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SB2955
THE SENATE
S.B. NO.
2955
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
STATE OF HAWAII
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating
to THE Honoapiilani Highway Coastal Mitigation PROJECT
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
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SECTION 1.
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The
legislature finds that the Honoapiilani highway, also known as state route 30,
serves as the only continuous motor vehicle access connecting West Maui to the
rest of the island.
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Thus, the highway's
integrity is essential for the movement of residents, visitors, goods,
emergency services, and essential supplies in and out of the region.
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It is especially critical to the rebuilding of
Lahaina that this corridor is protected from interruption.
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The legislature further finds that the
existing alignment of Honoapiilani highway, between Papalaua beach park in Ukumehame
and Launiupoko, lies at or near mean sea level and is chronically vulnerable to
coastal hazards, including accelerated coastal erosion, seasonal high-wave
flooding, storm surge, and projected sea level rise.
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These hazards have repeatedly caused roadway
damage and temporary closures, necessitating emergency repairs, and conditions are
expected to worsen as the effects of climate change intensify.
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The legislature recognizes that previous
short-term protective measures, including seawalls and revetments, have proven
inadequate or controversial due to environmental, cultural, and sustainability
concerns.
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Therefore, inland relocation
of the vulnerable coastal highway alignment remains the only feasible means of
providing reliable, resilient access for the foregoing purposes.
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The legislature also finds that multiple
formal assessments by the department of transportation and federal partners,
including a completed final environmental impact statement, have repeatedly
documented the purpose of and need for the proposed relocation project.
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The assessments have led to the highway
segments at Olowalu and Ukumehame being ranked among the highest-priority
coastal erosion and vulnerability sites in the State.
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These segments have been subject to multiple
emergency interventions that do not provide long-term resilience.
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The legislature acknowledges that while the
relocation of the Honoapiilani highway is critical to the safety, health, and
economic well-being of Maui residents, federal support for infrastructure
resilience projects remains uncertain and competitive.
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Consequently, it is a matter of statewide
priority to ensure that all moneys appropriated, allocated, or
received--whether from federal, state, or private entities--are applied
exclusively to the planning, design, permitting, acquisition, and construction
of the inland highway relocation in the essential Ukumehame-Launiupoko
corridor, and not diverted to ancillary projects that do not directly
contribute to the State's primary transportation duties and objectives.
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Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to:
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(1)
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Appropriate
state and federal funds for this critical relocation project; and
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(2)
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Establish
the legislature's intent that these funds be used exclusively for the
relocation of the Honoapiilani highway, and not for ancillary traffic devices
that may diminish the green time for the main line.
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SECTION 2.
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The director of finance is authorized to issue general obligation bonds
in the sum of $76,700,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary and the same
sum or so much thereof as may be necessary is appropriated for fiscal year
2026-2027 for the purpose of financing capital improvements for the Honoapiilani
highway coastal mitigation project; provided that $306,800,000 in federal
funding is received for the same; provided further that no sum shall be
expended for any purpose other than the relocation of the highway pursuant to
the coastal mitigation project.
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SECTION 3.
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The sum appropriated for the capital improvement project set forth in
section 1 shall be expended by the department of transportation for the
purposes of this Act.
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SECTION 4.
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The appropriation made for the capital improvement project authorized by
this Act shall not lapse at the end of the fiscal biennium for which the
appropriation is made; provided that all moneys from the appropriation
unencumbered as of June 30, 2028, shall lapse as of that date.
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SECTION 5.
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This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.
INTRODUCED BY:
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Report Title:
B&F;
GO Bonds; Honoapiilani Highway; Coastal Mitigation; Appropriation
Description:
Authorizes
the issuance of general obligation bonds and appropriates moneys to finance
capital improvements for the Honoapiilani Highway coastal mitigation project.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.