HR 43: URGING THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU TO WORK WITH STAKEHOLDERS TO CONSTRUCT AN EMERGENCY ACCESS ROAD ON THE WAIʻANAE COAST.

HOUSE RESOLUTION

URGING THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU TO WORK WITH STAKEHOLDERS TO CONSTRUCT AN EMERGENCY ACCESS ROAD ON THE WAIʻANAE COAST.

     WHEREAS, maintaining emergency access roads that provide more than one way in and out of a developed area is essential to public safety; and

     WHEREAS, emergency preparedness, evacuation plans, and traffic mitigation were all mentioned among findings and recommendations of the House of Representatives Lahaina Wildfire Interim Schools Working Group; and

     WHEREAS, the devastating impacts of the Lahaina wildfire in 2023 were exacerbated by inaccessible emergency routes, including locked gates on Kuhua Street and Old Cane Haul Road; and

     WHEREAS, Paakea and Lualualei Naval roads currently serve as the official emergency evacuation route; however, the southern portion of Paakea Road is closed by a city gate, which requires an authorized city employee to unlock it in the event of an emergency; and

     WHEREAS, Paakea and Lualualei Naval roads are inadequate to serve as an emergency evacuation route because, at certain points, the road only allows for one lane of traffic, creating significant limitations to the flow of traffic in an emergency; and

     WHEREAS, the City and County of Honolulu, Department of Transportation, and the military have begun discussions and collaboration to make necessary improvements to Kolekole Pass; and

     WHEREAS, Kolekole Pass is not fit to serve as an emergency access route because of the danger of landslides and inaccessible terrain in even the slightest rain; and

WHEREAS, Farrington Highway serves as the only access road in and out of Waiʻanae; and

WHEREAS, the public safety of the Waiʻanae, Mākaha, Māʻili, and Nānākuli communities requires that an emergency access route be developed and available for use as an alternative to Farrington Highway; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, that the City and County of Honolulu is urged to work with the United States military, Department of Transportation, and Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to develop an emergency access road along the Waiʻanae Coast; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the emergency access route should benefit the communities of Waiʻanae, Mākaha, Māʻili, and Nānākuli; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City and County of Honolulu is requested to hold community events discussing plans to develop an emergency access road on the Waiʻanae Coast to solicit engagement of Leeward residents and encourage public participation in the decision-making process; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City and County of Honolulu is requested to provide the plans along with a timeline for completion of an alternative emergency access road along the Waiʻanae Coast to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2026; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Senior Commander of the United States Army Garrison, Commander of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Director of Transportation, Administrator of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu, and Honolulu City Councilmember representing District 1.

Report Title: 

Emergency Preparedness; Waiʻanae Coast; Access Road

HOUSE RESOLUTION

Urging the city and county of honolulu to work with stakeholders to construct an emergency access road on the waiʻanae coast.

     WHEREAS, maintaining emergency access roads which provide more than one way in and out of a developed area is essential to public safety; and

     WHEREAS, emergency preparedness, evacuation plans, and traffic mitigation were all mentioned among findings and recommendations of the House of Representatives Lahaina Wildfire Interim Schools Working Group; and

     WHEREAS, the devastating impacts of the Lahaina wildfire in 2023 were exacerbated by inaccessible emergency routes, including locked gates on Kuhua Street and Old Cane Haul Road; and

     WHEREAS, Paakea and Lualualei Naval roads currently serve as the official emergency evacuation route; however, the southern portion of Paakea Road is closed by a city gate which requires an authorized city employee to unlock it in the event of an emergency; and

     WHEREAS, Paakea and Lualualei Naval roads are inadequate to serve as an emergency evacuation route because, at certain points, the road only allows for one lane of traffic, creating significant limitations to the flow of traffic in an emergency; and

     WHEREAS, the City and County of Honolulu, Department of Transportation, and the military have begun discussions and collaboration to make necessary improvements to Kolekole Pass; and

     WHEREAS, Kolekole Pass is not fit to serve as an emergency access route because of the danger of landslides and inaccessible terrain in even the slightest rain; and

WHEREAS, Farrington Highway serves as the only access road in and out of Waiʻanae; and

WHEREAS, the public safety of the Waiʻanae, Mākaha, Māʻili, and Nānākuli communities requires that an emergency access route be developed and available for use as an alternative to Farrington Highway; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, that the City and County of Honolulu is urged to work with the U.S. military, Department of Transportation, and Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to develop an emergency access road along the Waiʻanae Coast; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the emergency access route should benefit the communities of Waiʻanae, Mākaha, Māʻili, and Nānākuli; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City and County of Honolulu is requested to hold community events discussing plans to develop an emergency access road on the Waiʻanae Coast to solicit engagement of Leeward residents and encourage public participation in the decision-making process; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City and County of Honolulu is requested to provide the plans along with a timeline for completion of an alternative emergency access road along the Waiʻanae Coast to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2026; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Senior Commander of U.S. Army Garrison, Commander of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Director of Transportation, Administrator of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu, and Honolulu City Councilmember representing District 1.

Report Title: 

Emergency Preparedness; Waiʻanae Coast; Access Road

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  2103

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2025

RE:   H.R. No. 43

      H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committee on Public Safety, to which was referred H.R. No. 43, H.D. 1, entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION URGING THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU TO WORK WITH STAKEHOLDERS TO CONSTRUCT AN EMERGENCY ACCESS ROAD ON THE WAIʻANAE COAST,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to urge the City and County of Honolulu to work with stakeholders to construct an emergency access road on the Wai'anae coast.

     The Military Affairs Council, the Hawaii Climate Change Health Working Group, and twelve individuals provided testimony in support of this resolution.

     Your committee finds that maintaining emergency access roads that provide more than one way in and out of a developed area is essential to public safety. Considering that Farrington Highway serves currently as the only adequate way in and out of Wai'anae, this committee finds that the City and County of Honolulu needs to work with the Department of Transportation and the military to develop an emergency access road along the Waiʻanae Coast to benefit the communities of Waiʻanae, Makaha, Māʻili, and Nanakuli.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 43, H.D. 1, and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety,

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1668

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2025

RE:   H.R. No. 43

      H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.R. No. 43 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION URGING THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU TO WORK WITH STAKEHOLDERS TO CONSTRUCT AN EMERGENCY ACCESS ROAD ON THE WAIʻANAE COAST,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to urge the City and County of Honolulu to work with stakeholders to construct an emergency access road on the Waianae coast.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Military Affairs Council and nine individuals.

     Your Committee finds that ensuring multiple emergency access routes is critical to public safety, particularly in communities with limited road infrastructure.  The devastating impact of the 2023 Lahaina wildfire highlighted the dangers posed by inaccessible evacuation routes, reinforcing the need for improved emergency planning.  This measure aims to ensure residents have a safe and reliable evacuation route in the event of a disaster.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by 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 Transportation that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 43, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Public Safety in the form attached hereto as H.R. No. 43, H.D. 1.

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