Bills

SR 56: Urging the Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation of the Department of Land and Natural Resources to develop a progressive enforcement framework for parking violations in parking lots under its jurisdiction; ensure proper use of parking areas by intended users; and improve the prevalence and clarity of signage regarding parking regulations, fees, and penalties.

Session Year: 2025-2026
House: Senate
Latest Version Date: 2026-04-08

Current Status:

In Progress

(2026-04-08: One Day Notice 04-09-26.)

Introduced

In Committee

First Chamber

In Committee

Second Chamber

Final Decking

Enacted

What does this bill do?

This resolution asks the Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR) to create a progressive enforcement plan for parking lots it manages, including clear warnings before towing. It also urges DOBOR to make sure parking spaces are used by the right users, improve signs about rules, fees, and penalties, and to use license-plate reader technology or deputized staff to issue parking citations.

Version:

Urging the Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation of the Department of Land and Natural Resources to develop a progressive enforcement framework for parking violations in parking lots under its jurisdiction; ensure proper use of parking areas by intended users; and improve the prevalence and clarity of signage regarding parking regulations, fees, and penalties.

Version:

SR56 SD1

THE SENATE	S.R. NO.	56
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, the Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR) of the Department of Land and Natural Resources is tasked with thirteen statutory mandates, primarily including the operation and management of the State's small boat harbors and the administration of the Ocean Recreation Management Program; and

WHEREAS, there are currently sixteen small boat harbors across the State under the jurisdiction of DOBOR, along with corresponding parking areas within each small boat harbor; and

WHEREAS, parking areas at Ala Wai small boat harbor and Maalea small boat harbor are managed under respective parking concessions, with certain parking users assessed parking fees; and

WHEREAS, it is not in the best interest of the State or the public to assign the limited numbers of Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement officers to routine parking citation duties when their specialized training and mission are focused on enforcing laws that protect natural and cultural resources statewide; and

WHEREAS, although towing may be the most efficient enforcement mechanism in parking lots under the jurisdiction of DOBOR, towing may cause detrimental impacts to the vehicle owner or operator for relatively minor violations in certain instances; and

WHEREAS, the Board of Land and Natural Resources has already approved the use of License Plate Recognition (LPR) technology for Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor, and DOBOR is currently implementing a parking monitoring contract with the parking concessionaire to use LPR technology; and

WHEREAS, other state agencies, including the Department of Accounting and General Services, have deputized members of their respective staffs to be able to provide vehicular citations in lieu of relying on contracts for towing; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2026, that the Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation of the Department of Land and Natural Resources is urged to develop and implement a progressive enforcement framework for parking violations in parking lots under the Division's jurisdiction, including the provision of clear warnings for parking violations before resorting to towing vehicles that are in violation; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that DOBOR is urged to ensure the appropriate use of parking areas by intended users and to enforce penalties against drivers who improperly use and abuse free parking; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that DOBOR is urged to improve the prevalence and clarity of signage regarding parking regulations, fees, and penalties; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that DOBOR is encouraged to fully implement parking monitoring contracts that include LPR technology for all parking areas under its jurisdiction and to consider deputizing their staff, as appropriate, to issue parking citations as an additional means of enforcing parking violations; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, Administrator of the Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation, and Enforcement Chief of the Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement.

Report Title:

DLNR; DOBOR; DOCARE; Parking; Enforcement; Violations; Signage; Intended Users; Towing; Regulations; Fees; Penalties; Small Boat Harbors

SR56

THE SENATE	S.R. NO.	56
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, the Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation of the Department of Land and Natural Resources is tasked with thirteen statutory mandates, primarily including the operation and management of the State's small boat harbors and the administration of the Ocean Recreation Management Program; and

WHEREAS, there are currently sixteen small boat harbors across the State under the jurisdiction of the Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation, along with corresponding parking areas within each small boat harbor; and

WHEREAS, parking areas at Ala Wai small boat harbor and Maalea small boat harbor are managed under respective parking concessions, with certain parking users assessed parking fees; and

WHEREAS, although towing may be the most efficient enforcement mechanism in parking lots under the jurisdiction of the Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation, that may cause detrimental impacts to the vehicle owner or operator for relatively minor violations in certain instances; now, therefore,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Division is urged to ensure the appropriate use of parking areas by intended users and to enforce penalties against drivers who improperly use and abuse free parking; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Division is urged to improve the prevalence and clarity of signage regarding parking regulations, fees, and penalties; and

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

DLNR; DOBOR; DOCARE; Parking; Enforcement; Violations; Signage; Intended Users; Towing; Regulations; Fees; Penalties; Small Boat Harbors

Date	Status
Apr 8, 2026	One Day Notice 04-09-26.
Apr 8, 2026	Reported from WLA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3547) with recommendation of adoption, as amended (SD 1).
Mar 30, 2026	The committee(s) on WLA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WLA were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., Inouye, Lamosao, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Chang.
Mar 27, 2026	The committee(s) on WLA has scheduled a public hearing on 03-30-26 1:00PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.
Mar 19, 2026	Referred to WLA.
Mar 12, 2026	Offered.

Date	Description	Location	Votes
Mar 30, 2026	The committee(s) on WLA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS	Senate Standing Committee on Water, Land, Culture and the Arts	4 0 1 Passed

Key

Pro

Against

Did Not Vote

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.

* Testimony in a hearing

** Position recorded in bill analysis

*** Position recorded in written testimony

Organization	Position	Date
Climate Protection and Restoration Initiative	*** Support	Mar 30, 2026
Ilikai Vacation rental cleaners and support staff	*** Support	Mar 30, 2026
Surfparking.org	*** Support	Mar 30, 2026
Waikiki Neighborhood Board	*** Support	Mar 30, 2026

* Testimony in a hearing

** Position recorded in bill analysis

*** Position recorded in written testimony

Date	Testimony PDF
Mar 30, 2026	SR56_TESTIMONY_WLA_03-30-26_.PDF

Authors shown for version:
SR56_SD1 (4/8/2026)