STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1692

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.R. No. 185

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.R. No. 185 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO CONVENE A KAILUA BAY ADVISORY WORKING GROUP,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of Land and Natural Resources to convene a Kailua Bay Advisory Working Group.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Mayor of the County of Hawai‘i; Kailua Village Business Improvement District; Destination Kona Coast; Kai ‘Opua Canoe Club; and two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committee finds that the Kailua-Kona Wharf, commonly referred to as the Kailua Pier, provides significant economic, cultural, and historical benefits to West Hawai‘i. Your Committee further finds that persistent vandalism and destruction of public facilities and infrastructure have led to rising maintenance costs, disruptions of public access, and the need for continuous repairs of Kailua Pier by state and county agencies. Your Committee believes that establishing an interjurisdictional approach to address the challenges at Kailua Pier will enhance communication between pier users and government officials, allowing for more effective coordinated oversight and management of Kailua Pier.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that the representative of the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions requested to serve on the working group is the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness, or the Coordinator's designee;

(2) Requesting the working group to submit quarterly reports for two years, rather than three; and

(3) 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 concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 185, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.R. No. 185, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

MARK J. HASHEM, Chair