HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1200

TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR A FEASIBILITY STUDY AND PLANS FOR A SWIM AREA IN POHOIKI.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that there is an increasing need for a swim area in Pohoiki on the island of Hawaii.  Puna lacks a safe beach area due to the lava inundation of Kalapana, and residents would like a swimming area toward Pohoiki boat ramp and the county's Isaac Hale beach park.

     The Pohoiki boat ramp was constructed by the United States Army Corps of Engineers in 1963 and is the only launching facility located in Puna.  The ramp is an eighteen-foot-wide, single lane concrete ramp and is the department of land and natural resources' only holding in the entire bay area.  The ramp is also the only access to the ocean for boating and swimming within the county park, which is approximately two miles in either direction.  All adjacent property is owned and maintained by the county of Hawaii.

     The ocean access at the boat ramp is an ingress and egress zone for boaters, swimmers, divers, and surfers.  On a weekend afternoon, there can be over one hundred swimmers in the water while boats are entering and exiting the narrow corridor.  Recently, it has been reported that the department of land and natural resources has started to fine swimmers accessing the ocean via the boat ramp.  As a result, swimmers are barred from their only access to the ocean in that area.  Thus, a swimming area is necessary to provide swimmers access to the ocean.

     The purpose of this Act is to provide funds for the department of land and natural resources to conduct a feasibility study to determine the best means to provide a Pohoiki swimming area and develop plans, in cooperation with the United States Army Corps of Engineers, county of Hawaii, and any stakeholders, for a safe swim area.

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the          special fund the sum of $         or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2017-2018 for the department of land and natural resources to conduct a feasibility study to determine the best means to provide a Pohoiki swimming area and develop plans, in cooperation with the United States Army Corps of Engineers, county of Hawaii, and any stakeholders, for a safe swim area.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of land and natural resources for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.


 


 

Report Title:

Pohoiki; Swim Area; Department of Land and Natural Resources; Appropriation

 

Description:

Appropriates funds to the Department of Land and Natural Resources to conduct a feasibility study to determine the best means to provide a Pohoiki swimming area and develop plans, in cooperation with the United States Army Corps of Engineers, County of Hawaii, and any stakeholders, for a safe swim area.  (HB1200 HD1)

 

 

 

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