STAND. COM. REP. NO. 672

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1639

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Transportation and Culture and the Arts and Economic Development and Tourism, to which was referred S.B. No. 1639 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HAWAII BEACH DAY,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Establish Hawaii Beach Day;

(2) Require the Hawaii Tourism Authority, in collaboration with the Department of Land and Natural Resources, to organize and support events and activities to celebrate and observe Hawaii Beach Day; and

(3) Appropriate funds.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from one individual.

Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority.

Your Committees find that beaches are a vital natural and cultural resource in the State. Pollution, overuse, and erosion threaten these sacred spaces and necessitate improved environmental stewardship and responsible use. Therefore, this measure recognizes the importance of protecting the State's natural environment by establishing an annual Hawaii Beach Day.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Transportation and Culture and the Arts and Economic Development and Tourism that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1639, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1639, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Transportation and Culture and the Arts and Economic Development and Tourism,

________________________________ LYNN DECOITE, Chair

________________________________ CHRIS LEE, Chair