STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1576-00

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 2000

                                 RE: S.C.R. No. 60
                                     S.D. 1
                                     H.D. 1




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Water and Land Use, to which was referred
S.C.R. No. 60, S.D. 1, entitled:

     "SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF
     LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF
     ESTABLISHING, ASSESSING, AND COLLECTING USER FEES TO OFFSET
     THE COST OF MAINTAINING KOKEE STATE PARK, ALAKAI SWAMP, AND
     WAIMEA CANYON STATE PARK ON THE ISLAND OF KAUAI,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to look into
charging of user fees to people visiting Kokee State Park, Alakai
Swamp, and Waimea Canyon State Park to shift the costs of
maintaining those areas to those who are using them.

     The Department of Land and Natural Resources supports this
concurrent resolution to include additional amendments.

     Your Committee finds that all revenues generated in the
State Parks are currently deposited into the Aina Hoomalu Special
Fund (Special Fund) which is used for the State Parks'
interpretive program and administrative costs.  The language
contained in the Special Fund does not allow for the use of the
revenue generated from the State Parks in routine maintenance
costs.  There are measures currently under consideration by the
legislature to make such changes (S.B. No. 2909 and H.B. No.
2568).


 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1576-00
                                 Page 2

 
     Kokee Park and Waimea Canyon State Parks and the Alakai
Wilderness Preserve are some of the State's most precious
resources and include irreplaceable endangered species.  These
and nearby areas are also frequent destinations of residents and
visitors.  Unfortunately, funding required to ensure adequate
care and management of these areas has been reduced in the recent
years.  Alternative sources of revenue are needed.

     Your Committee amended the concurrent resolution by:

     (1)  Adding the surrounding forest reserves; and 

     (2)  Changing the title to include surrounding forest
          reserves.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Water and Land Use that is attached to this report,
your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No.
60, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred
to the Committee on Finance, in the form attached hereto as
S.C.R. No. 60, S.D. 1, H.D. 1.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Water and Land
                                   Use,



                                   ______________________________
                                   ROMY M. CACHOLA, Chair