STAND. COM. REP. NO. 4072

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.C.R. No. 29

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 29 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ENCOURAGING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO WORK WITH STAKEHOLDERS TO DEVELOP A HOLISTIC MANAGEMENT PLAN THAT WILL ENSURE HANA HIGHWAY IS PROPERLY MAINTAINED AND IS SAFE FOR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to encourage the Department of Transportation to work with stakeholders to develop a holistic management plan that will ensure Hana Highway is properly maintained and is safe for residents and visitors.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation, Hana Health, American Medical Response, and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Public Utilities Commission.

Your Committee finds that Hana Highway is a nationally acknowledged historical place but needs better upkeep and management. Hana Highway lacks essential safety features such as guard rails or a road size wide enough to pass another car. The increased tourism and traffic in the area hampers emergency services, and in one month in 2021, the Maui Police Department issued three hundred and eighty-nine parking citations and eighty-three warnings to violators on Hana Highway. A code of conduct exists for Hana Highway, but its enforcement is difficult due to the Maui Police Department being understaffed. Therefore, the purpose of this measure is to develop holistic management plans that will ensure Hana Highway is properly maintained and is safe for residents and visitors.

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.C.R. No. 29, and recommends its adoption.

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

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CHRIS LEE, Chair