Requires the department of transportation to erect signs on Hana highway identifying each bridge by its Hawaiian name and explaining the name of the bridge in English. Appropriates funds.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. The Hana highway has long been known as one of the nation's most scenic highways. Considered one of Maui's top visitor attractions, Hana highway is marked with spectacular sea cliffs, roadside waterfalls, rural communities, and historic one-lane bridges. The highway links east Maui rural communities scattered along its byways. In 1999, a fifty-mile stretch of the Hana highway was designated as a National Millennium Legacy Trail, one of only fifty-two in the nation. The designation was established by the federal government to protect historic roads and trails throughout the United States. In June 2001, most of Hana highway was added to the state register of historic places.

Hana highway has fifty-nine bridges and eight culverts that are more than fifty years old. Most are one-lane bridges under state jurisdiction. These historic one-lane bridges have been given traditional Hawaiian names, whose origin and meaning are not readily recognizable to non-Hawaiian language speakers.

The purpose of this Act is to provide for signs on each bridge on the Hana highway, identifying the bridge by its Hawaiian name and explaining the English meaning of the Hawaiian name.

SECTION 2. Chapter 6E, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§6E- Signs for historic bridges on Hana highway. There shall be erected upon each bridge on the Hana highway a sign identifying the bridge by its Hawaiian name and explaining the English meaning of the Hawaiian name."

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $          , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007, for the purpose of this Act.

SECTION 4. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of transportation for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 5. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2006.