RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, the community of Puako on the island of Hawaii is located in a tsunami inundation zone and a high risk fire area; and

WHEREAS, in the event of an emergency, there is currently no escape route available for residents to evacuate by car to the southern end of Puako beach drive; and

WHEREAS, the distance from the southern end of Puako beach drive to the nearest escape route through Holoholokai beach road is a short distance and the most feasible option for an escape route; and

WHEREAS, the Puako Community Association has obtained approval from the Mauna Lani Resort to connect the southern end of Puako beach road to existing Mauna Lani Resort roads that can be used as an evacuation route in the event of an emergency; and

WHEREAS, the Puako Community Association is prepared to assume the costs of a road building project that will yield a vehicular escape route for use by the residents of Puako; and

WHEREAS, the proposed route at Paniau, located at the end of Puako beach drive, crosses state land controlled by the Department of Land and Natural Resources; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2006, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Land and Natural Resources and the Department of Accounting and General Services are requested to assist the Puako Community Association with the planning, design, and construction of a vehicular escape route at Puako on the island of Hawaii and to facilitate and expedite the approval process needed to establish this emergency escape route for the residents of Puako; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Land and Natural Resources and the Department of Accounting and General Services are requested to submit a report of the status of the escape route planning and implementation to the Legislature not later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2007; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, the Comptroller, and the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Puako Community Association.

Report Title:

Emergency Access Roads; Puako