HR 64: Requesting the Ko olina golf Club owners and management, in coordination with the department of transportation, to implement measures to prevent golf balls from reaching farrington highway.

HOUSE RESOLUTION

Requesting the Ko olina golf Club owners and management, in coordination with the department of transportation, to implement measures to prevent golf balls from reaching farrington highway.

     WHEREAS, the Department of Transportation has estimated that the 18.5 mile Farrington Highway corridor between Kalaeloa Boulevard and Keaʻau can experience up to 54,000 daily commuters; and

     WHEREAS, the Department of Transportation further estimates the commuters in this stretch of Farrington Highway is expected to increase by over twenty-two percent by 2040; and

     WHEREAS, certain golf holes at the Ko Olina Golf Club run adjacent and in close proximity to Farrington Highway; and

     WHEREAS, there has been a rise in reports of golf balls hitting homes and cars driving alongside Ko Olina Golf Club and landing on Farrington Highway; and

     WHEREAS, golf balls landing on Farrington Highway and striking cars or pedestrians pose a significant safety hazard for drivers and pedestrians; and

     WHEREAS, Ko Olina Golf Club management should implement safety measures to circumvent golf balls from leaving the perimeter of the golf course to ensure the safety of drivers and pedestrians and further minimize the risk of accidents or injuries caused by stray golf balls; 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 Ko Olina Golf Club owners and management, in coordination with the Department of Transportation, are requested to develop and implement measures to prevent golf balls from landing on Farrington Highway; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Transportation is requested to submit a report on 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 2026; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Transportation and Ko Olina Golf Club owners and management.

Report Title: 

Ko Olina Golf Club; Stray Golf Balls; Farrington Highway; Public Safety

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1517

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2025

RE:   H.R. No. 64

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. 64 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE KO OLINA GOLF CLUB OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT, IN COORDINATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, TO IMPLEMENT MEASURES TO PREVENT GOLF BALLS FROM REACHING FARRINGTON HIGHWAY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to request the Ko Olina Golf Club owners and management, in coordination with the Department of Transportation, to implement measures to prevent golf balls from reaching Farrington Highway.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation and one individual.

     Your Committee finds that increasing commuter traffic on Farrington Highway and the proximity of certain Ko Olina Golf Club holes pose a safety risk due to stray golf balls hitting vehicles and pedestrians.  This measure seeks to mitigate potential accidents and injuries due to stray golf balls from Ko Olina Golf Club entering the Highway.

     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. 64 and recommends its adoption.

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