STAND. COM. REP. NO. 202

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1068

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water and Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 1068 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TRAILS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to provide funds for improvements to Na Ala Hele, the Hawaii statewide trail program, and hiker safety and etiquette education and outreach.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Aha Moku Advisory Committee, Sierra Club of Hawai‘i, O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, Ka Makani O Kohala Ohana, Maunawili Estates Community Association, PATH, Tulipa Hawaiian Civic Club Association of Cultural Practitioners, Solemates Hawaii, Hawaiian Trail & Mountain Club, and thirty-six individuals.

Your Committee finds that Na Ala Hele, the Hawaii statewide trail program maintained by the Division of Forestry and Wildlife of the Department of Land and Natural Resources, includes one hundred twenty-eight trail and road features spanning approximately eight hundred fifty-five miles. Trails include parking areas, comfort stations, pavilions, picnic areas, and other facilities that are regularly used by the public. Hiking continues to increase in popularity among visitors and residents, leading to greater wear on trails and facilities. Additionally, your Committee finds that many hikers lack proper education as to hiking safety and etiquette, which has resulted in litter, loud noises, and illegal parking in neighborhoods where trail heads are located, as well as increases in mountain rescues. Therefore, your Committee finds it necessary to appropriate funds to improve access to and maintain state controlled recreational trails statewide and promote hiker safety and hiker etiquette education and outreach.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting language to require the public awareness campaign to include education and outreach regarding accurate Native Hawaiian culture, history, and traditional and customary practices connected to Hawaii's trails;

(2) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; 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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1068, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1068, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

________________________________

KAIALI'I KAHELE, Chair