STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1473

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.B. No. 1136

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 1136, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO STATE PARKS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to preserve and protect Makena State Park in the County of Maui by appropriating monies for the Department of Land and Natural Resources to conduct a carrying capacity study for the park.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Mayor of the County of Maui, Maui Tomorrow Foundation, and three individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committee finds that a carrying capacity study for Makena State Park is necessary to protect the park's environmental and cultural resources. Without such a study, Makena State Park risks losing its sense of place due to the impacts of overtourism on the ecosystem and landscape.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Directing the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, rather than the Department of Land and Natural Resources, to conduct the carrying capacity study for Makena State Park;

(2) Requiring the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development to submit its report to the Legislature by July 1, 2024;

(3) Changing its effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion; 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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1136, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1136, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

LINDA ICHIYAMA, Chair