STAND. COM. REP. NO. 218

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 654

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. 654 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO KEKAHA KAI STATE PARK,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds for the establishment of four full-time equivalent (4.0 FTE) permanent ocean safety officers and equipment for use by ocean safety officers at Manini‘ōwali Beach at Kua Bay in the Kekaha Kai State Park on the island of Hawaii.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawaii Tourism Authority, Aha Moku Advisory Committee, Office of the Mayor of the County of Hawai‘i, two members of the Hawai‘i County Council, O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, Kohala Coast Resort Association, Hawaii Drowning and Aquatics Injury Prevention Advisory Committee, Hawai‘i State Association of Counties, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that Kua Bay, at Kekaha Kai State Park, between Kona and the resorts of Kohala Coast on the island of Hawaii, has recently seen an increase in visits by locals and tourists, making Kua Bay one of the most popular beaches in the State. The increase in visitation has been accompanied by an increase in dangerous incidents, injuries, and deaths, which could be mitigated by placement of lifeguards at Kua Bay. Although Kua Bay is under the jurisdiction of the Department of Land and Natural Resources, the State currently does not employ its own lifeguards at Kua Bay. Your Committee finds that the employment of lifeguards and purchase of necessary equipment at Kua Bay will help to save lives and prevent injury to residents and visitors.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) 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. 654, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 654, 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