HB1881 • 2026

RELATING TO LAND USE.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: QUINLAN, CHUN, GRANDINETTI, ILAGAN, KILA, KUSCH, LA CHICA, LOWEN, MARTEN, MATAYOSHI, MORIKAWA, OLDS, PERRUSO, POEPOE
Last action: 2026-05-07
Official status: Transmitted to Governor.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide information on how existing passenger ropeways will be handled.

Ban on Passenger Ropeways in Mountain Areas

This bill prohibits the construction and operation of passenger ropeways, such as ski lifts and aerial tramways, on mountain lands within all land use districts in Hawaii.

What This Bill Does

Prohibits the construction and operation of passenger ropeways on mountain lands within all land use districts.
Defines what a 'passenger ropeway' is, including types like aerial lifts, tramways, and funiculars.
Specifies that elevators are not included in this prohibition.

Who It Names or Affects

People who want to build or operate passenger ropeways on mountains in Hawaii.
Government entities that might need to construct such systems for public purposes, subject to legislative approval.

Terms To Know

Passenger Ropeway: A device used to transport people along a path using ropes, including ski lifts and aerial tramways.
Mountain: A natural elevation of the earth's surface that rises prominently above the surrounding terrain and meets specific criteria like height or slope.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what happens to existing passenger ropeways on mountains.
It is unclear how this ban will affect tourism and recreational activities in mountain areas.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

CD1

Hawaii published version CD1

Plain English: HB1881 CD1 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.

HB1881 CD1 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.
NO.
1881 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 H.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII S.D.

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: HB1881 HD1 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.

HB1881 HD1 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.
NO.
1881 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 H.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LAND USE .

SD1

Hawaii published version SD1

Plain English: HB1881 SD1 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.

HB1881 SD1 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.
NO.
1881 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 H.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII S.D.

SD2

Hawaii published version SD2

Plain English: HB1881 SD2 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.

HB1881 SD2 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.
NO.
1881 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 H.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII S.D.

Bill History

2026-05-08 S
Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888).
2026-05-07 H
Transmitted to Governor.
2026-05-06 H
Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 816).
2026-05-06 H
Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).
2026-05-06 S
Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none.
2026-04-29 S
48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26
2026-04-29 S
Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 85-26).
2026-04-29 H
Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday 05-06-26.
2026-04-29 H
Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 85-26) as amended in (CD 1).
2026-04-28 S
The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 2 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., Rhoads; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Lamosao.
2026-04-28 H
The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 3 Ayes: Representative(s) Hashem, Tarnas, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Quinlan.
2026-04-27 S
Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-28-26 9:00AM; CR 229.
2026-04-24 S
Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-27-26 9:00AM; CR 229.
2026-04-21 H
Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 717).
2026-04-21 S
Senate Conferees Appointed: Lee, C. Chairs; Rhoads Co-Chair; Lamosao.
2026-04-20 S
Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 786).
2026-04-20 H
House Conferees Appointed: Hashem, Tarnas Co-Chairs; Quinlan, Souza.
2026-04-17 S
Received notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 780).
2026-04-16 H
House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).
2026-04-14 H
Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 634) in amended form (SD 2).
2026-04-14 S
Report adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.
2026-04-10 S
48 Hrs. Notice 04-14-26.
2026-04-10 S
Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3770) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 2).
2026-04-07 S
The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang, San Buenaventura; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Awa.
2026-04-01 S
The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 04-07-26 10:15AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.
2026-03-30 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDC.
2026-03-30 S
Reported from WLA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3248) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC.
2026-03-18 S
The committee(s) on WLA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WLA were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., Inouye, Chang, Lamosao, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-03-16 S
The committee(s) on WLA deferred the measure until 03-18-26 1:05PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.
2026-03-12 S
The committee(s) on WLA has scheduled a public hearing on 03-16-26 1:00PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.
2026-03-12 S
Referred to WLA, JDC.
2026-03-12 S
Passed First Reading.
2026-03-12 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 310).
2026-03-10 H
Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Kong, Pierick excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.
2026-03-06 H
Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1185-26), recommending passage on Third Reading.
2026-03-04 H
The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Hashem, Kahaloa, Sayama, Takayama, Garcia, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Belatti, Cochran.
2026-02-27 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Wednesday, 03-04-26 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-02-13 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JHA with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Chun, Kong, Kusch excused (3).
2026-02-13 H
Reported from WAL (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 266-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.
2026-02-10 H
The committee on WAL recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Hashem, Morikawa, Belatti, Ichiyama, Iwamoto, Poepoe, Woodson, Shimizu, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.
2026-02-06 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by WAL on Tuesday, 02-10-26 9:00AM in House conference room 411 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-01-26 H
Referred to WAL, JHA, referral sheet 2
2026-01-26 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2026-01-23 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO LAND USE.
Land Use; Passenger or Cargo Ropeways; Prohibition; Exemption
Prohibits passenger or cargo ropeways in all land use districts, with an exemption for government entities subject to legislative approval. (CD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB1881

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1881

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING
TO LAND USE
.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

����
SECTION 1.
�
Chapter 205, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as
follows:

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"
�205-
�
Passenger
ropeways; mountains; prohibited.
�
(a)
�

Notwithstanding sections 46-4, 205-2, 205-4.5, 205-5, and 205-6 or any
other law to the contrary, passenger ropeways shall be prohibited on mountain
lands within all land use districts.

����
(b)
�

For the purposes of this section:

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"Aerial
lift" means a ropeway on which passengers are transported in cabins or on
chairs.

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"Aerial
tramway" means a ropeway on which passengers are transported in cable-supported
carriers that:

����
(1)
�
Are not in
contact with the ground or terrain; and

����
(2)
�
Reciprocate
between terminals.

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"Detachable
grip lift" means a monocable or bicable ropeway system on which carriers
circulate around the system alternately attaching to and detaching from a
moving haul rope.

����
"Funicular"
means a ropeway on which carriers are supported and guided by a guideway, are p
ropelled
by means of a haul rope system, and are operated as a single or double
reversible system.

����
"Mountain"
means a natural elevation of the earth's surface that rises prominently above
the surrounding terrain and satisfies at least two of the following criteria:

����
(1)
�
The summit or
highest point of the landform is at least one thousand feet above the base
elevation of the surrounding terrain within a horizontal radius of three miles;

����
(2)
�
The average
natural slope of the landform, measured from base to summit, is fifteen per
cent or greater over a horizontal distance of at least one thousand feet;

����
(3)
�
The landform
exhibits a topographic prominence of at least five hundred feet, as determined
by United States Geological Survey topographic maps or equivalent geospatial
data; or

����
(4)
�
The landform is
formally named and classified as a mountain in the United States Geological
Survey Geographic Names Information System or equivalent federal or state
registry.

����
"Passenger ropeway" means a device
or system used to transport passengers along a level, inclined, or declined
path by means of a haul rope or other flexible elements that is driven by a
power unit that remains essentially at a single location.
�
"Passenger ropeway" includes:

����
(1)
�
Aerial lifts, including detachable
grip lifts and chair lifts;

����
(2)
�
Aerial tramways; and

����
(3)
�
Funiculars.

"Passenger
ropeway" does not include elevators.
"

����
SECTION 2.
�
New statutory material is underscored.

����
SECTION 3.
�
This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Land Use;
Passenger Ropeways; Mountains; Prohibition

Description:

Prohibits
passenger ropeways on mountain lands within all land use districts.

The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.