STAND. COM. REP. NO. 305

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 1348

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 1348 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC LANDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish a lottery system for the leasing of cabins on public lands for recreation-residence use.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Kōke‘e Leaseholders Association; and numerous individuals.

Your Committee finds that there are approximately one hundred recreational-residential, or cabin, leases in Kokee-Waimea Canyon State Parks on Kauai. These unique cabins allow occasional use and are intended to allow families to gather and commune with nature, escape the summer heat, and keep forest roads and amenities open and accessible. However, due to various factors, there is significant inequity in annual rents charged for these cabins, with rents ranging from approximately $5,000 to $41,000, and rents for some cabins are unaffordable for many local families. This measure seeks to reward lessees who have stewarded these cabin resources well by allowing existing lessees to directly negotiate for lease extensions if they are in good standing, create more equitable and affordable rents by setting rents at appraised value, and creating a fairer process for acquiring available cabins by offering them through public lottery rather than auction.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for 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 H.B. No. 1348, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1348, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

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

____________________________

MARK J. HASHEM, Chair