| 41 | | - | WHEREAS, the Hawaiian Islands have seen an increase in severe storm events; and WHEREAS, in Kauai County, events of flooding and landslides render Hanalei and surrounding communities extremely vulnerable to risks caused by severe weather events; and WHEREAS, in 2018, catastrophic flooding and landslides impaired access and isolated Hanalei Valley for several weeks and the communities of Haena and Wainiha for much longer; and WHEREAS, just three years later, in 2021, a landslide covered Hanalei Hill and cut off the entirety of Hanalei and surrounding communities from the rest of Kauai for approximately two weeks; and WHEREAS, these natural disasters and their impacts on access routes and infrastructure cut off vulnerable populations, such as keiki and kupuna, from vital health services, affect emergency services, and disrupt school and work access and the flow of critical goods and services, impairing businesses and livelihoods; and WHEREAS, an alternative route for ingress and egress in the event of natural disasters would provide an important evacuation route for residents and visitors in the Hanalei area and help to support community resiliency; and WHEREAS, potential alternate access routes include the previous access road, currently used for electric utility lines and utility substation, and over United States Fish and Wildlife Service lands; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2022, that the Department of Transportation is requested to convene a task force to conduct a feasibility study of alternate emergency access routes for the Hanalei to Haena communities; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Transportation, in convening the task force, is requested to seek participation and input from the following stakeholders: (1) Hanalei Business Association; (2) Hanalei Watershed Hui; (3) Hanalei Initiative; (4) Hanalei to Haena Community Association; (5) Hui Makaāinana o Makana; (6) Hanalei Roads Committee; (7) County of Kauai; (8) Kauai Island Utility Cooperative; (9) United States Fish and Wildlife Service; (10) United States Geological Service; and (11) United States Army Corps of Engineers; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Transportation is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation and an estimate of required appropriation amounts, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2023; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Project Leader of the Pacific Islands U.S. Fish and Wildlife Office, Region 12 Regional Director of the U.S. Geological Survey, Honolulu District Commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, members of the Hawaii congressional delegation, Governor, Director of Transportation, Mayor of Kauai County, Chair of the Kauai County Council, Director of the Hanalei Business Association, Executive Director of the Hanalei Watershed Hui, Executive Director of the Hanalei Initiative, Executive Director of Hui Makaāinana o Makana, President of the Hanalei to Haena Community Association, President of the Hanalei Roads Committee, and Chief Executive Officer of the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative. Report Title: Kauai County; Emergency Access; Natural Disasters |
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| 41 | + | WHEREAS, the Hawaiian Islands have seen an increase in severe storm events; and WHEREAS, in Kauai County, events of flooding and landslides render Hanalei and surrounding communities extremely vulnerable to risks caused by severe weather events; and WHEREAS, in 2018, catastrophic flooding and landslides impaired access and isolated Hanalei valley for several weeks and the communities of Haena and Wainiha for much longer; and WHEREAS, just three years later, in 2021, a landslide covered Hanalei hill and cutoff the entirety of Hanalei and surrounding communities from the rest of Kauai for approximately two weeks; and WHEREAS, these natural disasters and their impacts on access routes and infrastructure cutoff vulnerable populations, such as keiki and kupuna, from vital health services, including emergency health services, and disrupt the flow of critical goods and services, impairing businesses and livelihoods; and WHEREAS, an alternative route for ingress and egress in the event of natural disasters would provide an important evacuation route for residents and visitors in the Hanalei area; and WHEREAS, potential alternate access routes include the previous access road, currently used for electric utility lines and utility substation, and over United States Fish and Wildlife Service lands; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2022, that the Department of Transportation is requested to convene a task force to conduct a feasibility study of alternate emergency access routes and a second bridge for the Hanalei, Waipa, and Haena communities; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Transportation, in convening the task force, is requested to seek participation and input from the following stakeholders: (1) Hanalei Business Association; (2) Hanalei Watershed Hui; (3) Hanalei Initiative; (4) Hui Makaāinana o Makana; (5) County of Kauai; (6) Kauai Island Utility Cooperative; (7) United States Fish and Wildlife Service; (8) United States Geological Service; and (9) United States Army Corps of Engineers; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Transportation is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation and an estimate of required appropriation amounts, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2023; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Project Leader of the Pacific Islands U.S. Fish and Wildlife Office, Region 12 Regional Director of the U.S. Geological Survey, Honolulu District Commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, members of the Hawaii congressional delegation, Governor, Director of Transportation, Mayor of Kauai County, Chair of the Kauai County Council, Director of the Hanalei Business Association, Executive Director of the Hanalei Watershed Hui, President of the Hanalei Initiative, Director of Hui Makaāinana o Makana, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative. OFFERED BY: _____________________________ Report Title: Kauai County; Emergency Access; Natural Disasters |
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