HI HCR127

Urges the Mayor of Kauai County, Kauai County Council, and Waimea Sports Complex Steering Committee to collaborate to expedite construction of a Waimea sports complex on Kauai's west side.

Proposes a multi-phase sports complex including a college/high school baseball field, pony league baseball field, four softball fields, regulation track and football field, twelve acres for soccer, multi-use field, two outdoor covered basketball courts, and a nine-mile pedestrian path.

Identifies the west side communities (Eleele, Hanapepe, Kaumakani, Makaweli, Waimea, and Kekaha) as economically depressed due to sugar plantation closures and lack of development, with many homes converted to vacation rentals.

States the complex would attract local, state, national, and international sporting events and tournaments to generate revenue and potentially encourage housing development in the area.

Urges the Mayor to continue negotiations with abutting landowners and requests the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism provide sports tourism information to support the project.