Bill Text: HI SB705 | 2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating To Trail Access.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-01-23 - Referred to WTL, WAM. [SB705 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2017-SB705-Introduced.html
|
THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
705 |
|
TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017 |
|
|
|
STATE OF HAWAII |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
||
A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to TRAIL ACCESS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the State owns and manages a system of trails around Maunawili falls and Olomana. The existing trailheads located on these state lands have limited parking capacity and are located many miles away from the mountain and falls. The main trailhead used by thousands of hikers is located on private land adjacent to a residential subdivision. The private landowner is required to provide public access on landowner's land through a city and county of Honolulu conditional use permit. Over the past decade, as the hikes have gained immense popularity and public awareness via social media, the number of hikers parking in the residential neighborhood has increased dramatically, often blocking driveways, trespassing on resident lawns, and leaving trash in the neighborhood. Many hikers enter the area without knowledge of local conditions and frequently call emergency services for rescues due to injuries, getting lost, or hiking in the dark.
The legislature further finds that in 2014, the State funded a study that developed a final planning report on the Maunawili Falls trail for the department of land and natural resources. The report identifies several alternatives to alleviate the residential community's nuisance issues caused by hikers. The report's executive summary states that the recommended alternative that best resolve community concerns is to construct a remote eighty-five stall parking lot and comfort station in the historic area known as Queen's Retreat. Cooperation between the public and private sectors can resolve funding issues and successfully deliver services and facilities for the economic, environmental, and social benefit of the people of Hawaii. Thus, the purpose of this Act is to establish a public-private partnership for the management and operation of parking access to the Maunawili trail system.
SECTION 2. The department of land and natural resources shall seek to establish a public-private partnership with private land owners to develop, manage, and operate a parking lot and trailhead on private lands to provide access to the Maunawili trail system. In identifying the location for the parking lot and trailhead, the department of land and natural resources shall consider the recommended alternatives identified in the "DOFAW Maunawili Falls Trail, Final Planning Report" prepared in April 2014 for the department of land and natural resources. Parking management shall set hours of operation with the intent of reducing or eliminating nighttime hiking; provided that access shall remain open to the general public on a first come first served basis beginning no earlier than thirty minutes prior to sunrise and no later than thirty minutes before sunset. The parking operator may charge a reasonable fee for parking to support operational costs.
SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2017-2018 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2018-2019 for establishing a public-private partnership for the management and operation of a parking lot and trailhead to provide access to the Maunawili trail system.
The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of land and natural resources for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2017.
|
INTRODUCED BY: |
_____________________________ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Report Title:
Department of Land and Natural Resources; Public-private Partnership; Maunawili Trail System; Appropriation
Description:
Requires the department of land and natural resources to seek to establish a public-private partnership for the management and operation of a parking lot and trailhead to provide access to the Maunawili trail system. Makes an appropriation.
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
