Bill > SB1456

This bill addresses beach restoration and coastal resilience in Hawaii by expanding the legal definition of "beach restoration" and appropriating funds for two specific pilot projects on the island of Maui. The bill broadens the previous definition of beach restoration to include three key activities: maintaining and improving beaches and dune systems through native vegetation management, placing sand on eroded beaches from approved sources, and removing abandoned materials that could harm public health and coastal ecosystems. Recognizing the serious threat of sea level rise, as highlighted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and Hawaii's climate change commission, the bill aims to preserve beaches as a public trust resource. It establishes two pilot projects: one in Kahana Bay and another at Hanakaoo Beach Park, with funding to be shared equally between the state government (25%), Maui County (25%), and local residents (50%). Both projects are specifically prohibited from constructing t-groins and will be administered by the Department of Land and Natural Resources. The bill is part of a broader strategy to build coastal resilience, protect natural resources, and adapt to the anticipated 3.9 to 5.9 feet of sea level rise projected for Hawaii by 2100.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance, Justice

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=1456&year=2026