Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water, Land, & Ocean Resources, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 51, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to request the Department to Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) to form and chair a working group to conduct a review of issues surrounding the shoreline certification process for the purpose of establishing reasonable shoreline setbacks to protect the natural building of sandy beaches and to ensure public access along the shoreline.

DLNR, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii testified in support of this concurrent resolution. The Hawaii Association of Realtors also supported this measure with amendments. The Department of Accounting and General Services offered comments.

Your Committee finds that protecting our natural sandy beaches from eroding due to the building of man-made structures, such as seawalls, is an important factor in preserving Hawaii's unique natural resources. Establishing a proper certification process for shoreline setbacks will be a major step towards preventing the construction of man-made structures that alter the natural building process of our beaches and eliminate public access along the shoreline.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, & Ocean Resources that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 51, S.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance.