Hawaii House Bill HB169

Hawaii 2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/19/23
• Refer: 1/25/23

Caption

Relating To Beach Park Restoration.

Impact

The bill manifests a partnership between state resources and county-level management, fostering collaboration to manage and protect Kahaluu Beach. By necessitating matching funds from the county, it promotes shared investment in the park’s future. The inclusion of federal assistance for ecosystem restoration highlights the intertwined responsibilities of different government levels when addressing coastal resilience and preservation. The bill aims to ensure that restoration efforts are sustainable and that local ecosystems are respected and preserved amid increasing visitor pressures.

Summary

House Bill 169 focuses on the restoration of Kahaluu Beach Park located on Hawaii Island, recognizing its importance to both locals and tourists, with over four hundred thousand visitors annually. The bill proposes to provide matching grant-in-aid funds to the county of Hawaii, enabling it to engage an engineering firm for preliminary design and concept work aimed at restoring the park across two phases. The funded work will include studies on environmental impacts, specifically addressing the degradation of marine life and ecosystems caused by climate change and human activity in the area.

Contention

While the bill promotes cooperative restoration efforts and highlights the historical significance of Kahaluu Bay to Native Hawaiians, it also leads to a necessary discourse on balancing tourism with environmental conservation. Concerns may arise over whether the funds can sufficiently support the complexities of ecological restoration required under changing climate conditions, especially in a heavily visited area. The bill also sets a precedent for local governments to follow when facing similar challenges in their districts, posing questions about resource allocation and prioritization across state parks and public lands in Hawaii.