The “Recreational Renaissance” proposed by the state Department of Land and Natural Resources that was sailing through the state Legislature this session came to a halt when it died in the Senate. Senate Bill 636 aimed to allocate $240 million
The “Recreational Renaissance” proposed by the state Department of Land and Natural Resources that was sailing through the state Legislature this session came to a halt when it died in the Senate.
Senate Bill 636 aimed to allocate $240 million non-taxpayer dollars to restore the state’s dilapidated outdoor recreational areas.
“The focus on the legislative session is primarily on just balancing the budget,” state Sen. Gary Hooser, D-Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau, said in an interview last week. “At the last minute it got pushed to the side.
“There’s no question that during the next year the Renaissance bill will be looked at again,” he said, adding that there was some concern that the plan involved raising fees.
The bill’s proposal included $63 million for 46 projects on Kaua‘i, plus $40 million for Maui, $58 million for Hawai’i and $72 million for O‘ahu.
Funding for the bill would have come from government bonds that would be paid back partly by implementing non-resident park fees at eight major state parks, as well as boat harbor fees.
“It’s something that would have really benefited our island,” said Alvin Kyono, manager of DLNR’s Forestry and Wildlife division, regarding the bill.
The multiple projects included 10 aimed at renovating state parks, hiking trails and restoring cultural and fragile areas, and five ocean recreation improvements at the boat harbors across the island.
Some of the projects on Kaua‘i included improvements of rental cabins, roads and parking in Koke’e, new pavilions, parking and roadway improvements at Polihale, protection of archeological sites at Nualolo Kai and water system improvements at Miloli‘i in Ha‘ena State Park.
“These places deserve and require state support,” DLNR Chair Laura Thielen said. “These places are important to our residents, our tourist economy and the cultural sites we are supposed to be caring for future generations.”
Thielen said the DLNR has immediately implemented “Plan B” which is repair and maintenance of areas — which will be funded by small, non-resident entry fees at state parks and increasing boating fees up to fair market value.
“We can’t fix the boat ramps; we can’t fix the cabins that are falling down. What we can do is repair and maintenance, and be as creative as we possibly can,” Thielen said.
Polihale, damaged by December storms, was shut down indefinitely due to lack of funding for repairs. But volunteers from the community helped to fix and reopen the park.
Currently, volunteers have been working with the state to repair Kikiaola small boat harbor on the Westside, which Joe Borden of DLNR’s boating division said is still in the process of being renovated.
“We will not turn away help, but the people expect the state to take care of business,” said Borden, when asked whether volunteerism will be an avenue to fix the multiple needed repairs in the future across the island.
“This Renaissance bill would have helped us fix what is broken now,” Borden said. “Now it’s just back to business as usual.”
Thielen said “Plan B” will also include exploring how community groups can come together to work on the restoration projects the Renaissance bill would have funded, adding that the volunteer efforts on Kaua‘i have been a stellar example of getting things done.
“I know some people are concerned that if the community steps up, the state will step back,” Thielen said. “That is a question for the Legislature.”
Ron Agor, Kaua‘i’s Board of Land and Natural Resources member who served as architect and engineer on the two Westside volunteer projects, called the Senate’s decision a “slap in the face” to volunteers and said the bill would have created nearly 3,000 jobs.
“The Senate cuts DLNR budget, can’t come up with the monies to maintain our recreational resources and then chooses to stop the vehicle that would have allowed DLNR to raise their own funds with little or no impact on the state’s budget,” he said.
Former Kaua‘i BLNR member Lynn McCrory (current president of PAHIO Development Inc.) was among other Kaua‘i residents and businesses — including the Kaua‘i Chamber of Commerce and Kaua‘i Sea Tours — who submitted testimony to the Legislature in support of the proposed plan.
Hooser, the Senate majority leader, commented on the volunteerism on Kaua‘i, “applauding the community’s effort” for restoring and reopening access to Polihale.
“Kaua‘i has a history of coming together; the coastal path effort, Lydgate Park, there’s many examples,” he said. “With or without the Renaissance program, the community will step up.”
