HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B. NO. 1316 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 H.D. 2 STATE OF HAWAII S.D. 1 A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B. NO. 1316
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 H.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII S.D. 1
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H.B. NO.
1316
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
H.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII
S.D. 1
A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the people of Hawaii have significant concerns about the effects of over-tourism, including impacts to the environment, and particularly the proliferation of rental kayaks and stand-up paddleboards statewide. The legislature further finds that it is beneficial for the residents and natural resources of the State to regulate commercial rentals where a state park is the location of the watercraft activity. The legislature additionally finds that Wailua river state park on Kauai, Kealakekua bay state historical park on Hawaii island, and Ahupuaa O Kahana state park on Oahu are the only navigable waters within a state park. Therefore, the purpose of this Act is to require: (1) The registration and numbering of rental vessels before they are rented or leased, or offered for rent or lease, to the public for transiting the navigable waters of a state park; and (2) The registration fees to be deposited into the state parks special fund. SECTION 2. Chapter 184, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows: "§184- Registration required for rental vessels; registration number; fees. (a) Beginning January 1, 2026, no person shall rent or lease, or offer for rent or lease, a vessel to the public for transiting the navigable waters of a state park, unless the rental vessel is registered and numbered with the division of state parks of the department in accordance with rules adopted by the department pursuant to chapter 91 or authorized by a special use permit. (b) Beginning January 1, 2026, every rental vessel rented or leased, or offered for rent or lease, to the public for transiting the navigable waters of a state park shall have a registration number affixed to the rental vessel. (c) The department may adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 to establish conditions of use for rental vessels transiting the navigable waters of a state park and reasonable fees for the initial registration, annual renewal registration, and ancillary decals of those rental vessels, to be deposited to the credit of the state parks special fund. (d) For the purposes of this section, "vessel" has the same meaning as in section 200-6 and includes but is not limited to barges, boats, canoes, catamarans, charter boats, cruisers, ferryboats, fishing boats, flatboats, floating cabanas, houseboats, jet skis, kayaks, motor vessels, motorboats, party boats, powerboats, rafts, rowboats, sailboats, scows, ships, stand-up paddleboards, towboats, tugs, windsurfers, or any similar buoyant devices permitting or capable of free flotation." SECTION 3. Section 184-3.4, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows: "(a) There is established within the state treasury a fund to be known as the state parks special fund, into which shall be deposited all proceeds collected by the state parks programs involving park user fees, any leases or concession agreements, any fees collected pursuant to section 184- , the sale of any article purchased from the department to benefit the state parks programs, or any gifts or contributions; provided that proceeds derived from the operation of Iolani Palace shall be used to supplement its educational and interpretive programs." SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored. SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2040.
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the people of Hawaii have significant concerns about the effects of over-tourism, including impacts to the environment, and particularly the proliferation of rental kayaks and stand-up paddleboards statewide. The legislature further finds that it is beneficial for the residents and natural resources of the State to regulate commercial rentals where a state park is the location of the watercraft activity. The legislature additionally finds that Wailua river state park on Kauai, Kealakekua bay state historical park on Hawaii island, and Ahupuaa O Kahana state park on Oahu are the only navigable waters within a state park.
Therefore, the purpose of this Act is to require:
(1) The registration and numbering of rental vessels before they are rented or leased, or offered for rent or lease, to the public for transiting the navigable waters of a state park; and
(2) The registration fees to be deposited into the state parks special fund.
SECTION 2. Chapter 184, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§184- Registration required for rental vessels; registration number; fees. (a) Beginning January 1, 2026, no person shall rent or lease, or offer for rent or lease, a vessel to the public for transiting the navigable waters of a state park, unless the rental vessel is registered and numbered with the division of state parks of the department in accordance with rules adopted by the department pursuant to chapter 91 or authorized by a special use permit.
(b) Beginning January 1, 2026, every rental vessel rented or leased, or offered for rent or lease, to the public for transiting the navigable waters of a state park shall have a registration number affixed to the rental vessel.
(c) The department may adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 to establish conditions of use for rental vessels transiting the navigable waters of a state park and reasonable fees for the initial registration, annual renewal registration, and ancillary decals of those rental vessels, to be deposited to the credit of the state parks special fund.
(d) For the purposes of this section, "vessel" has the same meaning as in section 200-6 and includes but is not limited to barges, boats, canoes, catamarans, charter boats, cruisers, ferryboats, fishing boats, flatboats, floating cabanas, houseboats, jet skis, kayaks, motor vessels, motorboats, party boats, powerboats, rafts, rowboats, sailboats, scows, ships, stand-up paddleboards, towboats, tugs, windsurfers, or any similar buoyant devices permitting or capable of free flotation."
SECTION 3. Section 184-3.4, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
"(a) There is established within the state treasury a fund to be known as the state parks special fund, into which shall be deposited all proceeds collected by the state parks programs involving park user fees, any leases or concession agreements, any fees collected pursuant to section 184- , the sale of any article purchased from the department to benefit the state parks programs, or any gifts or contributions; provided that proceeds derived from the operation of Iolani Palace shall be used to supplement its educational and interpretive programs."
SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2040.
Report Title: Rental Vessels; Registration; Numbering; Navigable Waters; Wailua River State Park; Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park; Ahupuaa O Kahana State Park; State Parks Special Fund Description: Beginning 1/1/2026, requires rental vessels to be registered and numbered with the Department of Land and Natural Resources before being rented or leased, or offered for rent or lease, by the public for transiting the navigable waters of a state park. Requires registration fees to be deposited into the State Parks Special Fund. Effective 7/1/2040. (SD1) The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
Report Title:
Rental Vessels; Registration; Numbering; Navigable Waters; Wailua River State Park; Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park; Ahupuaa O Kahana State Park; State Parks Special Fund
Description:
Beginning 1/1/2026, requires rental vessels to be registered and numbered with the Department of Land and Natural Resources before being rented or leased, or offered for rent or lease, by the public for transiting the navigable waters of a state park. Requires registration fees to be deposited into the State Parks Special Fund. Effective 7/1/2040. (SD1)
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.