STAND. COM. REP. NO. 452

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 841

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Water and Land and Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 841 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR A FEASIBILITY STUDY AND PLANS FOR A SWIM AREA IN POHOIKI,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Department of Land and Natural Resources to conduct a feasibility study to determine the best means to provide a Pohoiki swimming area and develop plans, in coordination with the United States Army Corps of Engineers, County of Hawaii, and any stakeholders, for a safe swim area.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Office of the Mayor of the County of Hawaii, and six individuals.

     Your Committees find that there is an increasing need for a safe swim area in Pohoiki.  Swimmers are currently accessing the ocean via the Pohoiki boat ramp, the only safe access left in Puna for swimmers due to the lava inundation of Kalapana.  Having one access for all ocean users, including boaters, swimmers, divers, surfers, and kayakers, among others, is untenable.  Your Committees find a feasibility study must be completed to find a permanent solution to provide safe ocean access for the people of Puna.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water and Land and Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 841 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Water and Land and Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs,

________________________________ CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair

________________________________ KARL RHOADS, Chair