public, as well as private businesses would benefit from specific rules to guide the use of public beaches; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2007, that the Board of Land and Natural Resources is requested to adopt rules, pursuant to chapter 91, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to regulate the use of public beaches; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Land and Natural Resources is requested to consider adopting rules to determine:

     (1)  The use of public beach lands by hotels, resorts, and other businesses, specific to equipment and other activities on beaches that limit use or access by the public;

     (2)  A reasonable period of time that hotels, resorts, or other businesses may leave equipment on public beach lands; and

     (3)  A structure or schedule of fees for any violation relating to the use of public beaches; and

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

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Board of Land and Natural Resources to adopt rules to regulate the use of public beaches.