STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3678

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 176

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 S.C.R. No. 176 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES' DIVISION OF BOATING AND OCEAN RECREATION'S EFFORTS TO EXECUTE ITS IMPROVEMENT MASTERPLAN FOR THE HONOKOHAU SMALL BOAT HARBOR,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to support the Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation's efforts to execute its improvement masterplan for the Honokohau Small Boat Harbor.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, two members of the Hawai‘i County Council, Blue Ocean Mariculture, Hawai‘i Fishing and Boating Association, Wee Guys Fishing Tournament, Atlantis Submarines Kona, and three individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that the Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation is responsible for administering the State's small boat harbor and ocean recreation management programs. Honokohau Small Boat Harbor, under the stewardship of the Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation, has become a significant gathering place for the West Hawaii community. The Honokohau Small Boat Harbor sustains two hundred local businesses, making it the largest single contributor to West Hawaii's gross domestic product (GDP), generating $2 million directly to the State annually and over $100 million to Hawaii's GDP.

Your Committee further finds that in August 2018, the Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation formed a working group composed of harbor and recreational users, commercial operators, key legislators, and representatives from government to discuss potential uses and revenue generating strategies for vacant lands at the Honokohau Small Boat Harbor. Currently, the Honokohau Small Boat Harbor Working Group remains as an important resource to the vast community of harbor users while also providing guidance to the Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation to develop its improvement masterplan. As the Honokohau Small Boat Harbor provides a strong sense of place, support for the local ocean economy, perpetuation of cultural heritage, protection of the health and vitality of the nearshore ecosystem, preparation for the impacts of climate change, and support for the advancement of scientific research, the Honokohau Small Boat Harbor improvement masterplan should be implemented to address both current, immediate needs and future, long-term expansion.

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 concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 176 and recommends its adoption.

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

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LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair