Bill Text: HI SR89 | 2024 | Regular Session | Introduced

Hawaii Senate Resolution 89

Introduced

Bill Title: Requesting The Department Of Land And Natural Resources And The Department Of Transportation To Expeditiously Propose Options To Temporarily Increase The Number Of Live-aboard And Houseboat Permits And Options To Develop Temporary Micro-housing At Or Near Harbors And State Waters.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-03-14 - Referred to WTL/TCA. [SR89 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2024-SR89-Introduced.html

THE SENATE	S.R. NO.	89
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES AND the Department of TRANSPORTATION TO EXPEDITIOUSLY PROPOSE OPTIONS TO TEMPORARILY INCREASE THE NUMBER OF LIVE-ABOARD AND HOUSEBOAT PERMITS AND OPTIONS TO DEVELOP TEMPORARY MICRO-HOUSING AT OR NEAR HARBORS AND STATE WATERS.

WHEREAS, the State is experiencing a severe housing crisis and residents of the island of Maui are facing even more dire housing options, thus compelling the State to explore creative solutions and take action urgently to provide additional housing; and

WHEREAS, the Economic Research Organization of the University of Hawaiʻi reported in its September 2023 Forecast for the State of Hawaiʻi that "[t]he fire in Lahaina displaced thousands of families, and rebuilding homes will take many years. Homes made up 86% of the roughly 2,200 lost structures, about 3% of Maui's housing stock. The State and County are working to find longer-term housing for about 7,000 displaced persons that are now being accommodated in hotels, timeshares, and TVRs. Recovery workers and an eventual army of construction laborers must also be housed. Until substantial rebuilding can be accomplished, these needs will press hard on the already tight and expensive Maui housing market."; and

WHEREAS, the State, through the Department of Land and Natural Resources, manages twenty recreational harbors including three on Maui (at Kahului, Lāhainā, and Māʻalaea) and the Department of Transportation manages ten commercial harbors including two on Maui (at Hāna and Kahului); and

WHEREAS, the State has, for decades, allowed individuals to live on recreational boats docked at State harbors through a permit system known as live-aboard permits; and

WHEREAS, the number of live-aboard permits is currently capped at one hundred twenty-nine berths for Ala Wai Boat Harbor and thirty-five berths for Keʻehi Boat Harbor, both on Oʻahu, and no live-aboard permits are issued for the other harbors nor for any houseboats; and

WHEREAS, there are hundreds more berths available at state harbors as well as other areas at the harbors and in state waters where live-aboards, houseboats, and other types of habitable barges could be allowed; and

WHEREAS, there are numerous cities and states in the United States that allow people to live on boats, houseboats, and other types of floating residences; and

WHEREAS, in 2018, twenty micro-housing units were built in thirty days in Pāhoa, Hawaiʻi, to temporarily house seniors and families with children whose homes had been damaged or destroyed by a Kīlauea volcano eruption; and

WHEREAS, micro-housing units on a temporary basis could be placed on state land at or near state harbors and state waters; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2024, that the Department of Land and Natural Resources and the Department of Transportation are requested to expeditiously research and propose options to temporarily increase the number of live-aboard permits issued for boats, houseboats, and habitable barges for state harbors and in state waters; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Land and Natural Resources and the Department of Transportation are requested to expeditiously research and propose options to develop temporary micro-housing at or near state harbors and state waters; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Land and Natural Resources and the Department of Transportation are requested to explore options to partner with private businesses and organizations to design and build temporary micro-housing units for placement at or near state harbors and state waters; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources and Director of Transportation.