Urging The City And County Of Honolulu To Take Necessary Steps To Finalize, Prioritize, And Materialize The Makakilo Drive Extension Project.
H.R. 149 is a House Resolution urging the City and County of Honolulu to move forward with the Makakilo Drive Extension Project. The resolution states that population growth in Makakilo and greater Kapolei has increased traffic congestion on Makakilo Drive and Farrington Highway, and it cites a 2009 environmental impact statement that found the proposed extension would not have significant adverse impacts on environmental, cultural, historical, or public-service resources. It also notes that residents and community members have advocated for the project for many years, but no extension has yet been completed.
The resolution asks Honolulu, including the Department of Transportation Services and other appropriate agencies, to take steps to finalize, prioritize, and implement the project. It specifically encourages the city to establish a clear timeline covering planning updates, funding identification, design, and construction, and it requests a status report and implementation timeline be submitted to the Legislature before the 2027 Regular Session. The resolution also directs certified copies to city and council officials.
Because this is a resolution rather than a bill creating or amending statutes, it does not directly change state law. Its practical effect is to place legislative pressure on the City and County of Honolulu to advance a local transportation project and to provide the Legislature with progress updates. The measure is aimed at regional connectivity and traffic relief for West Oahu communities, especially Makakilo and Kapolei.
The available context shows no recorded committee transcripts or votes, so there is no documented opposition or support beyond the resolution’s stated findings and requests. The tone of the measure is generally supportive and advocacy-oriented, reflecting concern about congestion and a desire to see a long-delayed infrastructure project move forward. Any contention appears to center on the project’s long timeline and the need to identify funding, complete design work, and secure implementation commitments rather than on the basic goal of improving traffic flow.
H.R. 149 does not amend the Hawaii Revised Statutes or create a new regulatory program; instead, it is a nonbinding legislative request directed to the City and County of Honolulu. Its effect is to encourage local executive and transportation agencies to advance the Makakilo Drive Extension Project, develop a project timeline, identify funding, and report back to the Legislature. The resolution may influence local planning priorities and public infrastructure decision-making, but it does not itself authorize construction or appropriate funds.
The overall sentiment reflected in the resolution is favorable toward the Makakilo Drive Extension Project and supportive of action to relieve congestion in West Oahu. The bill text emphasizes long-standing community advocacy, regional connectivity, and the absence of major environmental barriers identified in a prior EIS. No votes or committee testimony were provided, so there is no recorded formal opposition or debate in the available materials.
The main points of contention are practical rather than ideological: whether the City and County of Honolulu will prioritize the project, how it will be funded, and when planning and construction can realistically occur. The resolution acknowledges that the project has been discussed for years without material progress, suggesting possible friction over implementation, timing, and intergovernmental coordination. No specific opposing group or witness is identified in the available record.