REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO RELOCATE, WITH DIGNITY, THE HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS FROM THE WAIANAE SMALL BOAT HARBOR AND PROVIDE A TIMELINE FOR REMOVAL.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Brenton Awa and 1 co-sponsor

SCR 238 asks DLNR to relocate homeless encampments at Waianae Small Boat Harbor with dignity and provide a removal timeline to the Legislature; advisory, not enforceable.

Referred to WTL/HHS.

#dlnr #dobor #docare #homelessencampment #homelessness #relocation #removal #sweep #waianaesmallboatharbor

Overview

SCR 238 is a concurrent resolution introduced in the Hawaii Legislature in March 2025. It expresses the Legislature’s intent and requests action by state agencies to address homeless encampments at the Waianae Small Boat Harbor. The bill favors relocating the encampments “with dignity” and requires a removal timeline to be provided to the Legislature. It has companion status with SR 214.

Bill Type: Concurrent resolution

Bill Number: SCR 238

Title: Requesting the Department of Land and Natural Resources to relocate, with dignity, the homeless encampments from the Waianae Small Boat Harbor and provide a timeline for removal

Introduced: March 7, 2025

Status: Referred to WTL/HHS (Water, Land, and Hawaiian Affairs / Health and Human Services)

Sponsored by: AWA (primary) and FEVELLA (primary)

Related legislation: SR 214 (companion)

Purpose and Intent

To affirm the Waianae Small Boat Harbor as a valuable public resource for West Oahu residents.

To address reported incidents involving homeless encampments at the harbor, including damage to boats and interference with harbor access.

To direct the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) to relocate the encampments “with dignity” and to provide a specific removal timeline to the Legislature.

Key Provisions

Request to DLNR: Relocate the homeless encampments at the Waianae Small Boat Harbor, carried out with dignity.

Timeline for removal: DLNR must provide a removal/removal timeline to the Hawaii Legislature.

Communications: Certified copies of the resolution must be transmitted to:

Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR)
Administrator of the Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR)
Enforcement Chief of the Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE)

Affected Parties and Impacts

Primary agencies: DLNR, DOBOR, DOCARE

Primary beneficiaries/affected populations: Homeless individuals residing in encampments at Waianae Small Boat Harbor and harbor users/residents who rely on the harbor

Non-binding by nature: As a concurrent resolution, its directives are requests/expressions of legislative intent rather than enforceable law.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

The resolution does not set a concrete statutory removal date but requires DLNR to provide a removal timeline to the Legislature.

It is a reactive/oversight mechanism intended to prompt agency action and legislative awareness.

Status indicates referral to WTL/HHS committees for consideration and possible amendment.

Quick Take

SCR 238 signals the Legislature’s support for addressing harbor-related encampment concerns at Waianae Small Boat Harbor by asking DLNR to relocate encampments with dignity and to furnish a removal timeline to lawmakers. It directs accountability to key DLNR divisions (BLNR, DOBOR, DOCARE) and aligns with a companion measure (SR 214). As a concurrent resolution, its effect is advisory, aimed at guiding agency action and legislative oversight rather than creating enforceable requirements.

Bill