SCR 159 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

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.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution urges state and local leaders to adopt shared guiding principles for restoring and maintaining Waikiki beaches, which are vital to Hawaii's economy, culture, and public access. The bill outlines five key strategies including prioritizing public access to the ocean, conserving natural resources, coordinating regional planning across ownership boundaries, leading beach improvement efforts through state coordination with cost-sharing among multiple entities, and confirming property owners' responsibility for maintaining seawalls. While this resolution does not create new laws or funding, it establishes a framework for future planning and management of Waikiki's shoreline from Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor to Kaimana Beach.

Issues: ✓ Environment

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

May 2026

House Passage

Apr 2026

Signed into Law

May 2026

Introduced Mar 16, 2026 Signed May 8, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

SCR159_HD2 → SCR159_SD1 · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was converted from a House draft to a Senate version, shifting the focus from a broad call for stakeholder cooperation to a directive urging the adoption of specific guiding principles. The text was significantly rewritten to emphasize the historical loss of Waikiki's natural beaches and to define the State's leadership role in restoration efforts, while removing references to private cost-sharing and federal responsibilities for seawall maintenance.

Scope change

The bill's scope narrowed from a general resolution urging all stakeholders to cooperate to a more specific directive urging the adoption of defined guiding principles. Applicability shifted by removing the requirement for private property owners to share costs and clarifying that the State leads the planning process.

SCOPE

The title and purpose were changed from urging stakeholders to adopt shared principles for planning, financing, and improvement to urging the adoption of shared guiding principles specifically for the restoration of Waikiki beaches.

REQUIREMENT

New clauses were added stating that Waikiki's original beaches were lost before 1920 due to sand mining and coral dredging, and that safety incidents require improved emergency access.

The requirement for cost-sharing among federal, state, county, and private property owners was removed, and the clause confirming private owners' responsibility for seawalls was narrowed to only those on their property above the shoreline.

The resolution's operative clause was changed from a general request for shared guiding principles to a specific directive to adopt the listed principles for restoration, maintenance, and improvement.

Specific guiding principles were rewritten to mandate a permanent makai pathway for public and emergency access and to remove language about connecting beaches to Kakaako.

The list of recipients for the certified copies of the resolution was shortened by removing the Waikiki Business Improvement District.

SCR159 → SCR159_HD1 · 8 edits

MODERATE

This bill was updated to broaden its scope from a narrow focus on Waikiki beach restoration to a comprehensive framework for planning, financing, and maintaining the entire Waikiki shoreline and coastal areas. The revision adds new historical context regarding local families and wetland ecosystems, expands the list of recipients for official copies to include the Waikiki Business Improvement District, and clarifies the responsibilities of various property owners in maintaining seawalls.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from specifically urging the adoption of principles for 'restoration' to urging stakeholders to adopt principles for 'planning, financing, and undertaking efforts' for restoration, improvement, and maintenance of the broader Waikiki shoreline and coastal areas.

SCOPE

Added a new 'Whereas' clause highlighting that countless local families and residents use Waikiki beaches daily for recreation and relaxation.

Added a new 'Whereas' clause emphasizing the necessity of improved emergency access to the shoreline to address frequent safety incidents.

REQUIREMENT

Modified the resolution language to urge public and private stakeholders to adopt shared guiding principles for a wider range of activities including planning and financing, rather than just urging the adoption of principles.

Expanded the requirements for public access in Section (1) to include ADA compliance, lateral and perpendicular access for residents and visitors, connectivity between beaches and parks, and rapid access for emergency responders.

Updated Section (4) to describe beach improvements as 'state-led' and reordered the cost-sharing partners to list federal entities first.

Added Section (5) to explicitly confirm the responsibility of federal, state, county, and private property owners to maintain seawalls and infrastructure, citing specific historical agreements and court cases.

Added Section (6) to require consultation and collaboration with Waikiki Beach hotels, landowners, University of Hawaii Sea Grant experts, and other relevant stakeholders.

ELIGIBILITY

Added the President and Executive Director of the Waikiki Business Improvement District to the list of officials who must receive certified copies of the resolution.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 8, 2026

Upper · Passed

Resolution adopted in final form.

upper

May 8, 2026

Introduced

Senate agrees with House amendments.

upper

Apr 28, 2026

Amended

Senate disagrees with House amendments.

upper

Apr 28, 2026

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 867).

upper

Apr 27, 2026

Lower · Passed

Adopted as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Iwamoto voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).

lower

Apr 27, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported from WAL (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2263-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending adoption.

lower

Apr 23, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on WAL recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Hashem, Morikawa, Poepoe, Woodson, Shimizu, Souza; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Iwamoto; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Belatti, Ichiyama.

lower

Apr 20, 2026

Lower · Passed

Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on WAL as amended in HD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Alcos, Cochran, Woodson excused (3).

lower

Apr 20, 2026

Committee

Reported from TOU (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2204-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending referral to WAL.

lower

Apr 16, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on TOU recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Tam, Templo, Hussey, Ilagan, Yamashita, Gedeon; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.

lower

Apr 10, 2026

Committee

Referred to TOU, WAL, referral sheet 28

lower

Apr 9, 2026

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 490) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Apr 9, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report and Resolution Adopted, as amended (SD 1). Transmitted to House.

upper

Apr 8, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported from WLA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3550) with recommendation of adoption, as amended (SD 1).

upper

Mar 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WLA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WLA were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., Inouye, Lamosao, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Chang.

upper

Mar 27, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WLA has scheduled a public hearing on 03-30-26 1:00PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 19, 2026

Committee

Referred to WLA.

upper

Mar 16, 2026

Introduced

Offered.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors