HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.R. NO. |
98 |
TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2013 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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HOUSE RESOLUTION
urging the Mayor of the county of Kauai, THE kauai county COUNCIL, kauai planning and action alliance, west side kauai communities, and the waimea sports complex steering committee to collaborate to expedite the construction of the Waimea Sports Complex.
WHEREAS, the west side of Kauai consists of Eleele, Hanapepe, Kaumakani, Makaweli, Waimea, and Kekaha districts; and
WHEREAS, these districts have experienced a drastic decline in their population and economy for various reasons including the closing of the sugar plantations and the lack of development in the area; and
WHEREAS, the only major housing development from Hanapepe to Kekaha is the Kekaha Hawaiian Homes subdivision; and
WHEREAS, many of the existing homes on the west side of Kauai have been converted to vacation rentals, subsequently impacting the number of housing units available to long-term renters and the drop in enrollment at Waimea High School; and
WHEREAS, in the summer of 2012, the State of Hawaii senior softball tournament, hosting fifty softball teams, was held on Kauai and played on three existing baseball fields and three makeshift baseball fields in the Hanapepe area; and
WHEREAS, earlier this year, the Waimea High School Baseball Tournament was held on three baseball fields in Hanapepe, Vidinha Stadium, and Kapaa High School; and
WHEREAS, the creation of a large sports complex in Waimea would provide accommodations for large events and tournaments, thus attracting more sporting events to the area and increasing revenue generation; and
WHEREAS, with the increase in activity provided by a large sports complex, landowners in the area may determine that the development of housing projects in the Waimea area would be more feasible; and
WHEREAS, a Waimea sports complex would be able to hold sporting events, including football, soccer, softball, track, and basketball; and
WHEREAS, a Waimea sports complex could provide facilities to host local, state, national, and international sports events, exhibitions, and tournaments; and
WHEREAS, one of the best attributes of such a complex in Waimea is the sunny weather, which will enable sporting events to take place in a beautiful and sunny location; and
WHEREAS, the construction and renovation of the complex will be divided into five separate phases (1a, 1b, 2, 3a, and 3b); and
WHEREAS, the proposed Waimea sports complex will include:
(1) A college and high school baseball field;
(2) A pony league baseball field;
(3) Four softball fields;
(4) A regulation track and football field;
(5) Twelve acres designed for a soccer field;
(6) A multi-use field;
(7) Two outdoor covered basketball courts; and
(8) A nine-mile pedestrian path; and
WHEREAS, the construction of the proposed Waimea sports complex is a collaborative effort to be built by the County of Kauai, with the support of the west side communities and the Waimea Sport Complex Steering Committee; the completed Waimea sports complex will be under the jurisdiction of the County of Kauai Department of Parks and Recreation; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-seventh Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2013, that the Mayor of the County of Kauai and the Kauai County Council are urged to continue working with the Waimea Sport Complex Steering Committee and communities on the west side of Kauai to expedite the construction of the Waimea sports complex; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Mayor of the County of Kauai is urged to continue the negotiations with the land owners of the abutting lands needed for the construction of the Waimea sports complex; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism is urged to provide information on sports tourism in the State upon the request of the Mayor or County Council of Kauai; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Mayor of the County of Kauai, the Chairperson of the Kauai County Council, the Director of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, and the Chairperson of the Waimea Sport Complex Steering Committee.
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OFFERED BY: |
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Waimea Sports Complex