A bill moving forward in the Legislature would set aside money to help restore beaches in front of resorts, including in Waikiki, and get matching funds from the hoteliers who would benefit.

The authors of the bill, which is up for a full House vote next week, say the measure was designed to form a partnership with hotels that are looking to restore their disappearing beaches.

State Rep. Jon Mizuno, who co-wrote the bill, said the measure is meeting hotels willing to pay for some beach restoration halfway. "We're trying to get creative," he said.

The proposal comes as Waikiki hotel operators and tourism officials are becoming increasingly concerned about erosion along the famous stretch of shoreline — one of the biggest problems facing the No. 1 tourist destination in the Islands. Industry experts point out the restoration of Waikiki Beach could improve the satisfaction rating of tourists, translating into more return visits and millions of dollars in potential revenues.

Failing to do anything, they add, could mean some tourists will stop coming back.

But House Bill 2323 is meeting opposition from some, who see the bill as putting hotels and tourists above residents.

"Our beaches are public property," Scott Werny, co-chair of the O'ahu chapter of the Surfrider Foundation, told lawmakers in committee last week. "We should not cloud this by creating a different category of beach called a 'resort beach' and give it preferential treatment."

State Land and Natural Resources Chairwoman Laura H. Thielen, whose department oversees beach restoration projects, has also come out against the measure, saying the state should not be favoring "beaches in a particular area, since residents and visitors alike enjoy our beaches."

State Rep. Jon Karamatsu, the other author of the bill, said he was approached by hotel industry leaders interested in addressing beach erosion — with the state's help. "It would be a private-public partnership ... with the private sector matching funds," he said.

Some hotels are already looking at ways to save their shorelines.

Last year, Kyo-ya Hotels and Resorts studied the possibility of installing T-shaped groins and pumping in sand at Gray's Beach fronting Sheraton Waikiki.

There is no sandy stretch at Gray's Beach, except at very low tide. The restoration plan — estimated to cost about $3 million — is still in its early stages. But it was proposed as Kyo-ya is also in the midst of a massive renovation of its Waikiki properties, including the Sheraton.

Ernest Nishizaki, vice president and chief operating officer for Kyo-ya, has supported the bill that would set aside money for resort beaches.

He told members of the House Finance Committee that "the preservation of our precious natural environment is a vital concern for the residents of Hawai'i. Sadly, many of our beaches have begun to disappear over the years. We see this in Waikiki."

Murray Towill, president of the Hawai'i Hotel and Lodging Association, has also come out to support the bill. "We recognize the importance of restoring and improving Hawai'i's beaches," he told the Finance Committee Feb. 21. "Beach restoration can most effectively be done by using a combination of public and private funds."

The committee passed the bill unanimously, with amendments.

The measure would create a special fund to address resort beaches.

The fund is meant for planning, restoration and maintenance work, and the measure says the money should go to "visitor area resort beach restoration." It specifies Gray's Beach in Waikiki and Ka'anapali Beach on Maui as possible sites for restoration and erosion abatement work.

Money for the fund would be administered by the state DLNR, and could come from several sources, including the Hawai'i Tourism Authority, legislative appropriations and private donations.

The bill does not specifically say dollars in the fund would be matched by hotels that would benefit, but Karamatsu said that is the intent. The original bill capped state contributions to the fund at $2 million, but that figure was taken out pending more discussion.

Reach Mary Vorsino at mvorsino@honoluluadvertiser.com.