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COUNTY OF HAWAII -_ - STATE OF HAWAII Ott OFN'� RESOLUTION NO. 85 15 A RESOLUTION URGING THE HAWAII STATE LEGISLATURE TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO EMPLOY LIFEGUARDS FOR KUA BAY, KEKAHA KAI STATE PARK ON THE ISLAND OF HAWAII. WHEREAS, Kua Bay, Kekaha Kai State Park in North Kona, is under the jurisdiction of the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), and currently does not have State funded lifeguards; and WHEREAS, the Hawaii County Fire Department and Ocean Safety Division have reported several cases of drowning, near drowning and other crisis within this last year at Kua Bay; and WHEREAS, Dan Galanis, Epidemiologist, with the Injury Prevention and Control Section of the Hawaii State Department of Health, reported that from 2013 to 2014, there were two fatal drownings at Kua Bay, and from 2008 to 2013, fifteen injuries which included seven spinal cord injuries were suffered at Kua Bay; and WHEREAS, lifeguards act as the primary responders for emergencies on shorelines and within near shore waters where the majority of ocean recreation activity takes place, provide injury control, and dispatch ocean rescue services; and WHEREAS, House Bill 527 has been introduced to provide for an appropriation of $200,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2015-2016, and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2016-2017 for salaries, benefits, equipment, and other related expenses, to employ lifeguards for Kua Bay, Kekeha Kai State Park, on the Island of Hawaii; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII that the Hawaii State Legislature is urged to appropriate funds to employ lifeguards for Kua Bay, Kekaha Kai State Park, on the Island of Hawaii. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governor of the State of Hawaii is urged to release funds to employ lifeguards for Kua Bay, Kekaha Kai State Park, on the Island of Hawaii.