SCR 20: strongly supporting the county of hawaiʻi's efforts to develop the kealakehe regional park project.
- Session Year: 2025-2026
- House: Senate
- Latest Version Date: 2026-04-06
Current Status:
Passed
(2026-04-28: Resolution adopted in final form.)
Introduced
In Committee
First Chamber
In Committee
Second Chamber
Final Decking
Enacted
What does this bill do?
This resolution says the Legislature strongly supports the County of Hawaiʻi’s efforts to develop the 190‑acre Kealakehe Regional Park in North Kona and urges the county to move forward with funding and phased construction of athletic fields, courts, a skate park, an amphitheater, cultural gathering areas, and open recreation space to serve West Hawaiʻi residents. It also encourages the county to seek state and federal grants and to work with Hawaiian Home Lands, the Department of Education, community groups, and nonprofits to maximize recreational, educational, and cultural benefits.
The summary is provided by generative AI which can make mistakes. For original language, please view the details in the table below.
strongly supporting the county of hawaiʻi's efforts to develop the kealakehe regional park project.
strongly supporting the county of hawaiʻi's efforts to develop the kealakehe regional park project.
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THE SENATE |
S.C.R. NO. |
20 |
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THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 |
S.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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SENATE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION
strongly supporting the county of hawaiʻi's efforts to develop the kealakehe regional park project.
WHEREAS, the proposed Kealakehe Regional Park project encompasses approximately one hundred ninety acres of state‑owned land, set aside to the County of Hawaiʻi, in North Kona, bounded by Queen Kaʻahumanu Highway, Ane Keohokālole Highway, and Kealakehe Parkway; and
WHEREAS, the master plan for Kealakehe Regional Park envisions multiple athletic fields, indoor and outdoor courts, a skate park, an amphitheater, cultural gathering spaces, and passive recreation areas designed to serve the entire West Hawaiʻi community; and
WHEREAS, despite longstanding community advocacy and planning efforts, progress on the Kealakehe Regional Park project has stalled, leaving the land underutilized while the population of North Kona continues to grow; and
WHEREAS, the lack of a regional-scale park limits opportunities for organized youth sports, family recreation, cultural events, and healthy lifestyles in West Hawaiʻi, disproportionately affecting working families and school-aged children; and
WHEREAS, the Kealakehe Regional Park project aligns with the State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan, the goals of Vision Zero and Complete Streets, and public health strategies to increase active recreation opportunities; and
WHEREAS, community members, the West Hawaiʻi Parks and Athletic Corporation, local sports leagues, schools, and community associations have consistently expressed strong support for the timely development of the park; 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 this body strongly supports the County of Hawaiʻi's efforts to develop the Kealakehe Regional Park project; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the County of Hawaiʻi is urged to identify and allocate sufficient capital improvement funding, seek state and federal grants, and pursue phased development to ensure the timely realization of park facilities; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the County of Hawaiʻi is encouraged to collaborate with the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Department of Education, community stakeholders, and local nonprofit organizations to maximize recreational, educational, and cultural benefits; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the County of Hawaiʻi is requested to submit a report to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2027, detailing progress made in advancing the Kealakehe Regional Park project; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Mayor of the County of Hawaiʻi, Chair of the Hawaiʻi County Council, Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation of the County of Hawaiʻi, and President of the West Hawaiʻi Parks and Athletic Corporation.
County of Hawaii; North Kona; Kealakehe Regional Park Project
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THE SENATE |
S.C.R. NO. |
20 |
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THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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SENATE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION
strongly supporting the county of hawaiʻi's efforts to develop the kealakehe regional park project.
WHEREAS, the proposed Kealakehe Regional Park project encompasses approximately one hundred ninety acres of county‑owned land in North Kona, bounded by Queen Kaʻahumanu Highway, Ane Keohokālole Highway, and Kealakehe Parkway; and
WHEREAS, the master plan for Kealakehe Regional Park envisions multiple athletic fields, indoor and outdoor courts, a skate park, an amphitheater, cultural gathering spaces, and passive recreation areas designed to serve the entire West Hawaiʻi community; and
WHEREAS, despite longstanding community advocacy and planning efforts, progress on the Kealakehe Regional Park project has stalled, leaving the land underutilized while the population of North Kona continues to grow; and
WHEREAS, the lack of a regional-scale park limits opportunities for organized youth sports, family recreation, cultural events, and healthy lifestyles in West Hawaiʻi, disproportionately affecting working families and school-aged children; and
WHEREAS, the Kealakehe Regional Park project aligns with the State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan, the goals of Vision Zero and Complete Streets, and public health strategies to increase active recreation opportunities; and
WHEREAS, community members, the West Hawaiʻi Parks and Athletic Corporation, local sports leagues, schools, and community associations have consistently expressed strong support for the timely development of the park; 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 this body strongly supports the County of Hawaiʻi's efforts to develop the Kealakehe Regional Park project; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the County of Hawaiʻi is urged to identify and allocate sufficient capital improvement funding, seek state and federal grants, and pursue phased development to ensure the timely realization of park facilities; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the County of Hawaiʻi is encouraged to collaborate with the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Department of Education, community stakeholders, and local nonprofit organizations to maximize recreational, educational, and cultural benefits; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the County of Hawaiʻi is requested to submit a report to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session 2027, detailing progress made in advancing the Kealakehe Regional Park project; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Mayor of the County of Hawaiʻi, Chair of the Hawaiʻi County Council, Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation of the County of Hawaiʻi, and President of the West Hawaiʻi Parks and Athletic Corporation.
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OFFERED BY: |
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County of Hawaii; North Kona; Kealakehe Regional Park Project
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Date
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Status
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| Apr 28, 2026 | Resolution adopted in final form. |
| Apr 28, 2026 | Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 843). |
| Apr 27, 2026 | Transmitted to Senate. |
| Apr 27, 2026 | Adopted with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0). |
| Apr 27, 2026 | Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2273-26), recommending adoption. |
| Apr 23, 2026 | The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 14 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Ratcliffe, Templo, Yamashita, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 3 Excused: Representative(s) Morikawa, Perruso, Alcos. |
| Apr 21, 2026 | Scheduled for decision making on Thursday, 04-23-26 10:00AM in conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. |
| Apr 20, 2026 | Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Alcos, Cochran, Woodson excused (3). |
| Apr 20, 2026 | Reported from WAL (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2186-26), recommending referral to FIN. |
| Apr 16, 2026 | The committee on WAL recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Hashem, Morikawa, Belatti, Ichiyama, Iwamoto, Poepoe, Shimizu, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Woodson. |
| Apr 13, 2026 | Resolution scheduled to be heard by WAL on Thursday, 04-16-26 9:00AM in conference room 411 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. |
| Apr 10, 2026 | Referred to WAL, FIN, referral sheet 27 |
| Apr 8, 2026 | Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 426) in amended form (SD 1). |
| Apr 8, 2026 | Report and Resolution Adopted, as amended (SD 1). Transmitted to House. |
| Apr 7, 2026 | One Day Notice 04-08-26. |
| Apr 7, 2026 | Reported from EIG (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3452) with recommendation of adoption, as amended (SD 1). |
| Mar 17, 2026 | The committee(s) on EIG recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EIG were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Wakai, Chang, DeCoite, Richards; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella. |
| Mar 12, 2026 | The committee(s) on EIG has scheduled a public hearing on 03-17-26 3:01PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference. |
| Feb 13, 2026 | Referred to EIG. |
| Feb 9, 2026 | Offered. |
| Feb 10, 2026 | Offered. |
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Date
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Description
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Location
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Votes
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| Apr 23, 2026 | The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED | House Standing Committee on Finance |
Passed |
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| Apr 16, 2026 | The committee on WAL recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED | House Standing Committee on Water & Land |
Passed |
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| Mar 17, 2026 | The committee(s) on EIG recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS | Senate Standing Committee on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs |
Passed |
This list shows positions taken on this bill by organizations on the date displayed, which is linked to the original source.
Positions by individuals are not included.
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Organization
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Position
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Date
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| Department of Land and Natural Resources | *** Support | Mar 17, 2026 |
| Hawai‘i County Council | *** Support | Mar 17, 2026 |
| Laiopua Community Development Corporation | *** Support | Mar 17, 2026 |
| SSUSA Hawaii (Senior Softball USA) | *** Support | Apr 16, 2026 |
| West Hawaii Parks & Athletic Corporation | *** Support | Mar 17, 2026 |
| WHIPAC (West Hawaiʻi Parks and Athletic Corporation) | *** Support | Apr 16, 2026 |
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Date
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Testimony PDF
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| Apr 16, 2026 | SCR20_SD1_TESTIMONY_WAL_04-16-26_.PDF |
| Mar 17, 2026 | SCR20_TESTIMONY_EIG_03-17-26_.PDF |
Discussed in Hearing
9MIN
House Standing Committee on Water & Land
6MIN
Senate Standing Committee on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs
1MIN
Senate Standing Committee on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs
Bill Author
