HB2138 • 2026

RELATING TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor: ILAGAN, GRANDINETTI, HUSSEY, KAPELA, KEOHOKAPU-LEE LOY, KILA, KUSCH, MARTEN, MATSUMOTO, MORIKAWA, POEPOE, SOUZA, Reyes Oda
Last action: 2026-03-17
Official status: Re-Referred to EDT/TRS, WAM.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The candidate explanation included a future effective date (7/1/3000) which is not supported by the current official source material.

Hilo-Kona Transportation Pilot Program

This bill establishes a pilot program within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to study and implement transportation routes connecting Hilo and Kona on Hawaii Island.

What This Bill Does

Establishes a Hilo-Kona transportation pilot program within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (DBEDT).
Requires DBEDT to consider various mobility options such as direct routes, express routes, public-private partnerships, shuttle systems, micro transit, and multimodal corridor improvements.
Allows DBEDT to consult and collaborate with federal agencies, state departments, community organizations, planners, and other stakeholders.
Requires DBEDT to submit a report of findings and recommendations to the legislature by 20 days before the regular session in 2028.

Who It Names or Affects

The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (DBEDT) will be responsible for implementing the pilot program.
Residents and visitors traveling between Hilo and Kona may benefit from improved transportation services if the pilot is successful.

Terms To Know

Multimodal corridor: A transportation area that includes multiple types of travel options such as buses, trains, walking paths, and bike lanes.
Public-private partnership: An agreement between a government agency and a private company to work together on a project or service.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how the pilot program will be funded.
It is unclear what specific transportation improvements might result from the study and trial phase of the program.
The effectiveness of the proposed solutions depends on various factors such as cost, public demand, and available technology.

Amendments

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

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: This amendment establishes a pilot program within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to study and implement transportation options connecting Hilo and Kona.

Establishes a Hilo-Kona transportation pilot program within the department of business, economic development, and tourism.

The amendment text does not provide specific details on how the pilot program will be funded or what exact transportation options will be implemented.
It is unclear from the provided text if there are any limitations or restrictions on the department's actions beyond those implied by the general purpose of studying and implementing transportation solutions.

Bill History

2026-03-17 S
Re-Referred to EDT/TRS, WAM.
2026-03-10 S
Referred to EDT, WAM.
2026-03-06 S
Passed First Reading.
2026-03-06 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 82).
2026-03-05 H
Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Perruso excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.
2026-03-05 H
Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 779-26), recommending passage on Third Reading.
2026-03-02 H
The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 16 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Alcos, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.
2026-02-27 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Monday, 03-02-26 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-02-20 H
Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1).
2026-02-20 H
Reported from TRN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 655-26), recommending referral to FIN.
2026-02-19 H
The committee on TRN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Kila, Miyake, Cochran, Evslin, Kitagawa, La Chica, Muraoka, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Grandinetti.
2026-02-13 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by TRN on Thursday, 02-19-26 9:00AM in House conference room 430 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-02-12 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on TRN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).
2026-02-12 H
Reported from ECD (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 257-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to TRN.
2026-02-11 H
The committee on ECD recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Ilagan, Hussey, Holt, Tam, Templo, Yamashita, Gedeon; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-02-06 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by ECD on Wednesday, 02-11-26 8:30AM in House conference room 423 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-01-30 H
Referred to ECD, TRN, FIN, referral sheet 5
2026-01-28 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2026-01-26 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
DBEDT; Hilo-Kona Transportation Pilot Program
Establishes a Hilo-Kona transportation pilot program within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to study, plan, evaluate, implement, and trial transportation routes and services connecting Hilo and Kona. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB2138

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2138

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to economic development
.

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

����
SECTION
1.
�
The legislature finds that residents
and visitors frequently travel between East Hawaii island and West Hawaii
island, particularly the areas of Hilo and Kona, for employment, education,
medical services, commerce, and tourism.
�
However, the limited availability of
efficient, reliable, and affordable transportation options presents challenges
to economic development, community connectivity, and access to essential
services.

����
The
legislature further finds that a dedicated evaluation of potential
transportation routes, including demand response transit, route expansions, and
multimodal corridor improvements would help provide long‑term
transportation solutions for the island of Hawaii.

����
Accordingly, the purpose
of this Act is to establish a pilot program within the department of business,
economic development, and tourism to study and implement transportation options
that link the areas of Hilo and Kona.

����
SECTION 2.
�
(a)
�

There is established a Hilo-Kona transportation pilot program within the
department of business, economic development, and tourism to study, plan,
evaluate, implement, and trial transportation routes and services connecting
Hilo and Kona.

����
(b)
�
The department of business, economic
development, and tourism shall consider a range of mobility and route options,
including direct routes, express routes, public�private partnerships, shuttle
systems, micro transit, and multimodal corridor improvements.

����
(c)
�
The department of business, economic
development, and tourism may consult and collaborate with federal agencies, all
departments of the State and its political subdivisions that offer
transportation related services, community organizations, planners, and other
stakeholders.

����
(d)
�
The department of business, economic
development, and tourism shall submit a report of its findings and
recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no
later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of
2028.

����
SECTION 3.
�
This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026,
and shall be repealed on June 30, 2028.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

DBEDT;
Hilo-Kona Transportation Pilot Program

Description:

Establishes
a Hilo-Kona transportation pilot program within the Department of Business,
Economic Development, and Tourism
to study, plan, evaluate, implement,
and trial transportation routes and services connecting Hilo and Kona.

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