HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2446
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022		H.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that prioritizing the State's natural resources is an essential component of destination management. Prior to 2020, arrivals to the State exceeded ten million visitors, and according to state economists, by 2025, Hawaii will again return to pre-pandemic tourism levels. The legislature believes that rising visitor numbers in Hawaii's state parks could be better managed using a visitor reservation system.

The legislature notes that, in 2018, massive flooding on Kauai damaged surrounding bridges, beaches, and roads, forcing Haena state park to close for fourteen months. When the park reopened, the department of land and natural resources worked with the local community to implement a reservation system that allows a maximum of nine hundred park visitors per day.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to:

(1) Appropriate moneys for the department of land and natural resources to establish            full-time equivalent positions to allow the department to work with the legislature to replicate the reservation model created at Haena state park; and

(2) Appropriate additional moneys from the state parks special fund for purposes of state park management.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2022-2023 to establish            full-time equivalent (           FTE) positions in parks administration and operation (LNR 806) to implement visitor reservation systems in Hawaii's state parks.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of land and natural resources for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the state parks special fund the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2022-2023 for the management of Hawaii's state parks.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of land and natural resources for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.

Report Title:

DLNR; Parks Administration and Operations; State Parks Special Fund; Appropriations

Description:

Appropriates moneys to the department of land and natural resources to establish positions in parks administration and operation (LNR 806) to implement visitor reservation systems in Hawaii state parks. Appropriates additional moneys to the department of land and natural resources from the state parks special fund for purposes of state park management. Effective 7/1/2050. (HD2)

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