STAND. COM. REP. NO. 709

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 1423

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. 1423 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HANALEI BAY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to preserve the quiet recreational character of Hanalei Bay and protect the safety of residents and visitors who use the bay for water activities by restricting the size of vessels permitted to enter Hanalei Bay and requiring the Board of Land and Natural Resources to define the boundaries of Hanalei Bay by rule.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Mayor of the County of Kauaʻi; one member of the Kauaʻi County Council; Hanalei-Wainiha-Hāʻena Community Association; and Hanalei Watershed Hui. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committee finds that in recent years, several large vessels have moored in Hanalei Bay, greatly disrupting the quiet enjoyment of the waters by other residents and visitors and posing a health and safety risk to those partaking in ocean activities in Hanalei Bay. Your Committee further finds that although Hanalei Bay has designated recreational mooring available on a seasonal basis, it cannot safely accommodate large vessels. Your Committee believes that clearly prohibiting these large vessels from entering Hanalei Bay will protect the health and safety of all users of Hanalei Bay.

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 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 H.B. No. 1423, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1423, 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