HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

91

TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2013

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

 

REQUESTING the Department of Land and Natural Resources to conduct a study of the commercial vessel permits in state small boat harbors involving ocean-related activities for ocean waters between Kalaeloa point and Kaena point.

 

 

 


     WHEREAS, along the Waianae Coast, the growing population of west Oahu and the visitor industry are affecting the traditional uses of the area and have cumulative economic, environmental, social, and cultural effects on the many communities along the coastline; and

 

     WHEREAS, the increased usage of beach parks and state boating facilities to accommodate commercial ocean recreation activities between Kalaeloa Point and Kaena Point has had a significant impact on traditional commercial fishing activities and other non-commercial recreational activities; and

 

     WHEREAS, Act 6, Special Session Laws of Hawaii 2005 (Act 6), placed a moratorium on the issuance of new state small boat harbor facility commercial permits for vessels engaged in ocean-use activities in ocean waters between Kalaeloa Point and Kaena Point; and

 

     WHEREAS, Act 6 also required the Department of Land and Natural Resources to prepare a baseline environmental study to be used in the preparation of draft management area rules; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation published the Waianae Baseline Environmental Study in February 2009; and

 

     WHEREAS, one of the recommendations of the Waianae Baseline Environmental Study was to clarify existing regulations to allow the Department of Land and Natural Resources to require commercial ocean tour operators state-wide to obtain a permit to operate in state waters; and
     WHEREAS, Act 289, Session Laws of Hawaii 2012 (Act 289), authorizes the Department of Land and Natural Resources to regulate commercial enterprises that operate out of private marinas and use state waters or marine resources; and

 

     WHEREAS, Act 6, the Waianae Baseline Environmental Study, and Act 289 are all necessary first steps to addressing the increased usage of beach parks and state boating facilities between Kalaeloa Point and Kaena Point; and

 

     WHEREAS, commercial ocean recreation activities between Kalaeloa Point and Kaena Point have continued to increase since 2005, despite the moratorium on the issuance of new state small boat harbor facility commercial permits for vessels engaged in ocean-use activities in ocean waters between Kalaeloa Point and Kaena Point; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-seventh Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2013, that the Department of Land and Natural Resources is requested to conduct a study of the state small boat harbor facility commercial permits for vessels engaged in ocean-use activities in ocean waters between Kalaeloa Point and Kaena Point that were in existence at the time of the moratorium in 2005, the uses for such permits, and the revenue generated and the current commercial vessel permits, the uses for such permits, and the revenue generated; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Land and Natural Resources is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than 20 days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2014; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources.

 

 

 


 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

Report Title: 

Department of Land and Natural Resources; Kaena Point; Kalaeloa Point; Small Boat Harbors; Commercial Permits