STAND. COM. REP. NO.  420

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1310

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Water, Land, & Ocean Resources, to which was referred H.B. No. 1310 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO OCEAN RECREATION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to repeal:

 

(1)  The prohibition on the commercial operation of thrill craft, water sledding, parasailing, and high-speed boating in Maunalua Bay, Oahu, on weekends and holidays;

 

(2)  The prohibition on all commercial ocean recreation activities in Maunalua Bay on Sundays;

 

(3)  The requirement that permits for commercial operators of thrill craft and parasailing activities be issued at public auction; and

 

(4)  The maximum term limit for commercial thrill craft and parasailing activity permits of 20 years.

 

     The Ocean Tourism Coalition and numerous concerned individuals testified in support of this bill.  A concerned individual opposed this measure.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources and the University of Hawaii at Manoa-Environmental Center provided comments.

 

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

 

(1)  Repealing the prohibition on the commercial operation of thrill craft, water sledding, parasailing, and high-speed boating in Maunalua Bay for Saturdays only, instead of for all weekends and holidays;

 

(2)  Reinstating the prohibition on all commercial ocean recreation activities in Maunalua Bay on Sundays;

 

(3)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2020, to encourage further discussion; and

 

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

 

     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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1310, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1310, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water, Land, & Ocean Resources,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

KEN ITO, Chair