KAILUA-KONA — The bill to save lives is still alive.
House Bill 558, which would fund four full-time lifeguards and related equipment at Kua Bay, is set to go before the Senate Committee on Ways and Means during a public decision-making meeting Wednesday in Honolulu. It is the farthest any bill seeking life-saving personnel for the state beach park has gone in the state Legislature to date.
“I am just holding my breath. I am just praying this goes through,” said Laura Mallery-Sayre, executive director of the Daniel R. Sayre Memorial Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to providing essential equipment and training to the Hawaii Fire Department that is “100 percent” in support of the bill.
In its current form, HB 558 seeks unspecified funds in fiscal year 2019-20 for four full-time lifeguards for the state beach park north of Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole. The Department of Land and Natural Resources has said it would need $400,000 for salaries and $80,000 for equipment.
The beach, heavily used by visitors and locals alike, has been identified by the state as the next site to receive lifeguards because “it has the most reported spinal cord injuries,” according to testimony by DLNR Chairwoman Suzanne Case. Per the Hawaii Department of Health, 32 people required treatment at Kua Bay from 2013 to 2018 with 30 needing transport to a hospital. All but three of those sent to the hospital suffered traumatic injuries.
The House bill’s securing of time before Ways and Means after crossing over to the Senate is the farthest any measure seeking lifeguards for the popular beach has gone since legislators began the effort in 2013.
It also builds on another first that occurred earlier this session when Ways and Means heard and passed Senate Bill 875, a similar measure introduced in that chamber by Sen. Dru Kanuha (D-Kona, Ka‘u) that ultimately stalled after crossing over to the House. A third bill, introduced by Sen. Lorraine Inouye (D-North Hawaii), didn’t make it out of the Senate.
“I hope this is the year,” said Kanuha who along with Sens. Inouye and Kai Kahele (D-Hilo) are among the 13 members of Ways and Means tasked with making decisions about state finances. “That’s the plan.”
Rep. David Tarnas (D-South Kohala), who co-introduced House Bill 558 with Rep. Nicole Lowen (D-North Kona), said Monday he was “stoked” the bill was picked up by Ways and Means. He noted the measure couldn’t have reached this point without the persistence of West Hawaii’s legislators over the years.
“I’m hopeful, but we’re not done yet,” he said. “We’ve been able to convince our colleagues in other parts of the state and to have made it this far is a very positive thing — but I’m going to have to keep being persistent.”
Lowen said it’s likely Ways and Means will pass the bill, but after a third reading it will probably have to go into conference between the House and Senate to determine actual dollar amounts for appropriation.
“It’s obvious and everyone is well-aware that we need lifeguards down there,” she said. “Hopefully, this year can be the year we finally get that done.”
Should the bill be reconciled in conference, it would require passage by the full Legislature before being transmitted to the governor for his signature.
To view the latest details on the bill or to submit testimony, visit www.capitol.hawaii.gov and enter “HB 558” in the bill status/mesure search box.