Hawaii-2024-HB1394-Amended

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1394
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023		H.D. 1
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 visitors are attracted to Hawaii because of the State's natural beauty, natural resources, cultural resources, and historical sites. However, many of these sites are overwhelmed by the sheer number of visitors and residents who flock to these sites during their stay in Hawaii.

The legislature acknowledges the work of the Hawaii tourism authority and its subcontractors who have developed destination management plans for each county. Each destination management plan has identified hotspots that attract visitors due to their popularity, which may result in overcrowding, congestion, degradation of resources, safety hazards, and a negative experience for residents and visitors.

The legislature further finds that many of the hotspots in each county are trailheads leading to hiking trails of Na Ala Hele, the State's trail and access program, which is maintained by the department of land and natural resources' division of forestry and wildlife. While progress is being made to address action items in the destination management plans, very little progress is being made to address the hotspots.

The legislature recognizes that it is the role of the division of forestry and wildlife, not the Hawaii tourism authority, to address hotspots relating to trailheads. With the dramatic increase in trail use, intensified by residents who escaped to the outdoors during the COVID-19 pandemic and visitors exposed to the trails via social media influences, additional resources are needed to manage the destination. The lack of staffing to address these hotspots leads to residents complaining about blocked driveways, illegal parking on state and county roadways, lack of restroom facilities, constant noise, lack of on-street parking for residential use, use of residential water hoses to clean up, and use of residential yards to gather and unwind from the day's activities.

The legislature also finds that the division of forestry and wildlife needs additional personnel and resources to prioritize hotspots relating to trails and access, work with affected residents, identify alternative solutions, coordinate with state and county agencies, work with community organizations, raise funds, and implement solutions. The legislature additionally finds that based on the successful Haena state park model, solutions may take several years to implement.

The legislature notes that although revenues from the transient accommodations tax generated $738,000,000 in fiscal year 2022, only about $2,600,000 was used in general funds, special funds, and Hawaii tourism authority funds for personnel and operating costs to cover the one hundred thirty-eight Na Ala Hele-maintained trails throughout Hawaii.

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds for the operations and personnel of the department of land and natural resources' division of forestry and wildlife to manage hotspots at trailheads as part of the Na Ala Hele trail and access program.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2023-2024 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 to be used as follows:

(1) $ for office, safety, and field supplies;

(2) $ for four four-wheel drive vehicles;

(3) $ for planning consultant contracts;

(4) $ for the establishment of one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) permanent planner V position on Oahu;

(5) $ for the establishment of three full-time equivalent (3.0 FTE) permanent specialist IV positions; provided that one position each shall be assigned to Maui, Oahu, and Kauai;

(6) $ for the establishment of one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) permanent technician position on Kauai; and

(7) $ for the establishment of one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) permanent abstractor position on Oahu.

The sums 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 June 30, 3000.