STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2105-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.C.R. No. 19

S.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Water & Land and Corrections, Military, & Veterans, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 19, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THAT JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM AND THE DIVISION OF BOATING AND OCEAN RECREATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES COLLABORATE TO ESTABLISH A RECREATIONAL AREA IN THE EAST LOCH OF PEARL HARBOR,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request that Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and the Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation of the Department of Land and Natural Resources collaborate to establish a recreational area in the East Loch of Pearl Harbor.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from Pearl City Neighborhood Board No. 21 and two individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committees find that Pearl Harbor encompasses a vast shoreline and water surface. With the federal government having jurisdiction over the Harbor, persons associated with the United States Department of Defense and their families are permitted to engage in boating and other recreational watercraft activities. Other State residents, however, are not permitted to enter the water and thus are barred from using the Harbor for recreational purposes. Your Committees further find that in states such as California, members of the public are permitted to access the waters surrounding military bases. Therefore, public access to the East Loch of Pearl Harbor could be facilitated through collaboration between Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water & Land and Corrections, Military, & Veterans that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 19, S.D. 1, and recommend that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Water & Land and Corrections, Military, & Veterans,

____________________________ TAKASHI OHNO, Chair

____________________________ DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair