STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1718

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 207

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 207 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO ASSESS THE FEASIBILITY OF ACQUIRING PROPERTY NEAR THE ISAAC HALE BEACH PARK AND POHOIKI BOAT RAMP IN PUNA, HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of Land and Natural Resources to assess the feasibility of and explore the Puna community sentiment regarding the Department acquiring the one acre plot that is adjacent to the Isaac Hale Beach Park and the Pohoiki Boat Ramp.

     Testimony in opposition to this measure was submitted by the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

     The Pohoiki Boat Ramp is the sole launching facility located on the Puna coast at Pohoiki Bay within the Isaac Hale (Pohoiki) Beach Park, which is owned and managed by the County of Hawaii.  The boat ramp is the only holding of the Department of Land and Natural Resources in the entire bay area, and is the only access to the ocean for boating and swimming within the beach park area.  The landowners of the nearby adjacent property to the beach park have expressed interest in selling a one acre plot of their parcel, which is currently being used by the public to park their vehicles and gain access to the beach park and boat ramp.  Although the County of Hawaii has expressed interest in acquiring the property, a firm commitment has not been made for the acquisition.

     Your Committee recognizes that except for the launch ramp and loading dock, which are owned by the Department of Land and Natural Resources, the County of Hawaii owns and manages the beach park.  However, your Committee notes that the intent of this measure is to further the coordination of activities between the State and the counties.  Thus, your Committee finds that requesting the Department of Land and Natural Resources to assess the feasibility of and explore the Puna community sentiment regarding the Department acquiring the one acre plot that is adjacent to the Isaac Hale Beach Park will provide a better opportunity to coordinate activities between the State and the County of Hawaii with respect to the Pohoiki Bay area and Beach Park.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 207 and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

RUSSELL S. KOKUBUN, Chair