Requesting The United States Department Of Defense, United States Army, United States Navy, And State Department Of Transportation To Work With Appropriate State And County Departments And Agencies To Expand, Plan, And Coordinate Work Related To Using Kolekole Pass As An Expanded Emergency Exit Route.
H.R. 117 is a House Resolution that requests the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Army, the U.S. Navy, and Hawaii’s State Department of Transportation to work with state and county agencies to plan, expand, and coordinate the use of Kolekole Pass as an emergency exit route. The resolution frames Kolekole Pass as a historically important corridor through the Waiʻanae mountain range that could provide a critical alternative route between the Leeward Coast and Central Oʻahu, especially during emergencies.
The measure is driven by concerns about limited roadway access on Oʻahu’s Westside, where Farrington Highway is described as the primary route for thousands of residents and a potential bottleneck during disasters. It cites recent wildfire disasters, including the Maui fires, and references military exercises conducted in February 2025 that tested the feasibility of civilian emergency use of the pass. The resolution asks agencies to coordinate planning, maintenance, infrastructure improvements, and emergency protocols so the route could be used safely in dangerous gridlock, natural disasters, or other catastrophic events.
Because H.R. 117 is a resolution rather than a bill, it does not directly amend Hawaii statutes or create enforceable legal obligations. Its practical effect is to formally urge federal military authorities and state and county transportation and emergency management agencies to collaborate on feasibility, planning, and coordination for emergency use of Kolekole Pass. If acted upon, it could influence future infrastructure planning, emergency evacuation policy, and intergovernmental agreements affecting access to the pass.
The overall sentiment reflected in the resolution is strongly supportive of expanding emergency evacuation options for West Oʻahu communities. The text emphasizes public safety, disaster preparedness, and the need for redundancy in evacuation routes, and it points to prior military-civilian coordination as evidence that the concept is viable. No opposing views are included in the provided record, and there is no recorded vote or committee transcript showing formal debate.
The main points of contention implied by the resolution are operational and jurisdictional rather than ideological: whether Kolekole Pass can be safely opened for civilian emergency use, what maintenance and infrastructure upgrades would be required, and how federal military control over the corridor would be coordinated with state and county agencies. The resolution also suggests possible concerns about preserving military operations, securing the route, and establishing clear protocols for when and how the pass could be used. These issues would likely be of interest to the Department of Defense, the military branches, transportation officials, and emergency management agencies.