The Senate Committee on Water and Land on March 7 voted to pass five concurrent resolutions authorizing nonexclusive easements over portions of state submerged lands to allow public agencies to use, repair and maintain shoreline and stormwater improvements.

The measures — SCR 3, SCR 4, SCR 5, SCR 6 and SCR 7 — covered separate sites on Oahu, Kauai and elsewhere and were presented with testimony from Rebecca Anderson of the Department of Land and Natural Resources, who said the department "stands on our written testimony in support of this administration measure." The committee incorporated DLNR's technical and non‑substantive amendments where recommended and approved a clarifying title amendment requested for SCR 3 to specify the grantee as the City and County of Honolulu.

Why it matters: the easements formalize legal permission to maintain public infrastructure and shoreline protections on state submerged lands. Several measures described repairs or replacement of existing structures rather than new, expanded seawalls.

What the committee did and who spoke
- SCR 3: Authorized a perpetual nonexclusive easement for a stormwater management outfall and drainage system at Mauna Loa, Honolulu, Oahu. DLNR asked that the title be amended to show the easement would be granted to the City and County of Honolulu; the committee adopted that amendment and technical, non‑substantive edits.
- SCR 4: Authorized a 25‑year term nonexclusive easement at Kekaha (Kiki‘ola), Kauai, for a shoreline protection structure. Rebecca Anderson said DLNR supports the administration measure.
- SCR 5: Authorized a 25‑year term nonexclusive easement at Waikiki, Honolulu, Oahu, for concrete stairs; DLNR supported and the committee adopted technical amendments.
- SCR 6: Authorized a 25‑year term nonexclusive easement at Ewa Beach, Oahu, for a seawall; DLNR supported the administration measure.
- SCR 7: Authorized a 25‑year term nonexclusive easement at Laie, Ko‘olauloa, Oahu, for a rock revetment that includes stairs; DLNR supported the administration measure.

During floor discussion, Senator Dave (Senator McAllister) said he has ‘‘always had a lot of concerns with seawalls’’ but supported the measures as they were presented because they were repairs to existing structures that provide public access. Rebecca Anderson explained DLNR had no recommended substantive changes aside from the title clarification for SCR 3.

Votes at a glance
- SCR 3 (Mauna Loa, stormwater outfall): Passed with amendments; committee adopted DLNR's title change specifying City and County of Honolulu as grantee. Vote: adopted by the members present; Chair Inouye and the vice chair voted aye; Senator Chang was excused; recommendation adopted.
- SCR 4 (Kekaha/Kiki‘ola, shoreline protection): Passed unamended. Vote: adopted by members present; Chair and vice chair voted aye; recommendation adopted.
- SCR 5 (Waikiki, concrete stairs): Passed with technical, non‑substantive amendments. Vote: adopted by members present; Chair and vice chair voted aye; recommendation adopted.
- SCR 6 (Ewa Beach, seawall): Passed unamended, with one recorded reservation. Vote: adopted by members present; Chair and vice chair voted aye; Senator McKelvey noted a reservation; recommendation adopted.
- SCR 7 (Laie/Ko‘olauloa, rock revetment and stairs): Passed unamended. Vote: adopted by members present; Chair and vice chair voted aye; recommendation adopted.

Committee chair and DLNR staff confirmed that the easements are intended to authorize use, repair and maintenance of existing improvements as described in each resolution. The committee did not adopt substantive policy changes during the decision‑making and treated the measures as administrative authorizations.

Ending: The committee moved on after the votes to the governor’s appointees portion of the agenda.