HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

78

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

encouraging the preservation of our state beaches and shorelines.

 

 

WHEREAS, beaches and shores provide important assets for promoting the health and well-being of the people, animals, and eco-structure of Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, our beaches and shores provide wholesome and necessary rest, relaxation, and recreation not equally available in other forms or places; and

WHEREAS, with an expected increase in population, the same finite beach and shoreline areas will increase in importance and will become irreplaceable to the quality of life of the people of Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, it is the responsibility of the government of Hawaii to preserve, protect, and restore the beaches, shores, and near shores of this state; and

WHEREAS, our government must understand that:

(1) The quality of life for our neighbors of all walks of life and social or economic strata, including the plants and animals of our state, must be improved and maintained;

(2) Recreational beaches, shores, and areas near shorelines are just as important as our public highways, airports, transportation systems, and other government infrastructure;

(3) Our beaches and shores provide an essential and unique attraction to the returning and potential visitors to Hawaii;

(4) Tourism and the visitor industry of Hawaii provide a large segment of employment and commercial opportunities in Hawaii;

(5) Beaches protect the shore and land from erosion;

(6) Beaches and shorelines support, sustain, and nurture plants, animals, and other identifiable environmental elements, including coral, rock, sand, tide pools, as well as healthy ocean and wave movement;

(7) Beaches, shores, and oceans are not only of commercial benefit to humankind but offer spiritual and inspirational benefits as well;

now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2003, that this body requests that the state government take the following actions to save Hawaii's beaches and shorelines:

(1) Renew the infrastructure of Hawaiian communities to allow for safe, clean, renewable, sustainable, and accessible beaches and shorelines;

(2) Educate the next generation to learn to respect and care for the waters and beaches that bring life, beauty, and inspiration to our islands;

(3) Establish a continuing obligation to all generations to prioritize the restoration, maintenance, and sustainability of our beaches and near shores;

(4) Support coastal surveying, planning, engineering research, and continuing studies resulting in laws, regulations, and financial incentives to develop methods to provide protection from coastal erosion by maintaining sustainable beaches that in turn will help dissipate the effects of storm waves, sea level rise, and episodic events such as tsunamis, hurricanes, and severe storms;

(5) Develop and maintain methods to revitalize and rebuild our coastal infrastructure and to provide, maintain, and protect sustainable beaches;

(6) Support research to understand and protect carbon sequestering plants and animals that ultimately produce beach sand material and enhance and maintain those protective mechanisms;

(7) Provide a mechanism and tax incentive to accept funding from and to corporations and not-for-profit entities, as well as private and public sources and forums to initiate, organize, and implement restoration and maintenance of Hawaii's beaches and shorelines; and

(8) Create, through maintenance of and respect for the beaches and shorelines, a focal point for the community, its youth, families, and older population, to regenerate the principles of our island people to belong, learn, master, and to return the blessings of aloha;

and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President of the Senate, and the Governor.

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

Resolution to encourage the preservation of our state beaches and shorelines.