Hawaii Senate Bill SCR181

Hawaii 2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/10/23
• Refer: 3/15/23

Caption

Urging The Department Of Accounting And General Services To Provide Maintenance Services At Sunset Memorial Park And Develop A Plan For The State To Take Ownership Of Sunset Memorial Park.

Impact

The resolution urges the Department of Accounting and General Services (DAGS) of Hawaii to take responsibility for providing maintenance services at the cemetery. Furthermore, it calls for DAGS to develop a plan that would facilitate state ownership over Sunset Memorial Park. This action reflects a broader commitment by the state to ensure that neglected public spaces are restored and maintained for the benefit of the community.

Summary

SCR181 is a Senate Concurrent Resolution aimed at addressing the maintenance and ownership issues surrounding Sunset Memorial Park, located in Pearl City, Hawaii. The cemetery has faced significant decline due to legal uncertainties following the involuntary dissolution of the company that previously owned it in 2006 and the subsequent death of its owner in 2011. This has raised serious safety concerns for families who cannot properly locate the graves of their loved ones due to overgrown vegetation and vandalism at the site.

Contention

There may be potential contention surrounding the implementation of SCR181, as it brings forth the issue of state intervention in the management of public burial grounds. Concerns may arise regarding the financial implications of state maintenance and ownership, especially considering that there is a trust fund associated with the cemetery that is currently inaccessible due to legal complications. The change could also lead to debates concerning how public lands, such as cemeteries, should be managed to balance community concerns with bureaucratic processes.