| 43 | | - | WHEREAS, Pokai Bay is one of the most-visited ocean areas on Oahu's Leeward Coast because of its wide sandy beach and relatively calm waters; and WHEREAS, because it is protected by an offshore breakwater, Pokai Bay maintains calm conditions year-round, which makes it an ideal location for many ocean users, including swimmers, canoe paddlers, surfers, snorkelers, boaters, divers, and stand-up paddlers; and WHEREAS, despite Pokai Bay's pristine appearance of crystal-blue waters and white sand, it is sadly the site of pollution from multiple sources, including runoff from surrounding surfaces, illegal dumping, and user-induced contaminants; and WHEREAS, over the last decade, beach users and local community members have reported the presence of health and environmental hazards at Pokai Bay; and WHEREAS, additional suspected sources of pollution at Pokai Bay include water runoff containing industrial pollutants from local surface streets, parking lots, and sidewalks; illegally moored boats; and petrochemical-based pollutants from vehicular use of an adjacent boat ramp; and WHEREAS, historically, illegal dumping of dredging materials and other substances has occurred at higher rates along the Leeward Coast, including at Pokai Bay, than at other locations on Oahu; and WHEREAS, the significant use of Leeward Coast beaches for camping and associated activities of daily life by homeless persons, such as bathing, are suspected to have introduced higher than normal levels of bacteria to the sand and waters at Pokai Bay, resulting in a rash of staph infections and other health problems among regular beach users; and WHEREAS, a 2015 study by professors and researchers at the University of Hawaii at Manoa's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering found that beach sand holds more fecal indicator bacteria than seawater; and WHEREAS, based upon the results of this study, the beach sand at Pokai Bay may be found to retain pollutants from the restroom facilities in the area, specifically rinse-off from the showers and fecal bacteria from toilet plumbing; and WHEREAS, the Department of Health has the supplies to test seawater and occasionally tests the seawater in Pokai Bay specifically for fecal indicator bacteria, which decays at slower rates in the beach sand than in seawater; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2023, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Health is urged to continue to prioritize testing of fecal indicator bacteria levels and any other pollutants in the waters of Pokai Bay; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Health is urged to make testing of fecal indicator bacteria levels and any other pollutants in Pokai Bay a priority of the Department's non-point source pollution program; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Health is urged to address land-based point and non-point sources of water pollution into Pokai Bay; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City and County of Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation is requested to prioritize renovations of the restroom facilities at Pokai Bay; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Health and Director of the City and County of Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation. Report Title: Pokai Bay; Beach Sand; DOH; Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation |
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| 45 | + | WHEREAS, Pokai Bay is one of the most-visited ocean areas on Oahu's Leeward Coast because of its wide sandy beach and relatively calm waters; and WHEREAS, because it is protected by an offshore breakwater, Pokai Bay maintains calm conditions year-round, which makes it an ideal location for many ocean users, including swimmers, canoe paddlers, surfers, snorkelers, boaters, divers, and stand-up paddlers; and WHEREAS, despite Pokai Bay's pristine appearance of crystal-blue waters and white sand, it is sadly the site of pollution from multiple sources, including runoff from surrounding surfaces, illegal dumping, and user-induced contaminants; and WHEREAS, over the last decade, beach users and local community members have reported the presence of health and environmental hazards at Pokai Bay; and WHEREAS, additional suspected sources of pollution at Pokai Bay include water runoff containing industrial pollutants washed from local surface streets, parking lots, and sidewalks; illegally moored boats; and petrochemical-based pollutants from vehicular use of an adjacent boat ramp; and WHEREAS, historically, illegal dumping of dredging materials and other substances has occurred at higher rates along the Leeward Coast, including at Pokai Bay, than at other locations on Oahu; and WHEREAS, the significant use of Leeward Coast beaches for camping and associated activities of daily life by homeless persons, such as bathing, are suspected to have introduced higher than normal levels of bacteria to the sand and waters at Pokai Bay, resulting in a rash of staph infections and other health problems among regular beach users; and WHEREAS, a 2015 study by professors and researchers at the University of Hawaii at Manoa's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering found that beach sand holds more fecal indicator bacteria than seawater; and WHEREAS, based upon the results of this study, the beach sand at Pokai Bay may be found to retain pollutants from the restroom facilities in the area, specifically rinse-off from the showers and fecal bacteria from toilet plumbing; and WHEREAS, the Department of Health has the supplies to test seawater and occasionally tests the seawater in Pokai Bay specifically for fecal indicator bacteria, which decays at slower rates in the beach sand than in seawater; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2023, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Health is urged to prioritize testing and research of fecal indicator bacteria levels and any other pollutants of the beach sand at Pokai Bay; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Health is urged to make testing and research of fecal indicator bacteria levels and any other pollutants in beach sand at Pokai Bay a priority of the Department's non-point source pollution program; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Health is urged to develop a plan to increase water circulation at Pokai Bay to improve water quality and mitigate environmental and health risks caused by pollution and contaminants in the water; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Health is requested to collaborate with other appropriate state and county agencies to develop the plan to increase water circulation; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Health is requested to submit a report of its collaborative activities, including significant findings, cost estimates, and any proposed legislation to increase water circulation at Pokai Bay, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2024; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that based upon the Department of Health's testing and research of fecal indicator bacteria in the beach sand at Pokai Bay, the City and County of Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation is requested to prioritize renovations of the restroom facilities at Pokai Bay; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Health and Director of the City and County of Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation. OFFERED BY: _____________________________ Report Title: Pokai Bay; Beach Sand; DOH; Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation |
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