HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	138
TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2016
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

urging the department of parks and recreation of the city and county of honolulu to prohibit jumping and diving into the ocean at spitting caves in hawaii kai.

     WHEREAS, Hawaii is one of the most beautiful areas on Earth; and

     WHEREAS, residents and visitors alike can experience this beauty through our lush forests, sweeping mountains, and pristine beaches and coastline; and

     WHEREAS, this beauty can be misleading and Mother Nature can always pose a threat; and

     WHEREAS, we must always be cognizant of these dangers and ensure our residents and visitors have safe and secure experiences in Hawaii; and

     WHEREAS, there is an especially dangerous location in Hawaii Kai known as Spitting Caves, so named because after waves hit the back of the cave, water is spit back out the front, and where swimmers jump from the cliffs into the surf below; and

     WHEREAS, at least eight people have drowned at Spitting Caves since 2000, with more deaths in the years before as well; and

     WHEREAS, on October 24, 2015, a man died while cliff jumping off Spitting Caves, and just ten days prior on October 14, 2015, a sixteen-year old boy had to be rescued by ocean safety personnel after cliff jumping there as well; and

     WHEREAS, in early June of 2014, after jumping into the water, a woman was unable to make it back onshore and was swept out to sea before rescue personnel could reach her and was later pronounced dead at the scene; and

     WHEREAS, in early April 2014, after jumping into the water from the cliffs and getting swept out to sea, lifeguards found a man under 10-12 feet of water and took him to Koko Marina where he later died at the hospital; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-eighth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2016, that this body hereby urges the City Council and Mayor of Honolulu to adopt legislation prohibiting jumping and diving into the water at Spitting Caves; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Parks and Recreation of the City and County of Honolulu is requested to update the signage at Spitting Caves to reflect the new prohibition on jumping or diving into the water from the cliffs; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to each of the councilmembers the City Council of Honolulu, Mayor of Honolulu, and the Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation of the City and County of Honolulu.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Spitting Caves; Ban on Jumping and Diving