Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the DLNR Co Management topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee advances DLNR co-management bill with five-year review after broad support
Summary
The committee recommended HP2218 (DLNR co-management) for passage with amendments, including a required five‑year review and language addressing competing community organizations after testimony from DLNR, OHA, Hui groups and conservation nonprofits.
Chair Mark Cash recommended passing HP2218 out with an HD1 that adds a five‑year review and direction to consider competing organizations’ roles.
Alan Carpenter, acting administrator for the Division of State Parks, told the committee the department "will stand on its testimony in strong support" and said the bill "is gonna really enable a lot a lot more community management across our system". Multiple community groups — including Kevin Chang of Kua, Chipo Rickman of Hui Makaʻāinana and the Nature Conservancy — said the bill broadens current co‑management approaches and helps replicate successful community stewardship models. Kevin Chang urged the committee not to treat community partners as mere "activists," saying the bill "allows the state to vet the communities that it should work with."
Members pressed DLNR staff on oversight mechanisms and what would happen if multiple community groups sought the same agreement. Dan Hardanger and DLNR staff explained the agreements would be non‑exclusive and that the board would retain final approval; the chair said the committee would include language about handling competing organizations in the committee report. The committee adopted the chair’s recommendation to pass HP2218 with amendments; review language and a five‑year check‑in will be added to the HD1.
