Bill > SR170

This Resolution requests the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) to study whether it would be practical and beneficial to create a new division specifically for managing Hawaii's ocean and coastal areas. This potential new division, to be called the Division of Ocean and Coastal Management, would act as the state's primary agency for overseeing the coastal zone management program. Its responsibilities would include directly managing critical coastal resources like waters, shorelines, beaches, and dune systems, while also considering environmental, cultural, recreational, economic, and hazard-related factors, including the impacts of sea level rise. The resolution also directs this new division to focus on improving the health of coral reefs and addressing gaps in current management efforts for nearshore ecosystems. The DLNR is required to report its findings and any legislative proposals to the State Legislature by early 2023.