Summary of SCR 159 (2026) – Hawaii
Overview
- Title: URGING PUBLIC AND PRIVATE STAKEHOLDERS TO ADOPT SHARED GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR THE PLANNING, FINANCING, AND UNDERTAKING OF EFFORTS FOR THE RESTORATION, IMPROVEMENT, AND MAINTENANCE OF THE BEACHES, SHORELINE, AND COASTAL AREAS OF WAIKIKI
- Type: Concurrent Resolution (SCR)
- Jurisdiction: Hawaii
- Purpose: To establish and encourage the adoption of a set of shared guiding principles for planning, financing, and undertaking efforts to restore, maintain, and improve the beaches and coastal areas of Waikiki, from Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor to Kaimana Beach. The guiding principles are intended to align public access, environmental protection, resource conservation, regional planning, cost-sharing, and maintenance responsibilities among stakeholders.
Main purpose and intent
- Recognize Waikiki as a critical economic, cultural, and public-access resource for Hawaii.
- Acknowledge chronic and historical challenges in maintaining Waikiki beaches and coastal infrastructure due to coastal engineering, development, and sand movement.
- Promote a collaborative framework among state agencies, the City and County of Honolulu, and private interests to ensure sustainable, equitable, and resilient management of Waikiki’s beaches and shoreline.
- Bind public and private stakeholders to adopt and apply a set of guiding principles in future planning, financing, and execution of Waikiki beach restoration and maintenance projects.
Key provisions and changes proposed
The resolution outlines five guiding principles to be incorporated into planning and implementation, including:
1) Public access and enjoyment priority
- Ensure that ocean, beach, and shoreline access remains a priority, consistent with environmental protections and the preservation of traditional and customary practices.
2) Conservation and sustainable use of natural resources
- Implement state policies that conserve natural resources and promote development and use in a manner consistent with conservation goals and state self-sufficiency.
3) Regional planning and intertidal/resource movement
- Apply planning that accounts for the interconnectedness of land across ownership boundaries and the natural tidal and littoral movement of water and sand.
4) State-led beach improvements with cost-sharing
- Direct beach improvement efforts led by the State, with cost-sharing among state, county, federal, and private property owners.
5) Responsibility for shoreline infrastructure on private property
- Confirm that property owners are responsible for maintaining seawalls and other infrastructure located on or above the shoreline and on their property.
- The resolution also directs the transmission of certified copies to several key leaders and agencies: Governor, Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (DBEDT), Acting Chair of the Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR), Honolulu Mayor, and Chair of the Honolulu City Council.
Who would be affected
- State agencies (e.g., DBEDT, DLNR), the City and County of Honolulu, private property owners along Waikiki (from Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor to Kaimana Beach), and potentially federal partners involved in coastal projects.
- The framework would influence future planning, financing mechanisms, and management decisions related to Waikiki’s beaches and coastal infrastructure.
- Public access to beaches and shoreline would be a central consideration, affecting residents, workers, tourists, and local businesses tied to Waikiki’s coast.
Procedural and timeline aspects
- Legislative path: Concurrent resolution adopted through both chambers (Senate and House) of the Hawaii Legislature.
- Action history highlights:
- Received from House (HD 2 amendments) and transmitted to Senate on April 27–28, 2026.
- Passed in House committees with amendments, then moved to Senate (and similarly amended in SD 1) before final adoption.
- Several committee votes and readings occurred across March–April 2026.
- Status: As of the latest action history, the resolution has progressed through the necessary committees and is being transmitted between chambers, indicating movement toward final concurrent adoption.
Additional context
- The resolution emphasizes Waikiki's economic significance (visitor expenditures, tax revenue, and jobs) and cultural heritage, while acknowledging past beach loss and ongoing replenishment efforts.
- By adopting shared guiding principles, the bill seeks to align multiple sectors toward a cohesive, sustainable, and transparent approach to Waikiki beach restoration and maintenance.
If you’d like, I can provide a plain-language interpretation of each guiding principle with possible real-world implications or draft questions stakeholders might raise in public hearings.
