STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2793

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 2582

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2582 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO VESSELS AT ALA WAI AND KEEHI BOAT HARBORS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to authorize moorage for commercial vessels and commercial vessel activities in the Ala Wai and Keehi boat harbors and adjust fees for permittees of vessels that are used for a place of principal habitation in state small boat harbors.

     Testimony in support of the measure was submitted by one state agency and three individuals.  Testimony in opposition was submitted by two organizations and sixty-one individuals.  Written testimony presented to the Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

     Your Committee understands that the purpose of this measure is to increase revenues to support the operations and maintenance of Ala Wai and Keehi boat harbors.  However, your Committee is concerned that opening up these boat harbors to commercial vessels and commercial vessel activities may not generate the anticipated additional revenue.  The Kewalo boat harbor, which is located near the Ala Wai boat harbor, is dedicated for commercial vessels and presently has empty slips.  Additionally, it is clear from the testimony that the Ala Wai boat harbor is used frequently and extensively by paddlers, surfers, junior sailors, divers, and other ocean users.  The increased traffic of commercial vessels is a serious safety concern for these ocean users.  Your Committee finds that the Department of Land and Natural Resources is presently contacting potential renters for the one hundred and fifty available slips in the Ala Wai boat harbor, and that this may sufficiently increase revenues to support the operations and maintenance.  Your Committee further finds that the Department of Land and Natural Resources needs the flexibility to adjust fees through administrative rules, rather than having the fees set in statute. 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Removing the provision permitting commercial vessels and commercial vessel activities at Ala Wai and Keehi boat harbors; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive changes for the purposes of consistency and clarity. 

     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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2582, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2582, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

____________________________

CLAYTON HEE, Chair