Hawaii Senate Bill SR175

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/16/26
• Refer: 3/19/26
• Report Pass: 4/8/26
• Passed: 4/9/26

Caption

Urging State Agencies That Own Or Control Land In West Maui To Implement And Enforce Aggressive Vegetation Management, Fuel Reduction, Defensible Space, And Emergency Access Measures To Reduce Wildfire Risk To Lahaina And Surrounding Communities.

Summary

SR175 is a Senate resolution urging state agencies that own or control land in West Maui to take immediate wildfire-risk reduction actions on and around Lahaina. The resolution calls for aggressive vegetation management, removal of invasive grasses and other combustible growth, creation and maintenance of defensible space and fuel breaks, and inspection and upkeep of emergency access roads, fire lanes, gates, and secondary evacuation routes. It specifically highlights state-associated lands and facilities near the Lahaina Civic Center, Leialii, Lahainaluna, Princess Nahienaena Elementary, and Lahaina Intermediate School, as well as temporary housing areas for wildfire survivors and other vulnerable locations. The resolution is grounded in the aftermath of the 2023 Maui wildfires and references Act 302 (2025), which created the Office of the State Fire Marshal and expanded statewide wildfire risk-reduction responsibilities. SR175 also asks the Office of the State Fire Marshal to assist in evaluating state lands and recommending corrective actions, and it requests a report from several agencies to the Legislature by December 31, 2026. Although the measure is framed as a resolution rather than a binding statute, it seeks to direct agency attention and coordination toward wildfire mitigation on public lands in West Maui.

Impact

SR175 does not amend the Hawaii Revised Statutes or create new enforceable duties by itself, but it signals legislative expectations for state land managers and fire-safety officials. It urges agencies such as the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Department of Education, Department of Land and Natural Resources, and Department of Accounting and General Services to prioritize vegetation clearing, fuel reduction, defensible space, and emergency access improvements on state-owned or state-controlled lands in West Maui. It also reinforces the role of the Office of the State Fire Marshal under Act 302 and requests a status report to the Legislature, which could influence future appropriations, oversight, and regulatory action.

Sentiment

The overall sentiment reflected in the bill materials is strongly supportive of wildfire mitigation and emergency preparedness, with the resolution passing the Senate Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs Committee 3-0 and no recorded opposition in the provided history. The bill’s findings emphasize urgency, community concern, and the continuing risk posed by unmanaged vegetation after the Lahaina disaster. The tone is precautionary and action-oriented, with a clear expectation that state agencies should move quickly to reduce fuel loads and improve evacuation access.

Contention

The main point of contention is not whether wildfire risk reduction is needed, but how aggressively and how quickly state agencies should act, and on which parcels and corridors priority should be placed. The resolution repeatedly references large state holdings, temporary housing sites, school lands, and evacuation routes, suggesting concern that some agencies may not have done enough to manage brush or improve access. Another implicit issue is coordination and responsibility among multiple agencies and county partners, especially where land ownership, development plans, and emergency access improvements overlap. Because the measure is a resolution, any disagreement would likely center on implementation burden, timing, and resource needs rather than on the policy goal itself.