RELATING TO EMERGENCY EVACUATION ROUTES.
HB823 directs the Department of Transportation, working with the City and County of Honolulu, to assess and develop an improvement plan for emergency evacuation routes along the Waianae coast. The bill is focused on the area from Makaha to Kahe Point, where residents rely heavily on Farrington Highway as the primary access route and where lawmakers cite serious concerns about evacuation safety during natural disasters, accidents, or other emergencies. The measure requires a comprehensive review of existing emergency access roads, including their safety, capacity, and accessibility, and asks the department to consider both upgrades to current roads and the construction of new routes that meet road safety and capacity standards.
The bill also specifically calls for evaluation of the feasibility of restoring and using unpaved roads, including routes from Waianae to Wailua via Peacock Flats and roads in Waianae Valley that were previously used by the U.S. military. In addition, the department must engage local residents for input and may seek assistance from the United States Navy in carrying out the assessment and planning work. The department would then be required to submit a report with findings, recommendations, and any proposed legislation to the Legislature before the 2026 regular session.
HB823 would appropriate general funds for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 to support the assessment and planning effort, with the Department of Transportation responsible for spending the money for the bill’s purposes. As drafted, the bill does not itself build roads or change evacuation procedures immediately; instead, it creates a state-funded planning process that could lead to future infrastructure projects or additional legislation.
The overall sentiment reflected in the bill text is strongly supportive of improving public safety and emergency preparedness for the Waianae coast. The findings emphasize the risks of relying on a single major access route and the inadequacy of existing emergency roads, suggesting a clear policy concern about evacuation vulnerability. No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no additional evidence of opposition or support beyond the bill’s stated purpose and referral status.
The main points of potential contention are likely to be the cost of the appropriation, the practicality of upgrading or restoring certain routes, and the feasibility of using roads that may involve military or federal coordination. There may also be community concerns about land use, environmental impacts, and whether proposed routes can realistically handle large-scale evacuation traffic. The bill anticipates some of these issues by requiring resident engagement and by allowing the department to seek Navy input, but it does not resolve them in the legislation itself.
HB823 would not immediately alter existing transportation or emergency management statutes, but it would require the Department of Transportation to undertake a formal planning and assessment process for Waianae coast evacuation routes and would appropriate state funds for that work. It creates a reporting obligation to the Legislature and could lead to future legislation, infrastructure investment, or changes in road planning and emergency access policy affecting state and county transportation responsibilities.
The bill appears to have a generally positive, safety-oriented rationale, with lawmakers framing it as a response to a serious evacuation vulnerability on the Waianae coast. The available record shows no votes or committee testimony, so there is no documented opposition or support beyond the bill’s text. Based on the findings and purpose statement, the measure is presented as a proactive emergency preparedness effort rather than a controversial policy change.
Likely areas of contention include the size and source of the appropriation, whether the proposed routes are technically and financially feasible, and whether restoring unpaved or former military roads is practical or acceptable. Coordination with the United States Navy and any need for access across military or federally influenced lands could also raise jurisdictional or implementation issues. Community concerns may center on environmental impacts, property access, and whether the plan would truly provide a reliable evacuation solution.