STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3806

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.C.R. No. 34

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water and Land, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 34 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE DIVISION OF STATE PARKS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO ASSESS POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS OCEAN CONDITIONS AT BEACH PARKS AND ENSURE THAT SAFETY CONCERNS ARE ADDRESSED PRIOR TO UNDERTAKING ACCESS IMPROVEMENTS THAT WILL INCREASE USE, AND TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS AT STATE BEACH PARKS ON THE DIVISION'S WEBSITE AND IN ITS PRINTED MATERIALS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the Division of State Parks of the Department of Land and Natural Resources to:

(1) Conduct an assessment of potentially hazardous ocean conditions at beach parks prior to undertaking access improvements that will increase state beach park use; and

(2) Provide information about potentially hazardous conditions at state beach parks on the Division's website and in its printed materials.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that state beach park improvements, such as paved access roads, restrooms, showers, and picnic tables, tend to greatly increase the use of those parks, particularly by visitors who are less likely to go to remote beaches that are not easily accessible and have no amenities. For example, improvements made at Kua Bay on the Island of Hawai‘i greatly increased the use of that beach park. However, Kua Bay can experience rip tides, strong currents, rough shore break, and other conditions that may be dangerous for first-time visitors who are not aware of or experienced enough to handle these conditions. Thus, an increase in the number of visitors contributes to an increase in the number of accidents and deaths at Kua Bay. This measure ensures that safety concerns are addressed prior to undertaking access improvements to state beach parks that will increase use and provides a mechanism to keep beachgoers better informed about the potentially hazardous conditions at state beach parks they intend to visit.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Adding language to clarify that Kua Bay is one example of the safety concerns that are common at state beach parks in every county;

(2) Adding the Chief of the Emergency Medical Services and Injury Prevention System Branch of the Department of Health, the Director of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency of the Department of Defense, and the President of the Hawaiian Lifeguard Association to the list of recipients to receive a certified copy of this measure; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water and Land that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 34, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 34, S.D. 1.

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

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KARL RHOADS, Chair