STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3223

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2016

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water and Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 2016, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE SAND ISLAND STATE RECREATION AREA,"

begs 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 prepare a master plan for the Sand Island State Recreation Area.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, The Pillars LLC, Mountain View Community Church, Slapp Radio, and forty-three individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that providing outdoor recreational opportunities, safe and well-maintained park infrastructure and facilities, and the protection of cultural and historic resources is paramount to the well-being of Hawaii's people. The previous Sand Island State Recreation Area plan was completed in 1973 but was never fully implemented, as the focus was on comprehensive development of shoreline pathways and passive recreational sites to support water sports. Since 1973, the Sand Island State Recreation Area has developed into a diverse use park unit, providing opportunities for day use, camping, fishing, surfing, softball play, canoe paddling, non-motorized BMX bicycle use with additional areas of open grass fields that can accommodate a variety of passive recreation and general open space for picnic and family gatherings.

However, the Sand Island State Recreation Area is in a deleterious condition with aging infrastructure, irrigation deficiencies, and is currently undergoing a new sewer line repair. Additionally, other challenges include a constant homeless population, invasive kiawe in the undeveloped area, an entrenched feral cat population, and shoreline impacts from climate change and sea level rise. Recent King Tides are also eroding the shoreline, which includes remnants of wartime materials and objects. As the Sand Island Recreation Area was originally envisioned to be a "People's Park", an updated master plan may address the weathered and antiquated facilities, create increased outdoor recreation opportunities, plans for underutilized spaces, and provide new methods for adaptive management and resilience to impacts from climate change and sea level rise.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2022; and

(2) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment 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 H.B. No. 2016, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2016, H.D. 1, 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,

________________________________

LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair