151
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES             H.C.R. NO.            
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2000                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                     HOUSE CONCURRENT
                        RESOLUTION
RELATING TO A COMPREHENSIVE MASTER PLAN FOR KOKEE AND WAIMEA
   CANYON STATE PARKS.



 1       WHEREAS, the island of Kauai boasts some of the most
 2   spectacular scenery in the State for backpacking, mountain
 3   biking, and horseback trail riding; and
 4   
 5       WHEREAS, West Kauai features the natural beauty of the
 6   Waimea Canyon and Kokee State Parks, portions of the Puu Ka
 7   Pele and Na Pali-Kona Forest Reserves, the Alakai Wilderness,
 8   and the Kuia Natural Area Reserve; and
 9   
10       WHEREAS, each year, these natural resources attract nearly
11   1,000,000 visitors and residents to the region, placing an
12   enormous strain on an already fragile ecosystem and on limited,
13   deteriorating infrastructure and facilities; and
14   
15       WHEREAS, the natural resources of the Kokee area are
16   deteriorating faster than they can be managed, exacerbated by
17   declining resource management budgets and increased demand,
18   both by the general public and by emerging commercial
19   operators; and
20   
21       WHEREAS, the existing infrastructure (e.g. water, sewer,
22   and roads) is inadequate to meet current and future needs; and
23   
24       WHEREAS, the inadequate level of maintenance and repair of
25   park facilities has been compounded by severe cuts to funding
26   and staff; and
27   
28       WHEREAS, accordingly, there is an urgent need to repair and
29   maintain the existing infrastructure that serve Kokee and
30   Waimea Canyon State Parks and to provide the necessary staffing
31   and equipment; and
32   
33       WHEREAS, to better determine the future capacity and
34   activity mix of Kokee and Waimea Canyon State Parks, the State
35   needs to conduct a comprehensive review of the activities,
36   facilities, and environmental management efforts of these
37   parks; now, therefore, 

 
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                                  H.C.R. NO.            
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1       BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the
 2   Twentieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session
 3   of 2000, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Land and
 4   Natural Resources (DLNR) is requested to prepare a
 5   comprehensive master plan for Kokee and Waimea Canyon State
 6   Parks; and
 7   
 8       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the master plan include, but
 9   not be limited to the:
10   
11       (1)  Repair and maintenance of roads, including safety
12            upgrades;
13   
14       (2)  Adequacy of water supply and sewage systems;
15   
16       (3)  Alternative strategies to enhance revenues (cabins,
17            trails, campgrounds, concessions, user fees, etc.);
18   
19       (4)  Development of additional cabins and campsites;
20   
21       (5)  Review of long-term leases;
22   
23       (6)  Review of existing hiking trails;
24   
25       (7)  Solicitation of proposals for concessions/dining
26            facilities operated by private vendors;
27   
28       (8)  Review of fishing seasons;
29   
30       (9)  Planting of maile and mokihana, as well as other types
31            of flora and fauna;
32   
33       (10) Development of long-range plans; and
34   
35       (11) Management issues that affect the condition of the
36            area's natural resources within and adjacent to the
37            Kokee and Waimea Canyon State Parks; 
38   
39   and
40   
41       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Chairperson of the Board of
42   Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) is requested to:
43   
44       (1)  Facilitate the development of the master plan with the
45            appropriate divisions in the DLNR, existing lessees,
46            and other stakeholders and interested parties;

 
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                                  H.C.R. NO.            
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1       (2)  Prioritize areas of need for Kokee and Waimea Canyon
 2            State Parks; and
 3   
 4       (3)  Determine how to best fund and implement programs and
 5            projects to address areas of priority as indicated in
 6            the master plan for Kokee and Waimea Canyon State
 7            Parks; 
 8   
 9   and
10   
11       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Chairperson of the BLNR
12   submit a report on the status of this request to the
13   Legislature no later than twenty days before the convening of
14   the Regular Session of 2001; and
15   
16       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this
17   Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the
18   BLNR.
19 
20 
21 
22                         OFFERED BY:  ____________________________