HCR 121: REQUESTING THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, UNITED STATES ARMY, UNITED STATES NAVY, AND STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO WORK WITH APPROPRIATE STATE AND COUNTY DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES TO EXPAND, PLAN, AND COORDINATE WORK RELATED TO USING KOLEKOLE PASS AS AN EXPANDED EMERGENCY EXIT ROUTE.

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, UNITED STATES ARMY, UNITED STATES NAVY, AND STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO WORK WITH APPROPRIATE STATE AND COUNTY DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES TO EXPAND, PLAN, AND COORDINATE WORK RELATED TO USING KOLEKOLE PASS AS AN EXPANDED EMERGENCY EXIT ROUTE.

     WHEREAS, Kolekole Pass, a historically significant and strategically located corridor through the Waiʻanae mountain range in Nānākuli has long been recognized as a potential emergency evacuation route connecting the Leeward Coast to Central Oahu; and

     WHEREAS, Kolekole Pass has been used historically for military operations and has played an important role in Hawaii's history, including serving as a critical route for military and emergency access; and

     WHEREAS, recent natural disasters, including the fires on Maui, have underscored the necessity of maintaining alternative evacuation routes to ensure the safety of residents in vulnerable communities; and

     WHEREAS, the West side of Oahu faces limited road access, with Farrington Highway serving as the primary roadway for thousands of residents, leaving communities vulnerable to dangerous gridlocks during emergencies; and

     WHEREAS, the military has conducted multiple exercises in coordination with federal, state, and county agencies to evaluate the feasibility of Kolekole Pass as an emergency evacuation route, including full-scale exercises in February 2025, that tested its viability for civilian use; and

     WHEREAS, recent discussions between military and civilian leadership have indicated a willingness to consider Kolekole Pass for public use in emergency situations; provided appropriate planning, maintenance, and coordination are in place; and

     WHEREAS, the coordination of multiple federal, state, and county agencies is necessary to implement infrastructure improvements and establish protocols for civilian use of Kolekole Pass in emergencies; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, the Senate concurring, that the United States Department of Defense, United States Army, United States Navy, and State Department of Transportation are requested to work with appropriate state and county departments and agencies to expand, plan, and coordinate work to prepare and secure Kolekole Pass as an expanded emergency exit route for residents on the West side of Oahu in the event of dangerous gridlocks, natural disasters, or unforeseen catastrophic emergencies; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the United States Secretary of Defense, Chief of Staff of the Army, Chief of Naval Operations, members of Hawaii's congressional delegation, Governor, Director of Transportation, and Administrator of Emergency Management for the City and County of Honolulu.

Report Title: 

United States Department of Defense; United States Army; United States Navy; Kolekole Pass; Emergency Exit

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

requesting the united states Department of Defense, United States Army, United States Navy, and state department of transportation to work with appropriate state and county departments and agencies to expand, plan, and coordinate work related to using kolekole pass as an expanded emergency exit route.

     WHEREAS, Kolekole Pass, a historically significant and strategically located corridor through the Waiʻanae mountain range in Nānākuli has long been recognized as a potential emergency evacuation route connecting the Leeward Coast to Central Oahu;

and

     WHEREAS, Kolekole Pass has been used historically for military operations and has played an important role in Hawaii's history, including serving as a critical route for military and emergency access; and

     WHEREAS, recent natural disasters, including the fires on Maui, have underscored the necessity of maintaining alternative evacuation routes to ensure the safety of residents in vulnerable communities; and

     WHEREAS, the Westside of Oʻahu faces limited road access, with Farrington Highway serving as the primary roadway for thousands of residents, leaving communities vulnerable to dangerous gridlocks during emergencies; and

     WHEREAS, the military has conducted multiple exercises in coordination with federal, state, and county agencies to evaluate the feasibility of Kolekole Pass as an emergency evacuation route, including full-scale exercises in February 2025, that tested its viability for civilian use; and

     WHEREAS, recent discussions between military and civilian leadership have indicated a willingness to consider Kolekole Pass for public use in emergency situations; provided appropriate planning, maintenance, and coordination are in place; and

     WHEREAS, the coordination of multiple federal, state, and county agencies is necessary to implement infrastructure improvements and establish protocols for civilian use of Kolekole Pass in emergencies; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, the Senate concurring, that the United States Department of Defense, United States Army, United States Navy, and State Department of Transportation are requested to work with appropriate state and county departments and agencies to expand, plan, and coordinate work to prepare and secure Kolekole Pass as an expanded emergency exit route for residents on the Westside of Oʻahu in the event of dangerous gridlocks, natural disasters, or unforeseen catastrophic emergencies; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the United States Secretary of Defense, Chief of Staff of the Army, Chief of Naval Operations, members of Hawaii's congressional delegation, Governor, Director of Transportation, and Administrator of Emergency Management for the City and County of Honolulu.

Report Title: 

United States Department of Defense; United States Army; United States Navy; Kolekole Pass; Emergency Exit

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1878

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.C.R. No. 121

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Public Safety and Military Affairs and Transportation and Culture and the Arts, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 121 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, UNITED STATES ARMY, UNITED STATES NAVY, AND STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO WORK WITH APPROPRIATE STATE AND COUNTY DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES TO EXPAND, PLAN, AND COORDINATE WORK RELATED TO USING KOLEKOLE PASS AS AN EXPANDED EMERGENCY EXIT ROUTE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the United States Department of Defense, United States Army, United States Navy, and State Department of Transportation to work with appropriate state and county departments and agencies to expand, plan, and coordinate work related to using Kolekole Pass as an expanded emergency exit route.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation, Hawaii Military Affairs Council, and five individuals.

     Your Committees find that Kolekole Pass in the Waianae mountain range, which has historically been used for military operations, forms a corridor that could potentially serve as an evacuation route for neighboring civilian communities in the event of dangerous gridlocks, natural disasters, or unforeseen catastrophic emergencies.  Relevant Oahu-based military agencies and state and county level emergency management agencies currently have a memorandum of understanding in place that establishes procedures for emergency vehicle access only through Kolekole Pass during extraordinary emergency circumstances with the discretion of commanders.  However, the pass is not currently open to the public in the event of an emergency evacuation.  Accordingly, this measure requests federal defense agencies and the Hawaii State Department of Transportation to cooperate with appropriate state and county entities to prepare and secure Kolekole Pass as an expanded emergency exit route for residents of the west side of Oahu.  

     Your Committees have amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Public Safety and Military Affairs and Transportation and Culture and the Arts that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 121, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 121, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Public Safety and Military Affairs and Transportation and Culture and the Arts,

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1824

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2025

RE:   H.C.R. No. 121

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 121 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, UNITED STATES ARMY, UNITED STATES NAVY, AND STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO WORK WITH APPROPRIATE STATE AND COUNTY DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES TO EXPAND, PLAN, AND COORDINATE WORK RELATED TO USING KOLEKOLE PASS AS AN EXPANDED EMERGENCY EXIT ROUTE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to request the United States Department of Defense, United States Army, United States Navy, and State Department of Transportation to work with appropriate state and county departments and agencies to expand, plan, and coordinate work related to using Kolekole pass as an expanded emergency exit route.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 121 and recommends its adoption.

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

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1618

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2025

RE:   H.C.R. No. 121

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committees on Transportation and Public Safety, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 121 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, UNITED STATES ARMY, UNITED STATES NAVY, AND STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO WORK WITH APPROPRIATE STATE AND COUNTY DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES TO EXPAND, PLAN, AND COORDINATE WORK RELATED TO USING KOLEKOLE PASS AS AN EXPANDED EMERGENCY EXIT ROUTE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to request the United States Department of Defense, United States Army, United States Navy, and State Department of Transportation to work with appropriate state and county departments and agencies to expand, plan, and coordinate work related to using Kolekole Pass as an expanded emergency exit route.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Military and Community Relations Office; Hawaii Military Affairs Council; and two individuals.

     Your Committees find that Kolekole Pass has historically served as a vital transportation corridor through the Waianae mountain range and has the potential to provide a crucial emergency evacuation route for residents of the Leeward Coast.  Your Committees further find that with Farrington Highway as the primary roadway for thousands of residents, limited access leaves communities vulnerable to gridlock during natural disasters and other emergencies.  This measure will enhance public safety and disaster preparedness for West Oahu by encouraging collaboration between pertinent federal, state, and county agencies.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Transportation and Public Safety that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 121 and recommend that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Transportation and Public Safety,