House Standing Committee on Public Safety

Good morning. Convening the joint hearing on, of the Committee on Transportation with Rep. Kila and or Chair Kila and me, Vice Chair Grandinetti and the Committee on Public Safety with Vice Chair Kim Coco Iwamoto and Chair Della Au Belatti on Tuesday, March 25th, nine a.m. here at the Hawaii State Capitol in conference room 430.

Just starting off with some housekeeping. In order to allow as many people to testify as possible, there will be a two-minute time limit per testifier. Because morning hearings must adjourn prior to floor session, not all testifiers may have the opportunity to testify in that event. Please know that your written testimony will be considered by the committee.

For those on Zoom, please keep yourself muted and your video off while waiting to testify and after your testimony is complete. The Zoom chat function will allow you to chat with the technical staff only. Please use the chat only for technical issues. If you're disconnected unexpectedly, you may attempt to rejoin the meeting.

If disconnected while presenting testimony, you may be allowed to continue if time permits. Please note the house is not responsible for any bad internet connections on the testifier's end and in the wake of a network failure. In the event of a network failure, it may be necessary to reschedule the hearing or schedule a meeting for decision-making.

In that case, an appropriate notice will be posted. Please avoid using any trademarked or copyrighted images, and please refrain from profanity or uncivil behavior, as such behavior may be grounds for removal from the hearing without the ability to rejoin. But we have just one reso on the agenda today. Can you go ahead and start? Yeah, okay.

Okay. Starting with HCR121, HR117, 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. Chair for the testimony.

Thank you. Taking up HCR121, HR117 in tandem. A first registered to testify is Josh Green, Department of Business and Economic Development and Tourism, in support. Up next, we have Department of Transportation in support.

Hi. Good morning, Chairs, Vice Chairs, and members of the committee. Robin Shishido with HDOT, and stand by our written testimony in support. Thank you.

Thank you. Up next, we have Jason Chung for Military Affairs Council, Michael Loyu Sr., in support, Frank Schultz in support, and Beverly Gattelli in support. Seeing there are no further registered testifiers on the measures before us, is there anyone online or in person like to testify on the matter? Seeing none, Chair.

Thank you. Members, any questions? Okay, seeing none. Recess.

Okay. Reconvening the joint hearing of the Committee on Transportation and the Committee on Public Safety. We are on HCR121, HR117. The recommendation is to pass this out as is. Members of transportation, any questions, comments, or concerns?

So I'd like to thank Chair Kila for introducing this. This directly affects my community as well as Chair Kila's. And this is something that we've been fighting for and needed for so long. So, thank you.

Thank you, Rep. Muraoka. Anyone else? Okay, seeing none. Chair for the vote.

Thank you. Members voting on HR117 and HCR121 in tandem, Chair and Vice Chair, vote aye. Representative Cochran is excused. Representative Evslin is excused. Representative Kitagawa.

Aye.

Representative La Chica is excused. Representative Miyake.

Aye.

Representative Muraoka.

Aye.

Representative Pierick is excused. Chair, your recommendation is adopted.

Thank you.

Okay. For public safety, the recommendation is to pass, as is. Any comments, questions, concerns?

I have a comment. Thank you, Chair. I'll be voting no on this measure. I think my issue is that in advocating for my community, there's 20,000 plus residents in Makakilo who they're looking for a second ingress and egress out of Makakilo in addition to the Makilo drive extension.

And I think that as a matter of equity, we need to worry about all communities, not just some. The roadway that currently is through the Makakilo Quarry with Grace Pacific, that's not sustainable. We need to make this city issue a state issue. And as a result, I'm voting no.

So is this a discussion? Do we discuss?

That's just my comments on the record. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you.

Chair's recommendation is to pass unamended. This is recommendations for HCR121 and HR117 taken in tandem. Chair votes aye. Vice Chair votes.

Sorry. Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Representative Souza.

Aye.

Representative Woodson is excused. Representative Shimizu.

Representative Hashem.

Aye.

Representative Lamosao is excused. Representative Morikawa.

Representative Poepoe.

Aye.

Representative Ichiyama.

No.

Chair, your recommendation is adopted for both.

Okay. Thank you, members. We are adjourned.

Good morning. Convening the House Committee on Transportation, here in Conference Room 430, Tuesday, March 25 for our 9:10 a.m. agenda. We are hearing resos this morning with just some, first--some housekeeping things first.

In order to allow as many people to testify as possible, there will be a two-minute time limit per testifier. Because warning hearings must adjourn prior to floor session, not all testifiers may have the opportunity to testify. In that event, please know that your written testimony will be considered by the committee.

For those on Zoom, please keep yourself muted and your video off while waiting to testify and after your testimony is complete. The Zoom chat function will allow you to chat with the technical staff only. Please use the chat only for technical issues. If you're disconnected unexpectedly, you may attempt to rejoin the meeting.

If disconnected while presenting testimony, you may be allowed to continue if time permits. Please note that the House is not responsible for any bad Internet connections on the testifier's end. In the event of a network failure, it may be necessary to reschedule the hearing or schedule a meeting for decision-making. In that case, an appropriate notice will be posted.

Please avoid any trademarked or copyrighted images and please refrain from profanity or uncivil behavior, as such behavior may be grounds for removal from the hearing without the ability to rejoin. Okay, starting off with HCR 43: requesting the Department of Transportation and Department of Law Enforcement to study the possibility of a highway patrol and speed cameras along major freeways and highways in primary areas of speeding. Chair for the testimony.

Thank you. Testimony for HCR 43. At first, you have Mike Lamber, Department of Law Enforcement, writing comments. Next we have Michelle Acosta, the Judiciary State of Hawaii, providing comments. Next, the Department of Transportation, in support.

Hi. Good morning, chairs. Robin Shishido from HDLT and stand by our written testimony. Thank you.

Thank you. Up next we have Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization, in support. Next we have Henry Curtis, in support on Zoom. Thank you. Next we have Frank Schultz, in opposition, Dylan Armstrong, in support, and Keoni Shizuma, providing comments. Seeing no other further registered testifiers on the matters before us, is there anyone online or in person who would like to testify? Seeing none, chair.

Members, any questions? Okay, seeing none. Moving on to HCR 52 and HR 48, urging the City and County of Honolulu to work with stakeholders to construct a sidewalk for pedestrian safety while traveling between Iroquois Point and Ewa Beach. Chair for the Testimony.

Thank you.

Thank you. HCR 52 and HR 48 in tandem. Up first registered testifier is Frank Schultz in support. Up next Terry Yoshinaga in support and Dylan Armstrong in support. Seeing no further registered testifiers in the matters before us. Anyone else online or in person to testify?

Seeing none Chair

Members, any questions? Okay, moving on to HCR 57 Urging the Department of Transportation Services of the City and County of Honolulu to conduct a traffic mitigation and calming study to evaluate the effectiveness of certain traffic mitigation and calming devices in and around PAIWA street in Waipahu, Oahu. Chair for the testimony.

Thank you. Sorry, I believe there was an error with the agenda. So HCR 57 and HR 53 are the same measures. So taking those up in tandem. Up first registered testifier, we have Frank Schultz in support, Dylan Armstrong in support and Kalai Kalaikorea in support. So you know other for the registered testifiers of the matters before us.

Anyone online or in person like to testify? Seeing none Chair.

Seeing none, chair.

Thank you, chair. Members, any questions? Okay, seeing none. Moving on to HCR 112 and HR 108, strongly urging the Honolulu City Council to adopt a pedestrian-first policy via ordinance. Chair for the testimony.

Thank you. HCR 112/HR 108 in tandem. Up first we have the Department of Health in--providing comments.

Good morning--sorry--good morning, chair, vice chair, members of the committee. My name is Justin Menina, representing the Department of Health on behalf of Dr-- Director Dr. Kenneth Fink. We stand by our written testimony and happy to provide--answer any questions. Thank you.

Thank you. Up next we have Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization, in support, Travis Counsell from Hawaii Bicycling League, in support, Tatum Jaylene Crockett, in support, and Dylan Armstrong, in support. Seeing no further registered testifiers on the matters before us, is there anyone else online or in person who'd like to testify? Seeing none, chair.

Thank you. Members, any questions? Okay, seeing none. Moving on to HCR 129, HR 125, requesting the Department of Transportation, Department of Education and Department of Transportation of the County of Maui to collaborate to propose viable solutions to improve pedestrian and traffic safety and relieve traffic congestion around Haiku Elementary School. Chair for the testimony.

Thank you. On HCR 129, HR 125 in tandem. Keith Hayashi, Department of Education providing comments. Up next we have Frank Schultz in support and Dylan Armstrong in support. See no further registered testifiers of the matters before us, is there anyone else online or in person like to testify? Seeing none. Chair.

Thank you. Members, any questions? Okay, seeing none. HCR 131, HR 127, urging the Federal Aviation Administration and State Department of Transportation to encourage and facilitate the expansion of alternative airline services that utilize short takeoff and landing capable aircrafts.

And requesting the Legislative Reference Bureau to conduct a study on the feasibility and implementation of a rural air service program. Chair for the testimony.

Thank you. HCR 131, HR 127 in tandem. First here, Charlotte Yamauchi from the Legislative Reference Bureau providing comments. Up next we have Department of Transportation providing comments on Zoom. Nope.

Vice Chair Colonel Otaquro Deputy Director for Airports. We stand on written testimony offering comments here to answer any questions.

Thank you. Sorry. Lastly, Frank Schultz in support. Signal for the registered testifiers on the matters before us. Anyone else online or personally to testify. Seeing none, Chair.

Thank you. Members, any questions?

A question for DOT. There was just a recommendation put forth by Legislative Reference Bureau that they don't have the capacity and that they would like to see DOT possibly take up the feasibility of the study. Would you folks be open to that?

We'd have to look into that, Chair. We obviously are already working on a plan regardless of the concurrent resolutions and so certainly we can document what we are doing. I'm not quite sure exactly what your report would require.How extensive would be, but we are working on this. Possible solutions.

Thank you, Chair.

Okay, Members, any other questions? Okay, moving on to HCR 136 and HR 130, Urging the City and County of Honolulu to implement regulations requiring pedestrians to wear reflective gear between the hours of dusk and dawn. Chair for the testimony.

Thank you Members. HCR136, HR130 in tandem of First Department of Health providing comments.

Good morning again, Members. Chair, Vice Chair, Members of the Committee, Justin Menina with Department of Health. We stand by our written testimony and happy to answer any questions or comments. Thank you.

Mahalo. Up next we have Roger Martin from Department of Transportation Services providing comments next to Henry Curtis, Life of the Land providing comments on Zoom. Thank you. Up next we have Bev Brody, Get Fit Kauai Healthy Eating Active Living Coalition of Kaua'i County in opposition. Up next we have Travis Counsel from Hawaii Bicycling League in opposition.

Next we have Frank Schultz in opposition and Dylan Armstrong in opposition. So you know, further registered testifiers in the matters before us. Is there anyone else online or person like to testify on the matter? Seeing Nuncher.

Okay, Members, any questions? I actually have a question for DoH. Do you see this as kind of like counter to the Pedestrian first ordinance or do they work together?

I couldn't. My apologies, I would need to. I can get back with you on that. I think our understanding as is the Pedestrian first Bill can be applied to a number of measures to support pedestrian safety. I think with this measure in question, it places significant onus of responsibility on pedestrians, vulnerable road users in General.

Whereas we would, based upon over decades of evidence based research, support built environment systematic improvements such as traffic calming, street lighting improvements and other traffic safety measures.

Okay, thank you so much.

Thank you.

Members, any other questions? Okay, moving on to HCR 137 and HR 131, urging the Department of Transportation, Department of Education, and City and County of Honolulu to ensure the safety of Kipapa Elementary students using school crosswalks. Chair for the testimony.

Thank you, members. HCR 137/HR 131 in tandem. Up first, we have Department of Trans--sorry--Department of Education, providing comments. Next we have Jhameel Duarte of Kipapa Elementary School, Hawaii Department of Education, in support on Zoom.

Hi, chair, and hi, committee. My name is Dr. Jhameel Duarte, and I'm the proud principal of Kipapa Elementary School. I am in strong support of this measure for our crosswalks to be looked at, you know, in a more formal matter. On Kuahelani Street, there is a lot of pedestrian traffic and a lot of our roads are filtered and our cars are constantly moving and a lot of our students and our staff are almost hit on a daily basis.

So I do want for you to take a look at this measure in a more appropriate manner, just so that the safety of our students and our faculty and staff are taken into consideration. Thank you.

Thank you. Up next, we have Rudy Domingo from Kipapa Elementary, in opposition, Frank Schultz, in support, Terry Yoshinaga, in support, Jennifer Metrose, in support, Judy Har, in support, Keola Taniguchi, in support, Arianda Colin, in support, Rayden Sato, in support, and Kori Oros, in support.

Seeing no further registered testifiers in the matters before us, is there anyone else online or in person who'd like to testify? Please come before and just state your name, please.

Hi. My name is Arianda Colin, and I am testifying in support of this matter, and I urge the legislators to please help support this matter also. I am a parent at Kipapa Elementary in the City of Mililani.

For years I have seen students, parents, and even the school crossing guards very nearly get hit and run over by speeding cars at the crosswalk, including myself and my children to the point where I actually had to toss my stroller with my infant child and we were almost hit about one foot away. Sorry.

This crosswalk is behind the school and is the second entryway to the school campus on Kauhelani Avenue. Please note that there is also a blind curve from one of the directions that is right before the crossing walk, in which it makes it even more dangerous because the drivers cannot see the approaching crosswalk.

I am pleading with urgency. A resolution to this dangerous matter can be resolved, as I would hate to see anyone get seriously hurt or lose their life due to this very unsafe crosswalk that is desperately requiring a safety enhancement of more than just a few stripes painted on the street or a cross guard standing in the middle of the street. Thank you for your attention to this very important matter. Thank you again. Thank you. Gracias and mahalo.

Thanks for coming this morning.

Thank you.

Seeing no other further registered testifiers on the matter before us, anyone else online or in person who'd like to testify? Seeing none, chair.

Members, any questions? Okay, seeing none. Moving on to the next measure. HCR177, HR173, encouraging the City and County of Honolulu to initiate a summer streets pilot program. Chair for the testimony.

Thank you. HCR177, HR173 in tandem up. First we have Travis Council, Hawaii Bicycling League in support, Frank Schultz in support. And Natalie Graham Wood in support. See no further registered testifiers in the matters before us. And you know, is there anyone else online or in person like to testify? Seeing none Chair.

Thank you, Members. Any questions? Okay, Moving on to HCR 43. Requesting the Department of Transportation and Department of Law Enforcement to study the possibility of a Highway Patrol and speed cameras along major freeways and highways in primary areas of speeding. Chair for the testimony.

What just happened? Recess. Okay.

Okay. Reconvening. Apologies, we had the wrong title there. We are on HR 43 urging the City and County of Honolulu to work with stakeholders to construct an emergency access road on the Waianae Coast. Chair for the Testimony.

Thank you. HCR 40, HR 43. Up first you have Jason Chung, Military Affairs Council in support. Next we have Michael Rice in support. Ba Min Clock in support. Frank Schultz in support. Terry Oshinaga in support. Gary Kariaga in support. Julia Lar in support. Tanya Kaahina in support. Kelly Timoteo in support. And Tristy Kawaia in support.

Seeing no further registered testifiers on the matters before us. Is there anyone else online or personally to testify? Seeing none. Chair.

Thank you. Members, any questions? Okay. Seeing none. Moving, oh, that's it.

Oh, yeah, that's it.

Okay, we will recess.

Okay. Reconvene. Reconvening the Committee on Transportation. We are. We will be voting on the resos before us. The first up is HCR 43 will be passing or recommendation is to pass this out as an HD one, adding language to specify that the study should include the impact on the district courts members. Any discussion? Seeing none.

Chair for the vote.

[Roll Call]

Thank you. Next up is HCR52 and HR48. Recommendation is to move this out as is Members. Any discussion? Seeing none Chair for the vote.

Thank you, chair. Voting on HCR42, as is, seeing representative Cochran and Representative Pierick excused for the remainder of the agenda on the items before us and noting the presence of all Members who are not excused. Is there anyone wishing to vote? No. Or with reservations, Seeing none. Chair, your recommendation is adopted.

Thank you.

Oh, that was each HCR 450, HCR 52 and 48.

I don't know if you said all that. Oh. Oh, I don't know. Maybe. I don't know. Maybe we could get it. Oh, okay. Just to be safe. Okay.

Oh. Going back to HCR 52 and HR 48.

Thank you for the vote. Thank you, Chair. Members voting on HCR 52 and HR 48 in tandem, noting the excused absences of Representative Cochran, Representative Pierick for the remainder of the agenda, unless noted otherwise, and seeing the presence of all other members. Any Members wishing to vote for reservations. Seeing none Chair. Recommendation is adopted.

Thank you. Okay, moving on to HCR 57 and HR 53. The recommendation is to move this out as is. Sorry, one second. That one is the one that didn't have that number. Okay. Recommendation is to move out as is Members. Any discussion? Okay. Seeing none Chair for the vote.

Thank you. Members. Voting on HCR 57, HR 53 in tandem, noting the presence of all Members who were not previously excused. Is anyone wishing to vote? Reservations or no. Seeing none Chair, your recommendation is adopted.

Thank you. Moving on to HCR112 and HR108. Recommendation is to move out as is Members. Any discussion? Seeing none Chair for the vote.

Thank you, Chair. Voting on HR108 and HCR112 in Tandem, noting the presence of all Members. Is there no machine to vote? No. With reservations. See non Chair.

Thank you, HCR. Moving on to HCR 129 and HR 125. Recommendation is to move this out as an HD with technical amendments for clarity, consistency and style. Members, any discussion? Seeing none Chair for the vote.

Thank you. Members voting on HCR129 and HR125 in tandem, noting the presence of the Members that are here. Anyone wishing to vote? No other reservations. Chair. Recommendation is adopted.

Thank you. Now we're on HCR 131 HR 127. Recommendation is to move this out as an HD and take LRB's amendments. And so the reso requests the State Department of Transportation rather than the Bureau to conduct the requested study and submit the subsequent report to the Legislature and then conforming amendments as well. Members, any discussion? Seeing none.

Chair for the vote.

Thank you. Members voting on HCR131, HR127 in Tandem, we're gonna with the proposed amendments by Chair. Anyone wishing to vote nor reservations Seeing none Chair.

Thank you. Moving on to HCR136 and HR130. The recommendation is to move this out as an HD with technical amendments for clarity, consistency and style and amending the reso language from implementing regulations requiring pedestrians to wear reflective gear to simply encouraging pedestrians to wear reflective gear.

My thinking here is that regulations requiring pedestrians to wear reflective gear puts the onus on them and kind of runs counter to the Committee's position on the pedestrian first policy, but also recognizing that it, you know, can't hurt to wear it and pedestrians should know their options. Members, any discussion? Rep Evslin.

Vice Chair, I appreciate your proposed amendments. I will be voting no still on this and that.

I think in order to create a safer atmosphere, we should be focusing on improvements to our built environment, slowing down vehicles when necessary and I think, as you said, not putting the entire onus of this on pedestrians who are out there often walking safely and getting, you know, it's the car that's killing the pedestrian, so make the cars safer.

And again, appreciate your amendment though. Understood. Thank you so much.

Members, any other discussion? Okay, Seeing none. Chair for the vote.

Thank you. Members noting the presence of Representative Pierick and the no vote from Representative Evslin. Is there any other Members wishing to vote nor reservations? Reservations from Replica. Anyone else? See None. Your recommendation is adopted.

Thank you. Next is HCR 137 HR131. Recommendation is to pass this as a HD1 with technical amendments needed for clarity, consistency and style. Members, any discussion? Chair for the vote.

Okay. Members voting on HCR137 and HR131 in tandem. Chair's recommendation is to pass with amendments noting the presence of all Members except Representative Cochran. Is any motion to vote with reservations or no? Seeing none Chair recommendation is adopted.

Thank you. Moving on to HCR 177. HR 173. Recommendation is to move this out as is. Members, any discussion? Seeing none. Chair for the vote.

Thank you. Members voting on HCR177.HR173. Recommendation is to pass as is donating the presence of all Members except Representative Cochran. Anyone else wishing to vote with reservations or no? Seeing none. Chair, your recommendation is adopted.

Thank you. Moving on to HR43. Yep.

Recommendation is to move this out as an HD with tech amendments needed for clarity, consistency and style. Members, any discussion? Seeing none, Chair for the vote.

Thank you. Members voting on HR43. Chair's recommendation is to pass with amendments loaning the presence of all Members except Representative Cochran. Anyone else wishing to vote with reservations or no? Seeing none Chair

Thank you. Moving on to HR 53. Recommendation is to pass this out as is. Members, any discussion? Oh, I'm sorry. Oh, yeah, this is. Oh, okay. Apologies. HCR. Moving on to HCR 45 HR 38. This measure was previously heard on March 20th at 10:15am and now we'll just be doing decision making.

The recommendation is to pass this out as an hd, adding language to clarify that other means of transportation includes water carriers and making any necessary conforming amendments. Members, any discussion?

Quick comment. Chair, I want to thank the PUC and the DOT for working on this matter before us. And I think we are still very much into the legislative session, but it gives us an insight.

I think what we plan to do in the interim is try to find a cohesive way to really transfer the authority of what the PUC has been struggling to do to the proper authorities and allowing the PUC to really take focus on our energy resiliency and expansion. And that way nobody gets left behind. So thank you.

Thank you. Any other discussion? Seeing none, Chair for the vote.

Thank you. Members voting on HCR 45 and HR 38 in Tandem, chair's recommendation is to pass with amendments. No need. The presence of all Members except Representative Cochran. Anyone else wishing to vote, reservations or no? Seeing none Chair, your recommendation is adopted.

Thank you. That's all on the agenda. We are adjourned.