URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES AND DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO DETERMINE AND CLEARLY DEFINE JURISDICTIONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR HONOPOU BRIDGE AND TAKE COORDINATED ACTION TO ADDRESS RELATED SAFETY, WILDFIRE RISK, AND EMERGENCY ACCESS CONCERNS.

This bill urges the Hawaii Departments of Land and Natural Resources and Transportation to clarify who is responsible for the Honopou Bridge on east Maui and coordinate efforts to address safety, wildfire risk, and emergency access concerns. The bridge, which serves as a critical route for residents and emergency responders, has conflicting load capacity assessments that may prevent modern fire trucks and ambulances from crossing safely. The resolution directs state agencies to conduct community outreach, assess the bridge's structural condition, identify access restrictions, and develop a repair or replacement plan within 20 days before the 2027 legislative session. It also requires the agencies to identify funding sources and submit a detailed report to the Legislature outlining their findings and implementation timeline.