HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2176

TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2016

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to environmental protection of maunalua bay.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that Maunalua Bay on the island of Oahu is a treasured but threatened resource that must be preserved and protected for the enjoyment of the people of Hawaii.  The bay is heavily used by the general public, sport-related special interest groups, and commercial ocean recreation entities.  As the population in East Honolulu has grown, demands on the Bay have increased many fold, due in part to intensive commercial use of the Bay and its appeal to tourists.

     Nine watersheds in East Honolulu flow into Maunalua Bay, and over several decades there has been an urbanization of regional watersheds and the channelizing of natural streams. Moreover, adjoining communities enjoy passive and recreational uses of the Bay.  The legislature believes that these communities must have direct input in addressing the health of Maunalua Bay.

     The legislature is acutely aware of its responsibilities, along with all county and state agencies, to ensure adherence to the public trust provisions of the Hawaii Constitution as they apply to Maunalua Bay.  Such undertakings to provide legislative protection and preservation of a natural resource are not new to the legislature.  With confidence in the people of Hawaii to work together to reduce conflict while establishing procedures to protect and preserve a valued resource, in 1990, the legislature passed Act 208, which sought development of a master plan for Kaneohe Bay to address many of the same problems that today affect Maunalua Bay.  In due course a master plan evolved from community, governmental, and commercial input, to establish short term and long term goals for Kaneohe Bay.

     The Kaneohe Bay master plan provides a blueprint for effecting change, eliminating conflict, and generating public input to fulfill our mutual duty to protect and preserve our natural resources.  The legislature, therefore, finds that the master plan objectives for Kaneohe Bay should serve as the blueprint for undertaking protection and preservation of Maunalua Bay.

     The purpose of this Act is to establish a Maunalua Bay task force to study and develop recommendations for a Maunalua Bay master plan.

     SECTION 2.  The office of planning shall create a Maunalua Bay task force whose purpose and function shall be to create a comprehensive Maunalua Bay master plan, in consultation with members of the community.  Upon approval by the director of the office of planning, the master plan shall be presented to all appropriate state agencies that have jurisdiction in Maunalua Bay.

     The task force shall be composed of twelve members as follows:

     (1)  The director of health or the director's designee;

     (2)  The chair of the board of land and natural resources or the chair's designee;

     (3)  One member appointed by the governor to represent commercial ocean recreation activities;

     (4)  The director of the University of Hawaii institute of marine biology or the director's designee;

     (5)  The president/executive director of the Portlock Community Association or the president/executive director's designee;

     (6)  The president/executive director of the Aina Haina Community Association or the president/executive director's designee;

     (7)  The president/executive director or the president/executive director's designee of the Maunalua Fishpond Heritage Center;

     (8)  The president/executive director or the president/executive director's designee of the Livable Hawaii Kai Hui;

     (9)  The president/executive director or the president/executive director's designee of the Fishermen's Hui;

     (10) The president/executive director or the president/executive director's designee of HULI;

     (11) The president/executive director or the president/executive director's designee of Hui Nalu; and

     (12) The president/executive director or the president/executive director's designee of Malama Maunalua.

     All appointed members shall be appointed by October 1, 2016.

     The members of the task force shall elect a chairperson.  Any vacancy on the task force shall be filled in the same manner in which the original position was filled.

     The task force shall be placed within the office of planning for administrative purposes and shall have the authority to seek the services of special advisers to provide data and research for development of the master plan.

     SECTION 3.  The task force shall complete and submit the master plan to the director of the office of planning by October 1, 2017, for review and approval.

     SECTION 4.  The master plan, as approved by the director of the office of planning, shall include an assessment of the environmental and ecological impacts of activities on the bay.  The master plan shall be used by all appropriate state agencies in the adoption and implementation of policies, rules, and regulations relating to Maunalua Bay.

     SECTION 5.  The Maunalua Bay task force shall terminate thirty days after the approval of the Maunalua Bay master plan by the director of the office of planning.

     SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Maunalua Bay Task Force; Maunalua Bay Master Plan

 

Description:

Establishes a Maunalua Bay task force to study and develop recommendations for a Maunalua Bay master plan.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.