Hawaii House Bill HR131

Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/7/25
• Refer: 3/14/25
• Report Pass: 3/28/25
• Refer: 3/28/25
• Report Pass: 4/3/25
• Passed: 4/3/25

Caption

Urging The Department Of Transportation, Department Of Education, And City And County Of Honolulu To Implement Visibility Enhancement Measures On The Kuahelani Avenue Crosswalk At Kipapa Elementary School.

Summary

H.R. 131 is a House Resolution urging the Hawaii Department of Transportation, the Department of Education, and the City and County of Honolulu to improve pedestrian safety at the Kuahelani Avenue crosswalk near Kipapa Elementary School in Mililani. The resolution cites national pedestrian injury and fatality data, federal guidance on visibility enhancements, and local conditions at the site, including a curve in the road, nearby parked vehicles, and traffic volumes that can obscure drivers’ view of pedestrians. The resolution specifically recommends a set of nonbinding safety measures: warning signage on the approach to the crosswalk, speed bumps and related signage, a “STOP Here for Pedestrians” sign placed up to 50 feet in advance of the crossing, and a solar-powered rapid flashing crosswalk sign. It also directs certified copies of the resolution to state and local transportation and education officials, as well as Honolulu’s mayor and city council chair, to encourage action by the relevant agencies.

Impact

Because HR 131 is a resolution rather than a bill, it does not directly amend Hawaii statutes or create enforceable legal requirements. Its practical impact is advisory: it seeks to prompt state and local agencies to install traffic-calming and visibility improvements at a specific school crosswalk. The measure targets the Department of Transportation, Department of Education, and City and County of Honolulu, and could influence future infrastructure decisions, safety planning, and possible funding or permitting actions related to pedestrian safety near Kipapa Elementary School.

Sentiment

The overall sentiment reflected in the resolution is strongly supportive of pedestrian safety improvements, with the bill framed as a response to a dangerous school crossing and broader concerns about pedestrian injuries and deaths. The text relies on federal safety recommendations and local roadway conditions to justify the requested changes, suggesting a consensus-oriented public safety approach rather than a partisan or ideological one. No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no additional evidence of opposition or divided sentiment in the available record.

Contention

The main point of contention is likely to be implementation rather than the goal of improving safety. Potential concerns include the cost of installing speed bumps, flashing signs, and additional signage; jurisdictional questions among the state, city, and school system; and whether the proposed measures are the most effective or appropriate response for the site. The resolution also implicitly raises the issue of balancing traffic flow on a major thoroughfare with school-zone pedestrian protection, but no formal opposition or debate is included in the provided materials.