RELATING TO COUNTIES.

Budget

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor: ALCOS, GARCIA, GEDEON, HUSSEY, KILA, MATSUMOTO, MURAOKA, OLDS, PIERICK, REYES ODA, SHIMIZU
Last action: 2026-01-30
Official status: Referred to WAL, JHA, FIN, referral sheet 5
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill does not specify exact details about staffing or funding allocations beyond prioritization requirements.

Improving Park Maintenance Standards in Large Counties

This bill requires large counties to adopt ordinances for park maintenance prioritization, imposes fines for non-compliance, allows the state's DLNR to intervene and be reimbursed by the county, and provides funding.

What This Bill Does

Requires a county with a population of 500,000 or more to adopt ordinances for implementing park maintenance standard prioritization.
Increases frequency of park inspections in large counties.
Prioritizes improvements based on county evaluation standards.
Imposes a fine of $1,000 per park if the county fails to bring the park into compliance within three months.
Authorizes DLNR to intervene and be reimbursed by the county for costs incurred when the county fails to maintain parks properly.

Who It Names or Affects

Counties with populations over 500,000
The City and County of Honolulu

Terms To Know

DLNR: Department of Land and Natural Resources, a state agency that manages natural resources.
Grant-in-aid: Money given by the government to help with specific projects or needs.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how much money will be provided for park maintenance.
It is unclear what happens if a county cannot afford to pay the fines imposed.

Bill History

2026-01-30 H
Referred to WAL, JHA, FIN, referral sheet 5
2026-01-28 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2026-01-26 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO COUNTIES.
Parks and Recreation; City and County of Honolulu; Maintenance Standards; Appropriation ($)
Requires a county with a population of 500,000 or more to adopt ordinances to implement park maintenance standard prioritization. Imposes a fine for incompliant parks after three months. Authorizes DLNR to take action and be reimbursed by the county for costs incurred. Appropriates funds.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB2177

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2177

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

Relating
to Counties
.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

����
SECTION 1.
�
The legislature finds that county parks are
inadequately maintained.
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Access to
recreational facilities are vital to community well-being.
�
Currently, the City and County of Honolulu
has undergone two years of park maintenance standard evaluations, yet staffing
and funding constraints have inhibited its ability to implement its
results.
�
The purpose of this Act is to
establish park maintenance standard prioritization in order to address on-going
noncompliance.

����
SECTION 2.
�
Chapter 46 Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as
follows:

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"
�46
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Park
Maintenance Standard Prioritization.
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(a)
�
A county with a
population of five hundred thousand or more shall adopt ordinances to
effectuate the following:

����
(1)
�
Increase
frequency of park inspections;

����
(2)
�
Prioritize
improvements for parks that are out of compliance based on county evaluation
standards; and

����
(3)
�
Allocate
appropriate staffing and funding to address park incompliance.

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(b)
�
In determining which parks to prioritize,
each county shall consider the following:

����
(1)
�
Availability of
already compliant parks in each county council district;

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(2)
�
The frequency
of utilization of each park;

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(3)
�
The use of
facilities for sporting events; and

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(4)
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Safety concerns
regarding lighting and fencing.

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(c)
�

If the county fails to bring the park into compliance within three
months of identification of incompliance, there shall be a fine of $1,000 per
park to be deposited into the general funds.

����
(d)
�

The department of land and natural resources may intervene to conduct
park maintenance and improvements when the county has failed to do so in a
reasonable time.
�
In the event that the
state has incurred costs for county park maintenance and improvements, the
county shall be charged to reimburse the state for all expenses incurred.

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(e)
�
Each county shall submit a report of its
findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the
legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular
session of
2027.
"

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SECTION 3.
�

There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii
the sum of $
����������
�
or so much thereof as may be necessary for
fiscal year 2026-2027 as a grant-in-aid to the city and county of Honolulu for
park maintenance standard prioritization.

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The sum appropriated shall be
expended by the department of parks and recreation of city and county of
Honolulu for the purposes of this Act.

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SECTION 4.
�
New statutory material is underscored.

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SECTION 5.
�
This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Parks and
Recreation; City and County of Honolulu; Maintenance Standards; Appropriation

Description:

Requires
a county with a population of 500,000 or more to adopt ordinances to implement park
maintenance standard prioritization.
�

Imposes a fine for incompliant parks after three months.
�
Authorizes DLNR to take action and be
reimbursed by the county for costs incurred.
�
Appropriates funds.

The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.