HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES             H.C.R. NO.176         
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1999                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                     HOUSE CONCURRENT
                        RESOLUTION

SUPPORTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF KA'APUNI O'HAWAI'I TRAIL (TRAIL
   THAT CIRCLES THE ISLAND OF HAWAI'I).



 1      WHEREAS, the President's Council on Sustainable Development
 2 stated in a report that, "By the year 2000, hundreds of
 3 communities across America could share in more than $6 billion in
 4 economic benefits arising from the fast-growing network of multi-
 5 use trails that are now spanning the nation"; and 
 6 
 7      WHEREAS, Hawaii's ecotourism industry could attract the
 8 millions of Americans who vacation by bicycle each year by
 9 developing connected green-ways and trails; and
10 
11      WHEREAS, the proposed Ka'apuni O'Hawai'i Trail will link
12 ninety per cent of the communities on the Island of Hawai'i in a
13 network of multi-use trails, paved and dedicated roadways,
14 shoulders, and shared-use routes along roadways with low volume
15 traffic; and
16 
17      WHEREAS, in addition to attracting tourist dollars, the
18 Ka'apuni O'Hawai'i Trail has the potential to improve the health
19 and quality of life of trail users by providing a safe and
20 accessible place for recreation and exercise; and
21 
22      WHEREAS, an extensive network of trails will provide non-
23 motorized commuting options for those who are unable to own or
24 operate a car, while providing a cleaner air option and reducing
25 the hazards of car/bike and car/pedestrian accidents; and
26 
27      WHEREAS, through the organization of funding and volunteers,
28 the Peoples Advocacy for Trails Hawai'i (PATH), has already built
29 the first section of the trail and is currently maintaining it;
30 and 
31 
32      WHEREAS, the pre-existing section of the trail already
33 experiences high use and the completion of the trail is
34 anticipated to increase the opportunity for community activities
35 and fund raisers with activities such as walk-a-thons and bike-a-
36 thons along the route; and
37 
38      WHEREAS, in addition to strong community support from the

 
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                                  H.C.R. NO.176         
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1 residents of Hawaii County, the Ka'apuni O'Hawai'i Trail has the
 2 support of Mayor Stephen Yamashiro, the State Na Ala Hele
 3 Program, the state Community-Based Economic Development Advisory
 4 Council, as well as many businesses such as banks, realty
 5 companies, bicycle stores, and tour companies; now, therefore,
 6 
 7      BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the
 8 Twentieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of
 9 1999, the Senate concurring, that the Legislature supports and
10 encourages the development of the Ka'apuni O'Hawai'i Trail; and
11 
12      BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this
13 Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, the Mayor
14 of Hawaii County, the Chairperson and members of the Hawaii
15 County Council, the Chairperson of the Community-Based Economic
16 Development Advisory Council, the Chief Engineer of the Hawaii
17 County Department of Public Works, the Director of the Hawaii
18 County Planning Department, and the Chair of the Hawaii County
19 Planning Commission.
20 
21 
22 
23                         OFFERED BY:  ____________________________