HONOLULU — Nonprofit parking lot and concession operators no longer need to go through the state’s bidding process to operate at certain state parks thanks to a newly law enacted by Gov. Josh Green on Thursday.

What You Need To Know

  • Act 72 is intended to help mitigate the impacts of over-visitation at the most popular state parks
  • Green held a signing ceremony at Haena State Park, the site of the state’s most successful efforts at addressing overcrowding, resource degradation and safety hazards related to tourism

  • Haena State Park is one of several “hot spots” in each county that attract an outsize number of visitors, resulting in harmful environmental impacts, congestion a negative experience for both residents and visitors

  • The exemption would apply only to certain operations supported by nonprofit corporations within state parks that are designated by the Board of Land and Natural Resources as environmentally, culturally, historically, or operationally unique

Act 72 is intended to help mitigate the impacts of over-visitation at the most popular state parks.

Green held a signing ceremony at Haena State Park, the site of the state’s most successful efforts at addressing overcrowding, resource degradation and safety hazards related to tourism. 

“It is my great pleasure to sign this bill at Haena State Park, which is so beautiful and has immense historical and cultural importance to our state and the Haena community,” said Green. “I commend Rep. Nadine Nakamura, lead introducer of this bill, for her leadership in furthering the effort to preserve the beauty of our islands.”

Green also thanked Hui Makaainana on Makana for its stewardship of Haena and its engagement with the state government, which Green said “sets an example for other concerned community organizations around our state.”

As noted in House Bill 1183, House Draft 1, Senate Draft 2, Conference Draft 1, Haena State Park is one of several “hot spots” in each county that attract an outsize number of visitors, resulting in harmful environmental impacts, congestion, a negative experience for both residents and visitors.

In the case of Haena, a community-led and government-sponsored management plan has successfully reversed many of these impacts. In addition to installing a boardwalk through restored loi, shuttle service provided by a community-based nonprofit organization and further loi restoration, the area has benefitted from a new parking lot and parking attendant station.

“Based on the success of the Haena State Park experience, the Legislature believes that exempting parking lot operations at state parks from the bidding requirements for concessions operated on public property will allow for similar long-term management partnerships to be enacted through community and place-based nonprofit organizations,” the bill stated.

The exemption would apply only to certain operations supported by nonprofit corporations within state parks that are designated by the Board of Land and Natural Resources as environmentally, culturally, historically, or operationally unique. The exemption is modeled after the existing exemption in state law for certain county zoos, botanical gardens and county parks. 

Act 72 took effect upon Green’s signature.