SCR 159: URGING PUBLIC AND PRIVATE STAKEHOLDERS TO ADOPT SHARED GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR THE PLANNING, FINANCING, AND UNDERTAKING OF EFFORTS FOR THE RESTORATION, IMPROVEMENT, AND MAINTENANCE OF THE BEACHES, SHORELINE, AND COASTAL AREAS OF WAIKIKI.

THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	159
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII		H.D. 2

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

URGING PUBLIC AND PRIVATE STAKEHOLDERS TO ADOPT SHARED GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR THE PLANNING, FINANCING, AND UNDERTAKING OF EFFORTS FOR THE RESTORATION, IMPROVEMENT, AND MAINTENANCE OF THE BEACHES, SHORELINE, AND COASTAL AREAS OF WAIKIKI.

 

 

 

     WHEREAS, Waikiki beaches are global visitor destinations that accounted for over thirty-six percent of the State's total visitor expenditures in 2025; and

 

     WHEREAS, in 2024, Waikiki directly generated approximately five percent, and indirectly generated almost seven percent, of the State's tax revenue, excluding tax revenue collected by the City and County of Honolulu; and

 

     WHEREAS, tens of thousands of local residents work at jobs in and connected to Waikiki's visitor industry, which constitutes a significant portion of all non-military jobs held by state residents; and

 

     WHEREAS, countless local families and residents living in the urban core visit beaches in Waikiki and along the southern shore daily for recreation and relaxation and to spend time with family and friends; and

 

     WHEREAS, Waikiki was established as the original capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii by Kamehameha I in 1795, and is home to a rich Hawaiian cultural heritage recognized by cultural practitioners, scholars, and descendants; and

 

     WHEREAS, with a shoreline shaped by years of coastal engineering and urban development, Waikiki in its current form has become an irreplaceable driver of Hawaii's economy and culture and is indispensable to Hawaii residents as a locus of housing, jobs, recreation, ocean access, and outdoor green space in the State's densely populated urban core; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Waikiki shoreline originally consisted of a narrow barrier beach backed by wetlands, duck ponds, loʻi kalo, and loko iʻa fed by numerous springs, which created a wetland system; however, over time, seawalls and groins were constructed and channels were dredged to protect the engineered beaches; and

 

     WHEREAS, Waikiki beaches require ongoing replenishment, maintenance, and coordinated management to sustain beach width, shoreline access, and recreational use and have been restored approximately eleven times since 1939 using both imported and offshore sand; and

 

     WHEREAS, improved emergency access to the shoreline is necessary to address the numerous safety incidents that regularly occur in Waikiki; and

 

     WHEREAS, the loss of beach access reduces opportunities for the public enjoyment of coastal resources that are held in trust for the people of the State; and

 

WHEREAS, the loss of Waikiki as an economic engine would be catastrophic to the State's financial future and could severely impact the jobs of tens of thousands of Hawaii residents; and

 

     WHEREAS, the public benefits of increased public access to ocean natural resources and open spaces, and the private benefits to commercial interests that are located within and dependent upon Waikiki, are inextricably linked; and

 

     WHEREAS, decades of coordinated efforts by the State, the City and County of Honolulu, and private interests have fallen short of producing a sustainable and equitable long-term strategy for preserving Waikiki beaches, infrastructure, and commerce, despite various legacy contractual agreements and more recent judicial intervention; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2026, the House of Representatives concurring, that public and private stakeholders are urged to adopt shared guiding principles for the planning, financing, and undertaking of efforts for the restoration, maintenance, and improvement of the beaches, shoreline, and coastal areas of Waikiki spanning from the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor to Kaimana Beach; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the shared guiding principles are requested to incorporate the following strategies:

 

     (1)  Prioritization of public access to and enjoyment of the ocean, beach, and shoreline consistent with the State's policies relating to environmental protection and the protection of traditional and customary practices, including features that conform to Americans with Disabilities Act Standards for Accessible Design; provide lateral and perpendicular public access for residents and visitors; connect beaches and parks from Diamondhead to Kakaako; and allow rapid access to beaches, parks, and the ocean for emergency responders;

 

     (2)  Implementation of state policy to conserve and protect natural resources and promote their development and use in a manner consistent with their conservation and the self-sufficiency of the State, while also affording the Department of Land and Natural Resources the flexibility to address unique shoreline situations with consideration of different alternative approaches;

 

     (3)  Adherence to principles of regional planning that account for the interconnectedness of land despite ownership boundaries and for the natural tidal and littoral movement of water and sand across the area and its surrounding environment;

 

     (4)  Planning and implementation of state-led beach improvements, with cost-sharing among federal, state, county, and private property owners; collaboration with all relevant stakeholders, including private interests and the community; and consultation with coastal science experts; and

 

     (5)  Confirmation of the responsibility of federal, state, county, and private property owners to maintain seawalls and other infrastructure pursuant to jurisdictional authority and in accordance with controlling law; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor; Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources; Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu; Chair of the Honolulu City Council; and President and Executive Director of the Waikiki Business Improvement District.

Report Title: 

DBEDT; DLNR; City and County of Honolulu; Waikiki Beach; Restoration; Guiding Principles

THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	159
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII		H.D. 1

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

URGING PUBLIC AND PRIVATE STAKEHOLDERS TO ADOPT SHARED GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR THE PLANNING, FINANCING, AND UNDERTAKING OF EFFORTS FOR THE RESTORATION, IMPROVEMENT, AND MAINTENANCE OF THE BEACHES, SHORELINE, AND COASTAL AREAS OF WAIKIKI.

 

 

 

     WHEREAS, Waikiki beaches are global visitor destinations that accounted for over thirty-six percent of the State's total visitor expenditures in 2025; and

 

     WHEREAS, in 2024, Waikiki directly generated approximately five percent, and indirectly generated almost seven percent, of the State's tax revenue, excluding tax revenue collected by the City and County of Honolulu; and

 

     WHEREAS, tens of thousands of local residents work at jobs in and connected to Waikiki's visitor industry, which constitutes a significant portion of all non-military jobs held by state residents; and

 

     WHEREAS, countless local families and residents living in the urban core visit beaches in Waikiki and along the southern shore daily for recreation and relaxation and to spend time with family and friends; and

 

     WHEREAS, Waikiki was established as the original capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii by Kamehameha I in 1795, and is home to a rich Hawaiian cultural heritage recognized by cultural practitioners, scholars, and descendants; and

 

     WHEREAS, with a shoreline shaped by years of coastal engineering and urban development, Waikiki in its current form has become an irreplaceable driver of Hawaii's economy and culture and is indispensable to Hawaii residents as a locus of housing, jobs, recreation, ocean access, and outdoor green space in the State's densely populated urban core; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Waikiki shoreline originally consisted of a narrow barrier beach backed by wetlands, duck ponds, loʻi kalo, and loki iʻa fed by numerous springs, which created a wetland system, however, over time, seawalls and groins were constructed and channels were dredged to protect the engineered beaches; and

 

     WHEREAS, Waikiki beaches require ongoing replenishment, maintenance, and coordinated management to sustain beach width, shoreline access, and recreational use and have been restored approximately eleven times since 1939 using both imported and offshore sand; and

 

     WHEREAS, improved emergency access to the shoreline is necessary to address the numerous safety incidents that regularly occur in Waikiki; and

 

     WHEREAS, the loss of beach access reduces opportunities for the public enjoyment of coastal resources that are held in trust for the people of the State; and

 

WHEREAS, the loss of Waikiki as an economic engine would be catastrophic to the State's financial future and could severely impact the jobs of tens of thousands of Hawaii residents; and

 

     WHEREAS, the public benefits of increased public access to ocean natural resources and open spaces, and the private benefits to commercial interests that are located within and dependent upon Waikiki, are inextricably linked; and

 

     WHEREAS, decades of coordinated efforts by the State, the City and County of Honolulu, and private interests have worked to produce a sustainable and equitable long-term strategy for preserving Waikiki beaches, infrastructure, and commerce, which includes the 1928 and 1929 Waikiki Beach Reclamation Agreement, the 1965 Surfrider-Royal Hawaiian Sector Beach Agreement, and Hawaii Supreme Court cases, including Gold Coast Neighborhood Association v. State of Hawaii, 140 Hawaii 437, 403 P.3d 214 (2017); now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2026, the House of Representatives concurring, that public and private stakeholders are urged to adopt shared guiding principles for the planning, financing, and undertaking of efforts for the restoration, maintenance, and improvement of the beaches, shoreline, and coastal areas of Waikiki spanning from the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor to Kaimana Beach; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the shared guiding principles are requested to incorporate the following strategies:

 

     (1)  Prioritization of public access to and enjoyment of the ocean, beach, and shoreline consistent with the State's policies relating to environmental protection and the protection of traditional and customary practices, including features that conform to Americans with Disabilities Act Standards for Accessible Design, provide lateral and perpendicular public access for residents and visitors, connect beaches and parks from Diamondhead to Kakaako, and allow rapid access to beaches, parks, and the ocean for emergency responders;

 

     (2)  Implementation of state policy to conserve and protect natural resources and promote their development and utilization in a manner consistent with their conservation and the self-sufficiency of the State, while also affording the Department of Land and Natural Resources the flexibility to address unique shoreline situations with consideration of different alternative approaches;

 

     (3)  Adherence to principles of regional planning that account for the interconnectedness of land despite ownership boundaries and for the natural tidal and littoral movement of water and sand across the area and its surrounding environment;

 

     (4)  Planning and implementation of state-led beach improvements, with cost-sharing among federal, state, county, and private property owners;

 

     (5)  Confirmation of the responsibility of federal, state, county, and private property owners to maintain seawalls and other infrastructure proximate to the shoreline, in accordance with authorities, including but not limited to the 1928 and 1929 Waikiki Beach Reclamation Agreement, the 1965 Surfrider-Royal Hawaiian Sector Beach Agreement, and all applicable Hawaii Supreme Court cases; and

 

     (6)  Consultation and collaboration with Waikiki Beach hotels, landowners, University of Hawaii Sea Grant experts, and other relevant stakeholders; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor; Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources; Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu; Chair of the Honolulu City Council; and President and Executive Director of the Waikiki Business Improvement District.

Report Title: 

DBEDT; DLNR; City and County of Honolulu; Waikiki Beach; Restoration; Guiding Principles

THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	159
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

URGING THE ADOPTION OF shared GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR THE RESTORATION OF WAIKIKI BEACHES.

 

 

     WHEREAS, Waikiki beaches are global visitor destinations that accounted for over thirty-six percent of the State's total visitor expenditures in 2025; and

 

     WHEREAS, in 2024, Waikiki directly generated just under five percent, and indirectly generated almost seven percent, of the State's tax revenue, excluding tax revenue collected by the City and County of Honolulu; and

 

     WHEREAS, tens of thousands of local residents work at jobs in and connected to Waikiki's visitor industry, which constitutes a significant portion of all non-military jobs held by state residents; and

 

     WHEREAS, countless local families and residents living in the urban core visit beaches in Waikiki and along the southern shore daily for recreation and relaxation and to spend time with family and friends; and

 

     WHEREAS, numerous safety incidents regularly occur in the area and must be addressed by providing improved emergency access to the shoreline; and

 

     WHEREAS, Waikiki was established as the original capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii by Kamehameha I in 1795, and is home to a rich Hawaiian cultural heritage recognized by cultural practitioners, scholars, and descendants; and

 

     WHEREAS, with a shoreline shaped by years of coastal engineering and urban development, Waikiki in its current form has become an irreplaceable driver of contemporary Hawaii's economy and culture and is indispensable to kamaaina as a locus of housing, jobs, recreation, ocean access, and outdoor green space in the State's densely populated urban core; and

 

     WHEREAS, the original beaches of Waikiki were lost sometime before 1920 due to a combination of sand mining, coral dredging, and the construction of seawalls and groins that interrupted the natural movement of sand along the coast; and

 

     WHEREAS, Waikiki beaches require ongoing replenishment, maintenance, and coordinated management to sustain beach width, shoreline access, and recreational use and have been restored approximately eleven times since 1939 using both imported and offshore sand; and

 

     WHEREAS, the loss of beach access reduces opportunities for the public enjoyment of coastal resources that are held in trust for the people of the State; and

 

WHEREAS, the loss of Waikiki as an economic engine would be catastrophic to the State's financial future and could severely impact the jobs of tens of thousands of kamaaina; and

 

     WHEREAS, the public benefits of increased public access to ocean natural resources and open spaces, and the private benefits to commercial interests that are located within and dependent upon Waikiki, are inextricably linked; and

 

     WHEREAS, decades of coordinated efforts by the State, the City and County of Honolulu, and private interests have struggled to produce a sustainable and equitable long-term strategy for preserving Waikiki beaches, infrastructure, and commerce; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2026, the House of Representatives concurring, that the following shared guiding principles are urged to be adopted for the planning, financing, and undertaking of efforts to restore, maintain, and improve the beaches, shoreline, and coastal areas of Waikiki spanning from the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor to Kaimana Beach; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the shared guiding principles are requested to incorporate the following strategies:

 

     (1)  Prioritization of public access to and enjoyment of the ocean, beach, and shoreline consistent with the State's policies relating to environmental protection and the protection of traditional and customary practices, including a permanent makai pathway along the shoreline that conforms to Americans with Disabilities Act Standards for Accessible Design, provides lateral public access for residents and visitors, and connects beaches and parks from Diamondhead to Kakaako, with sufficient width to also provide emergency access to light-duty emergency vehicles;

 

     (2)  Implementation of state policy to conserve and protect natural resources and promote their development and utilization in a manner consistent with their conservation and the self-sufficiency of the State;

 

     (3)  Adherence to principles of regional planning that account for the interconnectedness of land despite ownership boundaries and for the natural tidal and littoral movement of water and sand across the area and its surrounding environment;

 

     (4)  Planning and implementation of beach improvements led by the State, with cost-sharing among state, county, federal, and private property owners; and

 

     (5)  Confirmation of the responsibility of property owners to maintain seawalls and other infrastructure above the shoreline and located on the owner's property; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor; Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources; Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu; and Chair of the Honolulu City Council.

 

Report Title: 

DBEDT; DLNR; City and County of Honolulu; Waikiki Beach; Restoration; Guiding Principles

 

THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	159
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

URGING THE ADOPTION OF shared GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR THE RESTORATION OF WAIKIKI BEACHES.

 

 

     WHEREAS, Waikiki beaches are global visitor destinations that accounted for over thirty-six percent of the State's total visitor expenditures in 2025; and

 

     WHEREAS, in 2024, Waikiki directly generated just under five percent, and indirectly generated almost seven percent, of the State's tax revenue, excluding tax revenue collected by the City and County of Honolulu; and

 

     WHEREAS, tens of thousands of local residents work at jobs in and connected to Waikiki's visitor industry, which constitutes a significant portion of all non-military jobs held by state residents; and

 

     WHEREAS, Waikiki was established as the original capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii by Kamehameha I in 1795, and is home to a rich Hawaiian cultural heritage recognized by cultural practitioners, scholars, and descendants; and

 

     WHEREAS, with a shoreline shaped by years of coastal engineering and urban development, Waikiki in its current form has become an irreplaceable driver of contemporary Hawaii's economy and culture and is indispensable to kamaaina as a locus of housing, jobs, recreation, ocean access, and outdoor green space in the State's densely populated urban core; and

 

     WHEREAS, the original beaches of Waikiki were lost sometime prior to 1920 due to a combination of sand mining, coral dredging, and the construction of seawalls and groins that interrupted the natural movement of sand along the coast; and

 

     WHEREAS, Waikiki beaches require ongoing replenishment, maintenance, and coordinated management to sustain beach width, shoreline access, and recreational use and have been restored approximately eleven times since 1939 using both imported and offshore sand; and

 

     WHEREAS, the loss of beach access reduces opportunities for the public enjoyment of coastal resources that are held in trust for the people of the State; and

 

WHEREAS, the loss of Waikiki as an economic engine would be catastrophic to Hawaii's financial future and could severely impact the jobs of tens of thousands of kamaaina; and

 

     WHEREAS, the public benefits of increased public access to ocean natural resources and open spaces, and the private benefits to commercial interests that are located within and dependent upon Waikiki, are inextricably linked; and

 

     WHEREAS, decades of coordinated efforts by the State, the City and County of Honolulu, and private interests have struggled to produce a sustainable and equitable long-term strategy for preserving Waikiki beaches, infrastructure, and commerce; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2026, the House of Representatives concurring, that the following shared guiding principles shall be applied to the planning, financing, and undertaking of efforts to restore, maintain, and improve the beaches, shoreline, and coastal areas of Waikiki spanning from the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor to Kaimana Beach; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the shared guiding principles should incorporate the following strategies:

 

     (1)  Prioritization of public access to and enjoyment of the ocean, beach, and shoreline consistent with the State's policies relating to environmental protection and the protection of traditional and customary practices;

 

     (2)  Implementation of state policy to conserve and protect natural resources and promote their development and utilization in a manner consistent with their conservation and the self-sufficiency of the State;

 

     (3)  Adherence to principles of regional planning that account for the interconnectedness of land despite ownership boundaries and for the natural tidal and littoral movement of water and sand across the area and its surrounding environment;

 

     (4)  Planning and implementation of beach improvements led by the State, with cost-sharing among state, county, federal, and private property owners; and

 

     (5)  Confirmation of the responsibility of property owners to maintain seawalls and other infrastructure above the shoreline and located on the owner's property; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor; Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Acting Chair of the Board of Land and Natural Resources; Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu; and Chair of the Honolulu City Council.

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

 

 

 

Report Title: 

DBEDT; DLNR; City and County of Honolulu; Waikiki Beach; Restoration; Guiding Principles