STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2110-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.C.R. No. 205

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 205, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES DIVISION OF BOATING AND OCEAN RECREATION, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE KANEOHE BAY REGIONAL COUNCIL, TO CONDUCT A STUDY OF COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY ON KANEOHE BAY TO QUANTIFY THE AMOUNT OF NON-PERMITTED COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY THAT IS OPERATING IN VIOLATION OF THE KANEOHE BAY MASTER PLAN,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation of the Department of Land and Natural Resources, in consultation with the Kaneohe Bay Regional Council, to conduct a study of commercial activity on Kaneohe Bay to quantify the amount of non-permitted commercial activity that is operating in violation of the Kaneohe Bay Master Plan.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Aha Moku and four individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and Legislative Reference Bureau.

Your Committee finds that the Kaneohe Bay Master Plan was developed pursuant to Act 208, Session Laws of Hawaii 1990, to establish a framework for the sustainable management of Kaneohe Bay's natural resources while accommodating a variety of uses. The vision set forth by the Master Plan continues to center on the preservation and protection of Kaneohe Bay's natural resources for the continued enjoyment of Hawaii's people. However, limits on commercial activity have been exceeded by other activities not previously envisioned and by new technologies that support their proliferation. Your Committee firmly believes that additional research and work are necessary to uphold the original purpose of the Master Plan.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Requesting the Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation of the Department of Land and Natural Resources to develop a plan to reduce the amount of non-permitted commercial activity that is operating in violation of the Kaneohe Bay Master Plan;

(2) Requesting the Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation of the Department of Land and Natural Resources, rather than the Legislative Reference Bureau, to submit the plan and a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days before the convening of the Regular Session of 2023;

(3) Changing its title to reflect its amended purpose; and

(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 205, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 205, S.D. 1, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair