SR100 is a Senate Resolution requesting the Department of Land and Natural Resources to convene a Kailua Bay Advisory Working Group focused on Kailua Pier in Kailua-Kona, Hawaiʻi Island. The resolution describes the pier and surrounding bay as culturally significant, economically important, and heavily used for fishing, boating, tourism, canoe racing, Ironman events, and traditional ceremonies. It also notes persistent problems tied to heavy use of the area, including homelessness, vandalism, sanitation issues, parking conflicts, and infrastructure damage.
The working group would be asked to create a structured forum for state, county, community, and private stakeholders to coordinate on pier management and interjurisdictional issues. Its duties include improving safety, protecting water quality and marine life, addressing pollution, recommending repairs and funding needs, and serving as a liaison between the public and government agencies. The resolution also requires monthly meetings and quarterly reports to the Legislature for three years, including any proposed legislation.
Because SR100 is a resolution rather than a bill, it does not directly amend the Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes or create new regulatory requirements. Instead, it expresses legislative intent and requests DLNR to organize a multi-agency advisory process involving state, county, tourism, policing, homelessness, and community representatives. Its practical impact would be to formalize coordination around Kailua Pier management and potentially generate future policy or legislative proposals.
The general sentiment reflected in the resolution is supportive of the pier’s cultural and economic value and concerned about the pressures created by overuse and unmanaged conditions. The measure frames the working group as a collaborative, problem-solving response that balances public access, tourism, cultural practices, and environmental stewardship. The only notable tension is between preserving broad public use of the pier and addressing recurring issues such as homelessness, vandalism, and user conflicts, which may involve differing views on enforcement, services, and access.
The bill passed the Senate Water and Land Committee with amendments by a 5-0 vote, suggesting broad support and little visible opposition in committee. The absence of recorded testimony or debate in the provided materials limits insight into specific objections, but the structure of the resolution indicates an emphasis on coordination rather than controversy.
SR100 would not directly change state law, but it would direct DLNR to convene an advisory working group and coordinate among state, county, and community stakeholders on Kailua Pier and Kailua Bay issues. The resolution would affect DLNR, DOBOR, the County of Hawaiʻi, the Hawaiʻi Police Department, the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority, homelessness-related agencies, and invited community organizations by creating an ongoing forum for recommendations, quarterly reporting, and possible future legislation.
The overall sentiment appears favorable and collaborative. The resolution emphasizes the cultural, historical, recreational, and economic importance of Kailua Pier while acknowledging serious maintenance and public-safety challenges. The unanimous 5-0 committee vote with amendments suggests broad agreement on the need for a coordinated response.
The main points of contention are the recurring problems at Kailua Pier: homelessness, vandalism, sanitation, parking, and conflicts among users, all of which raise questions about how to balance access, enforcement, and social services. Another potential tension is jurisdictional complexity, since multiple agencies and levels of government share responsibility for the area. The resolution seeks to address these issues through coordination rather than by imposing a single-agency solution.