STAND. COM. REP. NO. 451

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 411

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 411 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO KAENA POINT STATE PARK,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to permit overnight camping at Kaena Point State Park, subject to rules adopted pursuant to chapter 91, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

 

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by one state agency and thirty-four public citizens.  Two public citizens supported the intent of this measure.  Testimony in opposition was submitted by one state agency, one organization, and one public citizen.  Copies of written testimony are available for review on the Legislature's website.

 

     The Department of Land and Natural Resources permits fishing at Kaena Point State Park at any time during the day or night.  However, fishers have been cited and fined by the Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement for possession of camping-related paraphernalia.  Testifiers described the paraphernalia as folding chairs, coolers, and other items used while fishing. 

 

     Your Committee finds that Kaena Point State Park is a unique area, and urges the Department of Land and Natural Resources to cooperate with the community to develop administrative rules to allow fishers and other responsible stewards to camp overnight.  Your Committee believes that by working together to develop administrative rules unique to the character of Kaena Point State Park and the community surrounding it, people can continue to use the park and minimize adverse environmental impacts of overnight camping and fishing.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Directing the Department of Land and Natural Resources to develop administrative rules to permit overnight camping at Kaena Point State Park by July 1, 2010;

 

     (2)  Requiring the Department of Land and Natural Resources to submit a report to the Legislature within twenty days prior to the convening of the 2010 Regular Session on the progress of the Kaena Point State Park administrative rule adoption process; and

 

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive changes for consistency and clarity.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 411, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 411, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

 

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

 

		____________________________ CLAYTON HEE, Chair