STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3668

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 199

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 S.C.R. No. 199 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE OFFICE OF PLANNING AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN CONSULTATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES FORESTRY AND WILDLIFE DIVISION AND COMMISSION ON WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT TO CONDUCT A STUDY OF WAIAHOLE STREAM, IDENTIFY JURISDICTIONAL OBSTACLES TO COORDINATED STREAM MAINTENANCE, AND OFFER RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE STREAM MAINTENANCE AND FLOOD HAZARD MITIGATION POLICIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, in consultation with the Department of Land and Natural Resources Forestry and Wildlife Division and Commission on Water Resource Management, to conduct a study of Waiahole Stream that:

(1) Identifies jurisdictional obstacles to coordinated stream maintenance; and

(2) Offers recommendations to improve stream maintenance and flood hazard mitigation policies.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Ko‘olau Foundation and two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Commission on Water Resource Management, and Office of Planning and Sustainable Development.

Your Committee finds that stream maintenance and flood hazard mitigation are important issues facing the Waiahole Valley community. The Waiahole Stream plays a critical role in the ecological, socioeconomic, and material well-being of the communities of Waiahole Valley. Currently, state and City and County of Honolulu laws exist specifically to address stream maintenance, which if followed would alleviate some challenges from flooding due to debris blockage of stream channels. However, jurisdictional and landowner challenges impede efforts to engage in proactive stream maintenance that may prevent destructive, significant flood hazards. To navigate jurisdictional challenges, while protecting the Waiahole Valley community from flood hazards, a collaborative, multi-agency study may provide solutions to ensure the safety of Waiahole Valley residents.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Adding the City and County of Honolulu as a consulting agency for the study;

(2) Amending its title accordingly; and

(3) 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 concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 199, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 199, S.D. 1.

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

________________________________

LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair