Vegetation Bill Gets Sliced and Diced

So much for good intentions. Once again, our do-nothing State Legislature decides to err on the side of rich beachfront property owners' boundary lines (which are NOT clear due to shifting sands and vegetation), and guts the bill that may have given the DLNR some legal grounds to have obstructive plantings removed at the property owners' expense.

Here's the email I got from Lucinda Pyles asking people to make a last ditch effort to save the bill:

As you may already know the joint Senate Committees, WTL and TIA, heard HB1808 on March 18th. They passed the bill with amendments. Unfortunately, the amendments virtually gutted the bill and all that is currently left is a minor revision to the definition of Shoreline. There are no requirements that property owners maintain there induced vegetation landward of the shoreline, i.e. wash of the waves, no power given DLNR to do anything about induced vegetation obstructing lateral access and recreational use, endangering public safety or interfering with the natural beach processes.

The Senate Judiciary and Government Operations Committee, the last Senate committee the bill was referred to, will hold a decision making hearing this coming Tuesday, March 23rd. I would ask you to both call and send testimony to Senator Brian Taniguchi, Chair asking the JGO Committee to restore the House version of the bill, HD3. Please send a copy of your testimony to Rep. Mina Morita (introducer of HB1808 at morita2@captiol.hawaii.gov), Sen. Clayton Hee (WTL chair) and Sen. Kalani English (TIA chair). Calls to Hee's and English's offices may also be helpful. I appreciate anything you can do to encourage, Sen. Taniguchi (chair JGO), Sen. Hee (chair WTL), Sen. English (chair TIA) to reconsider the importance of this bill as passed by the House.

Submitting by email to JGO is best. http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/emailtestimony/

In the first step, enter HB1808 in the box. You can attach testimony or enter in the comment box. Be sure in all communications you identify the bill and that your testimony is in support. I am still on the mainland and will be until April.
Thanks
Lucinda

In today's Honolulu Advertiser was this article with the misleading headline that implied the bill was gaining support. However, as Lucinda points out in her email, that simply isn't true. We're getting the run-around again. And what's up with Sen. Hee? I thought he was for public beach access, but lately he's been playing politics with bills that he should be supporting!

Vegetation Legislation Advances

This just in from Lucinda Pyles on the vegetation bill...

HB1808 has been referred to three Senate Committees. As before time is critical and it is very helpful when the Committee Chairs get calls and faxes requesting HB1808 be heard. Then of course once scheduled for hearing, testimony in support, however simple it may be, is also very important. You can follow the progress of the bill, see text and amendments, check for a hearing date/time and submit testimony all on this link. Just enter HB1808. Bill Status & Documents or http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2010/

The three committees are:

Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs Committee (WTL)
Senator Clayton Hee, Chair
Phone 808-586-7330; Fax 808-586-7334
e-mail senhee@Capitol.hawaii.gov

Transportation, International and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee (TIA)
Senator J. Kalani English , Chair
phone 808-587-7225; fax 808-587-7230
From Maui, toll free 984-2400 + 77225
E-mail senenglish@Capitol.hawaii.gov

Judiciary and Government Operations Committee (JGO)
Senator Brian T. Taniguchi , Chair
phone 808-586-6460; fax 808-586-6461
e-mail sentaniguchi@Capitol.hawaii.gov

And for good measure... (after all she is running for election)

Colleen Hanabusa, Senate President
Phone 808-586-7793; Fax 808-586-7797
Email senhanabusa@Capitol.hawaii.gov

Gary L. Hooser, Majority Leader
Phone 808-586-6030; Fax 808-586-6031
From Kauai, toll free 274-3141 + 66030
E-mail senhooser@Capitol.hawaii.gov

Thanks a bunch.

Lucinda
372-9323

State Legislative Update

At least two bills related to shoreline access are still alive, according to my sources. Stuart Coleman of Surfrider has been talking to legislators about a carry-over bill from last year, SB1088, which would make it more feasible for citizens to go to court over blocked beach access ways. Rep. Karamatsu told Stuart that he didn't see any reason to hold it back. We'll see.

As for the vegetation bill, HB1808, Lucinda Pyles sent this update:

Thank you to all who have contributed to this effort to getting this bill, addressing the induced vegetation overgrowth onto our beaches, this far.

HB1808 has passed, with amendments, all three House committees (WLO, JUD & FIN) it was referred to with all voting members in support. Last night, another Neighborhood Board, Hawaii Kai, passed a resolution in support, (Waialae-Kahala, Kuliouou-Kalani and Kailua-Lanikai had already). DLNR, DBEDT, OHA and the Sierra Club are in support and many others.

Next week is cross over to the Senate. We are hoping it will be referred to just one Senate Committee since three House Committees have already heard it.

My understanding is that it is likely to be referred to Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs Committee, Clayton Hee Chair and Jill Tokuda Vice-Chair. Committee members are Senators Bunda, Fukunaga, Kokubun, Takamine and Hemmings.

Please have your testimony ready :)

Lucinda
732-6262
Email: kahalabob@aol.com