HB 1650: Environmental Assessments; Waikiki Special District

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS.

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

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the city and county of Honolulu has adopted ordinances and other requirements regarding the permitting of development projects within special districts, including Waikiki.  The legislature further finds it unnecessary and redundant to require all proposals for any use within the Waikiki special district to undergo an environmental assessment pursuant to section 343-5, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to repeal the environmental assessment requirement for proposed actions within the Waikiki special district.

     SECTION 2.  Section 343-5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

     "(a)  Except as otherwise provided, an environmental assessment shall be required for actions that:

     (1)  Propose the use of state or county lands or the use of state or county funds, other than funds to be used for feasibility or planning studies for possible future programs or projects that the agency has not approved, adopted, or funded, or funds to be used for the acquisition of unimproved real property; provided that the agency shall consider environmental factors and available alternatives in its feasibility or planning studies; provided further that an environmental assessment for proposed uses under section 205‑2(d)(11) or 205-4.5(a)(13) shall only be required pursuant to section 205-5(b);

     (2)  Propose any use within any land classified as a conservation district by the state land use commission under chapter 205;

     (3)  Propose any use within a shoreline area as defined in section 205A-41;

     (4)  Propose any use within any historic site as designated in the National Register or Hawaii Register, as provided for in the Historic Preservation Act of 1966, Public Law 89-665, or chapter 6E;

    [(5)  Propose any use within the Waikiki area of Oahu, the boundaries of which are delineated in the land use ordinance as amended, establishing the "Waikiki Special District";

     (6)] (5)  Propose any amendments to existing county general plans where the amendment would result in designations other than agriculture, conservation, or preservation, except actions proposing any new county general plan or amendments to any existing county general plan initiated by a county;

    [(7)] (6)  Propose any reclassification of any land classified as a conservation district by the state land use commission under chapter 205;

    [(8)] (7)  Propose the construction of new or the expansion or modification of existing helicopter facilities within the State, that by way of their activities, may affect:

          (A)  Any land classified as a conservation district by the state land use commission under chapter 205;

          (B)  A shoreline area as defined in section 205A-41; or

          (C)  Any historic site as designated in the National Register or Hawaii Register, as provided for in the Historic Preservation Act of 1966, Public Law 89-665, or chapter 6E; or until the statewide historic places inventory is completed, any historic site that is found by a field reconnaissance of the area affected by the helicopter facility and is under consideration for placement on the National Register or the Hawaii Register of Historic Places; and

    [(9)] (8)  Propose any:

          (A)  Wastewater treatment unit, except an individual wastewater system or a wastewater treatment unit serving fewer than fifty single-family dwellings or the equivalent;

          (B)  Waste-to-energy facility;

          (C)  Landfill;

          (D)  Oil refinery; or

          (E)  Power-generating facility."

     SECTION 3.  This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.

     SECTION 4.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.

Report Title:

Environmental Assessments; Waikiki Special District

Description:

Removes proposed actions within the Waikiki special district from the requirement for environmental assessments under section 343-5, HRS.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

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

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS.

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

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the city and county of Honolulu has adopted ordinances and other requirements regarding the permitting of development projects within special districts, including Waikiki.  The legislature further finds it unnecessary and redundant to require all proposals for any use within the Waikiki special district to undergo an environmental assessment pursuant to section 343-5, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to repeal the environmental assessment requirement for proposals within:

     (1)  A historic site as designated in the National Register or Hawaii Register, as provided for in the Historic Preservation Act of 1966, Public Law 89-665, or chapter 6E, Hawaii Revised Statutes; or

     (2)  The Waikiki special district.

     SECTION 2.  Section 343-5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

     "(a)  Except as otherwise provided, an environmental assessment shall be required for actions that:

     (1)  Propose the use of state or county lands or the use of state or county funds, other than funds to be used for feasibility or planning studies for possible future programs or projects that the agency has not approved, adopted, or funded, or funds to be used for the acquisition of unimproved real property; provided that the agency shall consider environmental factors and available alternatives in its feasibility or planning studies; provided further that an environmental assessment for proposed uses under section 205‑2(d)(11) or 205-4.5(a)(13) shall only be required pursuant to section 205-5(b);

     (2)  Propose any use within any land classified as a conservation district by the state land use commission under chapter 205;

     (3)  Propose any use within a shoreline area as defined in section 205A-41;

    [(4)  Propose any use within any historic site as designated in the National Register or Hawaii Register, as provided for in the Historic Preservation Act of 1966, Public Law 89-665, or chapter 6E;

     (5)  Propose any use within the Waikiki area of Oahu, the boundaries of which are delineated in the land use ordinance as amended, establishing the "Waikiki Special District";

     (6)] (4)  Propose any amendments to existing county general plans where the amendment would result in designations other than agriculture, conservation, or preservation, except actions proposing any new county general plan or amendments to any existing county general plan initiated by a county;

    [(7)] (5)  Propose any reclassification of any land classified as a conservation district by the state land use commission under chapter 205;

    [(8)] (6)  Propose the construction of new or the expansion or modification of existing helicopter facilities within the State, that by way of their activities, may affect:

          (A)  Any land classified as a conservation district by the state land use commission under chapter 205;

          (B)  A shoreline area as defined in section 205A-41; or

          (C)  Any historic site as designated in the National Register or Hawaii Register, as provided for in the Historic Preservation Act of 1966, Public Law 89-665, or chapter 6E; or until the statewide historic places inventory is completed, any historic site that is found by a field reconnaissance of the area affected by the helicopter facility and is under consideration for placement on the National Register or the Hawaii Register of Historic Places; and

    [(9)] (7)  Propose any:

          (A)  Wastewater treatment unit, except an individual wastewater system or a wastewater treatment unit serving fewer than fifty single-family dwellings or the equivalent;

          (B)  Waste-to-energy facility;

          (C)  Landfill;

          (D)  Oil refinery; or

          (E)  Power-generating facility."

     SECTION 3.  This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.

     SECTION 4.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

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

Report Title:

Environmental Assessments; Historic Sites; Waikiki

Description:

Removes historic sites and the Waikiki special district from the requirement for environmental assessments under section 343-5, HRS.

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

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  880-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2026

RE:   H.B. No. 1650

      H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1650, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to repeal the environmental assessment requirement for proposed actions within the Waikiki Special District.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development; Waikīkī Beach Special Improvement District Association; Hawaiʻi YIMBY; and Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from UNITE HERE Local 5; Hawaii's Thousand Friends; and three individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaiʻi Association of REALTORS.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1650, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  340-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2026

RE:   H.B. No. 1650

      H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 1650, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to repeal the environmental assessment requirement for proposed actions within the Waikiki Special District.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Hawaiʻi YIMBY; United Chinese Society of Hawaii; and one individual.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from The Outdoor Circle; Hawaiʻi's Thousand Friends; Chamber of Sustainable Commerce; and three individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development; Hawaiʻi Association of REALTORS; and one individual.

     Your Committee finds that in places like the Waikiki Special District, the City and County of Honolulu already requires extensive review through its special district permitting process.  These reviews include public input, design oversight, and specific protections for historic and culturally significant structures. Requiring projects to have an additional environmental assessment under Chapter 343, Hawaii Revised Statutes, would likely result in a duplication of analyses, adding time and cost without providing meaningful new information.  Your Committee further finds that this measure takes a targeted and reasonable step toward reducing unnecessary duplication in the development approval process.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1650, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water & Land,

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  29-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2026

RE:   H.B. No. 1650

      H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 1650 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to remove proposed actions within historic sites and the Waikiki Special District from the requirement for environmental assessments under section 343-5, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaiʻi Association of REALTORS; Hawaiʻi YIMBY; United Chinese Society of Hawaii; and one individual.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from The Outdoor Circle; Truth for the People Moku O Keawe; and numerous individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Office of Planning and Sustainable Development; and Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

     Your Committee finds that the City and County of Honolulu has adopted ordinances and other requirements for permitting of certain projects within the Waikiki Special District.  Your Committee further finds that it is redundant and unnecessary to require all proposals for any use within the Waikiki Special District to undergo an environmental assessment in addition to the City's requirements.  Accordingly, this measure removes the requirement for environmental assessments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Reinstating the environmental assessment requirement for actions that propose any use within a historic site;

     (2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1650, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1650, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Water & Land.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,