STAND. COM. REP. NO.  898-10

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2010

 

RE:   S.B. No. 2646

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Economic Revitalization, Business, & Military Affairs and Tourism, Culture, & International Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2646, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HAWAII SURFING RESERVES,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to recognize the importance of Hawaii's surfing sites by designating the surf breaks off of Waikiki, and the area from Haleiwa to Sunset Beach on Oahu, as Hawaii Surfing Reserves.

 

     Historic Hawaii Foundation, National Surfing Reserves, International Surfing Association, Save The Waves Coalition, Surfers' Environmental Alliance, Surfrider Foundation-Hawaii Chapters, WiLDCOAST, and several concerned individuals supported this bill.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Save Our Surf, and a concerned individual provided comments.

 

     The sport of surfing was born in Hawaii, and the surf at Waikiki and Oahu's North Shore is famous, world-wide.  Surfing is an intrinsic, priceless part of the lives of Hawaii's residents.  This bill would recognize the cultural, environmental, sporting, and historical significance of Hawaii's surfing sites.


     Your Committees find that there are important surf sites on all of the major islands of Hawaii that should be considered for designation as Hawaii Surfing Reserves.  After discussion, your Committees included a neighbor island surf spot in the reserve program as a way to facilitate further discussion.

 

     Noting the outpouring of support from the community as well as several citizen groups, your Committees have amended this bill to include Honolua Bay in the Hawaii Surfing Reserve program. Your Committees note that besides being one of the most famous surfing spots in the neighbor islands and being the venue for several high profile championship men's and women's surfing, and body boarding events, the involvement of the community in preserving and enhancing Honolua Bay, as well as its designation as a marine life conservation district warrant its inclusion in the program and is consistent with the underlying intent of the bill.

 

     Accordingly, your Committees have amended this bill by:

 

(1)  Adding the surf breaks off of Honolua Bay on the island of Maui, from Kauhipueo Point to Kalaepiha Point, and including Hononaaahu Point, Miloiki Point, and Puiwa Point, to the Hawaii Surfing Reserves established under this bill;

 

(2)  Providing that the Waikiki Hawaii Reserve extends from Kewalo Basin to the Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium, rather than from the Ala Wai;

 

(3)  Adding stand-up paddle boarding to the examples of activities undertaken by a surfer; and

 

(4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Economic Revitalization, Business, & Military Affairs and Tourism, Culture, & International Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2646, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2646, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Water, Land, & Ocean Resources.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Economic Revitalization, Business, & Military Affairs and Tourism, Culture, & International Affairs,

 

 

____________________________

JOEY MANAHAN, Chair

 

____________________________

ANGUS L.K. MCKELVEY, Chair