STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1399

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.R. No. 43

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 S.R. No. 43 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES DIVISION OF BOATING AND OCEAN RECREATION AND KAHOOLAWE ISLAND RESERVE COMMISSION TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY AND IN PARTNERSHIP TO MAINTAIN THE KIHEI RAMP FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE COMMUNITY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Department of Land and Natural Resources to partner with the Kahoolawe Island Reserve Commission to collaboratively improve and facilitate the continued repair, rehabilitation, and redevelopment of the Kihei ramp.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve Commission and one individual.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committee finds that the Kihei ramp is used by the South Maui community to access the nearshore waters for recreation, including fishing, diving, and other activities. Your Committee further finds that the Department of Land and Natural Resources has established a program to collaborate with community nonprofits to better administer state projects and manage facilities, such as Haena State Park on Kauai, and to ensure that proper attention is given to needed repairs and maintenance. Your Committee also finds that the Kahoolawe Island Reserve Commission regularly uses the Kihei ramp for access to Kahoolawe and has plans to develop a visitor center next to the Kihei ramp, making the Commission an ideal partner for the Department that can help leverage private investment and support for the Kihei ramp. Accordingly, this measure requests the Department of Land and Natural Resources to partner with the Kahoolawe Island Reserve Commission to effectively manage the Kihei ramp for the betterment of the community.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Amending its title to better reflect its purpose; and

(2) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment 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 concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 43, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 43, S.D. 1.

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

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LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair