Hawaii Senate Bill SR17

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/9/26
• Introduced: 2/10/26
• Refer: 2/13/26
• Report Pass: 4/7/26
• Passed: 4/8/26

Caption

Strongly Supporting The County Of Hawaii's Efforts To Develop The Kealakehe Regional Park Project.

Summary

SR17 is a Senate resolution expressing strong support for the County of Hawaiʻi’s efforts to develop the Kealakehe Regional Park project in North Kona. The resolution describes the project as a roughly 190-acre park on state-owned land set aside to the county, with a master plan that includes athletic fields, indoor and outdoor courts, a skate park, an amphitheater, cultural gathering spaces, and passive recreation areas intended to serve West Hawaiʻi residents. The resolution also frames the park as a community and public-health asset, noting that the project has stalled despite years of advocacy and that the lack of a regional park limits recreation opportunities for youth, families, and cultural events. It urges the county to identify capital funding, seek state and federal grants, and pursue phased development, while also encouraging coordination with the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, the Department of Education, community stakeholders, and nonprofit organizations. The county is asked to report back to the Legislature before the 2027 session on progress made.

Impact

SR17 does not change state law or create new legal requirements. Instead, it is a nonbinding legislative expression of support that encourages the County of Hawaiʻi to advance the Kealakehe Regional Park project, pursue funding sources, and coordinate with state and community partners. Its practical effect is to place legislative backing behind the project and request a progress report, but any actual development, land use decisions, and funding actions remain with the county and other relevant agencies.

Sentiment

The overall sentiment around the resolution is strongly favorable. The bill passed the Senate Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs committee 4-0, indicating unanimous support among those voting. The resolution’s language emphasizes community need, public health, and broad local backing from sports leagues, schools, and community organizations, all of which suggest a consensus that the park should move forward.

Contention

There is little evident opposition in the available record, but the resolution implicitly addresses a longstanding point of concern: the project’s delay and the need to secure funding and coordination before development can proceed. The main practical issues are not ideological but logistical and fiscal, including how the county will assemble capital improvement funding, obtain grants, and phase construction. The resolution also signals that collaboration with state agencies and local stakeholders will be important to overcome the project’s stalled status.