STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3595

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 174

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 174 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I'S EFFORTS TO PURSUE UNITED STATES ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS CONTINUING AUTHORITIES PROGRAM FUNDING FOR THE RESTORATION OF KAHALU‘U BAY IN HAWAI‘I ISLAND,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to support the County of Hawaii's efforts to pursue United States Army Corps of Engineers Continuing Authorities program funding for the restoration of Kahaluu Bay on Hawaii Island.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from one member of the Hawai‘i County Council and Kohala Center.

Your Committee finds that the Kahaluu Beach and Bay Park is the most popular visitor destination in west Hawaii Island, hosting 400,000 users a year due to ease of access and marine life diversity. However, the Kahaluu Beach Park and Bay facilities are eroding from storm surges and sea-level rise while the marine life is threatened by both human interactions through trampling, sunscreen exposure, and waste disposal and by ocean acidification, ocean heating, and other climate change effects. Your Committee believes that the pursuit of United States Army Corps of Engineers' Continuing Authorities Program funding is critical to the restoration of Kahaluu Beach and Bay Park on Hawaii Island. This measure will protect the Kahaluu Beach and Bay Park by supporting the County of Hawaii's efforts to pursue United States Army Corps of Engineers Continuing Authorities program funding for the restoration of Kahaluu Bay on Hawaii Island.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 174 and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs,

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CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair