HB 2138: DBEDT; Hilo-Kona Transportation Pilot Program
- Session Year: 2025-2026
- House: House
- Latest Version Date: 2026-02-11
Current Status:
Failed
(2026-03-17: Re-Referred to EDT/TRS, WAM.)
Introduced
In Committee
First Chamber
In Committee
Second Chamber
Final Decking
Enacted
What does this bill do?
This bill creates a Hilo–Kona transportation pilot program in the state Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to study, plan, and test new transit routes and services connecting Hilo and Kona. The department may explore direct and express routes, shuttles, microtransit, public–private partnerships, and other multimodal improvements while working with state and local agencies and community groups.
The summary is provided by generative AI which can make mistakes. For original language, please view the details in the table below.
Establishes a Hilo-Kona transportation pilot program within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to study, plan, evaluate, implement, and trial transportation routes and services connecting Hilo and Kona. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
Establishes a Hilo-Kona transportation pilot program within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to study, plan, evaluate, implement, and trial transportation routes and services connecting Hilo and Kona.
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
2138 |
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THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 |
H.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that residents and visitors frequently travel between east Hawaii island and west Hawaii island, particularly the areas of Hilo and Kona, for employment, education, medical services, commerce, and tourism. However, the limited availability of efficient, reliable, and affordable transportation options presents challenges to economic development, community connectivity, and access to essential services.
The legislature further finds that a dedicated evaluation of potential transportation routes, including demand response transit, route expansions, and multimodal corridor improvements would help provide long‑term transportation solutions for the island of Hawaii.
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to establish a pilot program within the department of business, economic development, and tourism to study and implement transportation options that link the areas of Hilo and Kona.
SECTION 2. (a) There is established a Hilo-Kona transportation pilot program within the department of business, economic development, and tourism to study, plan, evaluate, implement, and trial transportation routes and services connecting Hilo and Kona.
(b) The department of business, economic development, and tourism shall consider a range of mobility and route options, including direct routes, express routes, public–private partnerships, shuttle systems, micro transit, and multimodal corridor improvements.
(c) The department of business, economic development, and tourism may consult and collaborate with federal agencies, all departments of the State and its political subdivisions that offer transportation related services, community organizations, planners, and other stakeholders.
(d) The department of business, economic development, and tourism 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 2028.
SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000, and shall be repealed on June 30, 2028.
Report Title:
DBEDT; Hilo-Kona Transportation Pilot Program
Description:
Establishes a Hilo-Kona transportation pilot program within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to study, plan, evaluate, implement, and trial transportation routes and services connecting Hilo and Kona. 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.
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
2138 |
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THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to economic development.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that residents and visitors frequently travel between East Hawaii island and West Hawaii island, particularly the areas of Hilo and Kona, for employment, education, medical services, commerce, and tourism. However, the limited availability of efficient, reliable, and affordable transportation options presents challenges to economic development, community connectivity, and access to essential services.
The legislature further finds that a dedicated evaluation of potential transportation routes, including demand response transit, route expansions, and multimodal corridor improvements would help provide long‑term transportation solutions for the island of Hawaii.
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to establish a pilot program within the department of business, economic development, and tourism to study and implement transportation options that link the areas of Hilo and Kona.
SECTION 2. (a) There is established a Hilo-Kona transportation pilot program within the department of business, economic development, and tourism to study, plan, evaluate, implement, and trial transportation routes and services connecting Hilo and Kona.
(b) The department of business, economic development, and tourism shall consider a range of mobility and route options, including direct routes, express routes, public–private partnerships, shuttle systems, micro transit, and multimodal corridor improvements.
(c) The department of business, economic development, and tourism may consult and collaborate with federal agencies, all departments of the State and its political subdivisions that offer transportation related services, community organizations, planners, and other stakeholders.
(d) The department of business, economic development, and tourism 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 2028.
SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026, and shall be repealed on June 30, 2028.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
_____________________________ |
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Report Title:
DBEDT; Hilo-Kona Transportation Pilot Program
Description:
Establishes a Hilo-Kona transportation pilot program within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to study, plan, evaluate, implement, and trial transportation routes and services connecting Hilo and Kona.
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
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Date
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Status
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| Mar 17, 2026 | Re-Referred to EDT/TRS, WAM. |
| Mar 10, 2026 | Referred to EDT, WAM. |
| Mar 6, 2026 | Passed First Reading. |
| Mar 6, 2026 | Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 82). |
| Mar 5, 2026 | Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Perruso excused (1). Transmitted to Senate. |
| Mar 5, 2026 | Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 779-26), recommending passage on Third Reading. |
| Mar 2, 2026 | The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 16 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Alcos, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none. |
| Feb 27, 2026 | Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Monday, 03-02-26 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. |
| Feb 20, 2026 | Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1). |
| Feb 20, 2026 | Reported from TRN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 655-26), recommending referral to FIN. |
| Feb 19, 2026 | The committee on TRN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Kila, Miyake, Cochran, Evslin, Kitagawa, La Chica, Muraoka, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Grandinetti. |
| Feb 13, 2026 | Bill scheduled to be heard by TRN on Thursday, 02-19-26 9:00AM in House conference room 430 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. |
| Feb 12, 2026 | Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on TRN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0). |
| Feb 12, 2026 | Reported from ECD (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 257-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to TRN. |
| Feb 11, 2026 | The committee on ECD recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Ilagan, Hussey, Holt, Tam, Templo, Yamashita, Gedeon; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none. |
| Feb 6, 2026 | Bill scheduled to be heard by ECD on Wednesday, 02-11-26 8:30AM in House conference room 423 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. |
| Jan 30, 2026 | Referred to ECD, TRN, FIN, referral sheet 5 |
| Jan 28, 2026 | Introduced and Pass First Reading. |
| Jan 26, 2026 | Pending introduction. |
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Date
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Description
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Location
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Votes
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| Mar 5, 2026 | Third Reading | House Floor |
Passed |
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| Mar 2, 2026 | The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED | House Standing Committee on Finance |
Passed |
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| Feb 19, 2026 | The committee on TRN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED | House Standing Committee on Transportation |
Passed |
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| Feb 11, 2026 | The committee on ECD recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS | House Standing Committee on Economic Development & Technology |
Passed |
This list shows positions taken on this bill by organizations on the date displayed, which is linked to the original source.
Positions by individuals are not included.
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Organization
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Position
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Date
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| Chamber of Commerce Hawaii | ** Support | |
| County of Hawaii, Department of Research and Development | *** Support | Mar 3, 2026 |
| Department of Research and Development for the County of Hawaiʻi | ** Support | |
| Department of Research and Development of the County of Hawaii | ** Support | |
| Enterprise Mobility | ** Support | |
| Hawaii Transportation Association | ** Support | |
| Hawaii Transportation Association | *** Support | Feb 18, 2026 |
| Hawaii Transportation Association | ** Support | |
| Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii | *** Support | Mar 3, 2026 |
STAND. COM. REP. NO. 779-26
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2026
RE: H.B. No. 2138
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. 2138, H.D. 1, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,"
begs leave to report as follows:
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Research and Development for the County of Hawaiʻi; Chamber of Commerce Hawaii; Enterprise Mobility; and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.
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. 2138, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,
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____________________________ CHRIS TODD, Chair |
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STAND. COM. REP. NO. 655-26
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2026
RE: H.B. No. 2138
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 Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 2138, H.D. 1, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to establish a Hilo-Kona Transportation Pilot Program within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to study, plan, evaluate, implement, and trial transportation routes and services connecting Hilo and Kona.
Your Committee finds that limited, unreliable, and costly transportation options between Hilo and Kona have long created barriers to workforce participation, economic opportunity, and equitable access to essential services in Hawaii County. Many residents commute significant distances for employment in construction, hospitality, retail, and other industries, often facing travel times of up to two hours each way, while students, patients seeking medical care, and visitors similarly lack efficient interregional mobility options. By establishing a HiloKona Transportation Pilot Program within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to study, plan, test, and assess potential service models, this measure promotes informed decision-making, advances regional equity, and supports long-term economic resilience without prematurely committing to permanent infrastructure or operational systems.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2138, 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 Transportation,
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____________________________ DARIUS KILA, Chair |
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STAND. COM. REP. NO. 257-26
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2026
RE: H.B. No. 2138
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 Economic Development & Technology, to which was referred H.B. No. 2138 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,"
begs leave to report as follows:
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Research and Development for the County of Hawaiʻi; Hawaii Transportation Association; and two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.
Your Committee finds that residents and visitors frequently travel between East Hawaii and West Hawaii, particularly between Hilo and Kona, for employment, education, medical services, commerce, and tourism. However, limited access to efficient, reliable, and affordable transportation options has created barriers to economic activity, workforce mobility, and access to essential services. Your Committee further finds that a pilot program that includes a coordinated evaluation of transportation solutions, including demand-response transit, route expansions, and multimodal corridor improvements, will strengthen interregional connectivity, support economic growth, and help improve the transportation system on Hawaii Island.
Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and
(2) 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 Economic Development & Technology that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2138, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2138, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Transportation.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Economic Development & Technology,
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____________________________ GREGGOR ILAGAN, Chair |
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Date
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Testimony PDF
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| Mar 3, 2026 | HB2138_HD1_TESTIMONY_FIN_03-02-26_.PDF |
| Feb 18, 2026 | HB2138_HD1_TESTIMONY_TRN_02-19-26_.PDF |
| Feb 11, 2026 | HB2138_TESTIMONY_ECD_02-11-26_.PDF |
Discussed in Hearing
31SEC
House Standing Committee on Finance
29SEC
House Standing Committee on Finance
1MIN
House Standing Committee on Transportation
28SEC
House Standing Committee on Transportation
8MIN
