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COUNTY OF HAWAII STATE OF HAWAII
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RESOLUTION NO. 663 18
A RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE HAWAII STATE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES
TO INCLUDE IN ITS 2019 LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE,A RESOLUTION URGING THE
LEGISLATURE TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO EMPLOY LIFEGUARDS AND TO
PURCHASE A LIFEGUARD TOWER AND RESCUE EQUIPMENT FOR KUA BAY AT
KEKAHA KAI STATE PARK.
WHEREAS, Kua Bay at Kekaha Kai State Park(Kua Bay) in North Kona, is under the
jurisdiction of the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), and currently does not
provide lifeguard protection; and
WHEREAS, lifeguards (water safety officers) act as primary responders for onshore
emergencies, provide injury control, and dispatch ocean rescue services to address dangerous
incidents in nearshore waters, where the majority of ocean recreation activity takes place; and
WHEREAS, the Hawai`i State Department of Health, Injury Prevention and Control
Division and the Hawai`i Fire Department, Ocean Safety Division, have reported that from 2008
through 2018, there have been more than three fatal drownings, three near drownings, 10 spinal
cord injuries, as well as cardiac arrests, shark sightings, other serious and minor injuries, and
numerous distressed swimmers at Kua Bay; and
WHEREAS, skilled-lifeguards, appropriate rescue equipment, and a lifeguard tower to
provide adequate field of sight, are all essential to save lives and prevent injuries at the heavily-
visited Kua Bay; and
WHEREAS, West Hawai`i residents have repeatedly voiced strong concerns regarding
the alarming number of reported and unreported incidents which have occurred at Kua Bay; and
WHEREAS, annual operational costs to employ four lifeguards at Kua Bay as estimated
by the Hawai`i Fire Department, Ocean Safety Division, would total $321,696 (salary and
benefits of$80,424 per lifeguard, to staff a two person lifeguard tower, seven days per week); and
WHEREAS,the start-up costs for equipment as estimated by the Hawai`i Fire
Department, Ocean Safety Division, for Kua Bay for thefirst year would total $80,000: $60,000
for a lifeguard tower(one-time start-up cost); $8,000 for an all-terrain vehicle (to be replaced
every four years); $8,000 for radios (to be replaced every four years); $3,000 for rescue
equipment (bi-annually); $1,000 for personal protective equipment (annually); and
WHEREAS, the total for operational costs, together with start-up costs of equipment for
the first year is $401,696, with an annual budgeted amount of$325,696 for three years thereafter;
now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII,that the
Hawai`i State Legislature is strongly urged to appropriate funds in the amount of$401,696, or so
much thereof as may be necessary for salaries and benefits, equipment costs and other related
expenses, for four lifeguards at Kua Bay at Kekaha Kai State Park for the fiscal year 2018-2019,
and$325,696 or so much thereof as may be necessary for the fiscal year 2019-2020 to continue
this program.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governor of the State of Hawai`i is urged to
release funds in the amount of$401,696, in fiscal year 2018-2019 and$325,696 or so much
thereof as may be necessary for the fiscal year 2019-2020 to ensure the timely implementation
and continuation of this program.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the County Clerk shall transmit a copy of this
resolution to the Honorable David Y. Ige, Governor; the Honorable Cindy Evans,
Representative; the Honorable Nicole Lowen, Representative; the Honorable Sylvia Luke,
Representative, and Chair of the Committee on Finance; the Honorable Ty J. K. Cullen,
Representative, and Vice Chair of the Committee on Finance; the Honorable Ryan I. Yamane,
Representative, and Chair of the Committee on Water and Land; the Honorable Sam Satoru
Kong, Representative, and Vice Chair of the Committee on Water and Land; the Honorable
Suzanne Case, Chairperson for the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Chief Darren
Rosario, Hawai`i Fire Department; and the Honorable Harry Kim, Mayor.
Dated at , Hawai`i,this day of , 20 .
INTRODUCED BY:
CO CIL MEMBER, LITY OF HAWAII
COUNTY COUNCIL _ ROLL CALL VOTE
County of Hawai`i AYES NOES ABS EX
Hilo, Hawai`i CHUNG
DAVID
I hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by EOFF
the vote indicated to the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of the -KANUHA
County of Hawai`i on
LEE LOY
O'HARA
ATTEST: POINDEXTER
RICHARDS
RUGGLES
Reference: C-1035/Waived GREDC
COUNTY CLERK CHAIRPERSON&PRESIDING OFFICER RESOLUTION NO. 6603 18
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