Full funding for lifeguard services at two Big Island state beach parks has been restored by the state Senate in its draft of the proposed state budget.
The Senate Committee on Ways and Means amended House Bill 200 by adding $480,000 to fund the contract for lifeguards at Kua Bay and $868,106 to cover the cost of lifeguard services at Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins July 1.
“It’s not really done yet — but that’s the Senate’s position,” said Sen. Dru Kanuha, D-Kona, Ka‘u, who is a member of the Ways and Means Committee. “We’re pushing for that funding.”
The 2021-23 biennium budget bill next heads back to House for a floor vote.
If House members agree with all amendments made and vote to pass the measure, it will go to Gov. David Ige for his signature. If House legislators disagree with the amendments proposed by the Senate, the bill will head into conference, where members from both chambers will try to come to agreement on a final version.
Prior to being heard April 1 by Ways and Means, the state House had restored $735,000 of the $1.45 million in general funds for contracting with the counties to provide lifeguard services at five state beach parks on Kauai, Oahu, Maui and the Big Island that were cut in Ige’s proposed biennium budget. The House version had the counties covering the other half.
Funding for the life-saving personnel stationed at Hapuna in South Kohala and Kua Bay in North Kona runs out June 30.
Hawaii County has been flipping the tab for lifeguard services at Hapuna since July 2020, when the state notified the county it could no longer fund the $868,000 contract it paid to supply lifeguard services at the state recreation area.
The county opted to pick up the tab to keep the service going, and through the end of 2020 used federal coronavirus relief funds to cover the cost. Effective Jan. 1, county taxpayers have been footing the bill, and they will continue to do so through the end of this fiscal year.
The $480,000 contract for lifeguards at Kua Bay is funded by the state through June 30.
Email Chelsea Jensen at cjensen@westhawaiitoday.com.