STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1218

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1316

H.D. 2

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water and Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 1316, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require:

(1) The registration and numbering of rental vessels before they are rented or leased, or offered for rent or lease, to the public for transiting the navigable waters of a state park; and

(2) The registration fees collected be deposited into the State Parks Special Fund.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and one individual.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from Scotty's Surf Co. and one individual.

Your Committee finds that residents of the State harbor significant concerns about the effects of over-tourism at state parks with navigable water features. Your Committee further finds that while rental kayaks and stand-up paddleboards provide visitors to state parks with a unique experience of the scenic views and nature, the increased commercial activity can cause overcrowding and overuse of these resources. Your Committee also finds that conflicts often arise between visitors and residents seeking to use these resources, particularly on the weekends when the majority of residents have time to recreate. Accordingly, this measure will provide the Department of Land and Natural Resources with an additional mechanism to ensure that residents and visitors alike may continue to enjoy state parks.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2040, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) 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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1316, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1316, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committees on Ways and Means and Commerce and Consumer Protection.

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

________________________________

LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair