HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.R. NO. 203 THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024 H.D. 1 STATE OF HAWAII HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU TO CONVENE A TASK FORCE TO STUDY PERMITTED EVENTS IN URBAN HONOLULU.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.R. NO. 203
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024 H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H.R. NO.
203
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024
H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII
HOUSE RESOLUTION
REQUESTING THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU TO CONVENE A TASK FORCE TO STUDY PERMITTED EVENTS IN URBAN HONOLULU.
WHEREAS, the City and County of Honolulu grants permits for over one hundred events every year; and WHEREAS, these events range from parades, such as the annual Prince Kuhio parade, to races, such as the Honolulu Marathon; and WHEREAS, many of these events occur in the urban core of Honolulu; and WHEREAS, to ensure the safety of participants and spectators, these events often require significant road closures of major arteries in urban Honolulu; and WHEREAS, depending on the event, these road closures can last up to twelve hours; and WHEREAS, these road closures can be disruptive to residents who live in the area where the event is taking place, sometimes preventing a resident from either leaving or returning to their neighborhood until the event is over, and can impede timely access to emergency services; and WHEREAS, there are sometimes multiple events scheduled for the same week or weekend which leads to increased traffic congestion and inconvenience; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2024, that the City and County of Honolulu is requested to convene a task force to examine permitted events in urban Honolulu; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to study: (1) The frequency and timing of permitted events; (2) The impact of permitted events on the community in which the event is being held; (3) Solutions to allow access to residents and emergency services when the permitted event results in road closures that enclose neighborhoods and prohibit any through traffic; (4) The permitting process for events and the steps applicants must undergo for a permit, including how the applicant ensures the community in which the event is located will not be adversely impacted; and (5) Road closure management, including any steps the applicant must take to ensure road closures do not impede emergency services; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to consist of the following individuals: (1) The Director of Transportation, or their designee; (2) The Director of the Department of Planning and Permitting of the City and County of Honolulu, or their designee; (3) The Director of the Department of Transportation Services of the City and County of Honolulu, or their designee; and (4) The Chief of the Honolulu Police Department, or their designee; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to invite the following individuals to participate in the working group: (1) A representative from an entity that has hosted either a parade or a marathon; (2) A representative from an entity that has hosted an event at Ala Moana Regional Park; (3) A resident from Waikiki, to be appointed by the Representative of House District 24; (4) A resident of Ala Moana, to be appointed by the Representative of House District 25; and (5) A resident of urban Honolulu, to be appointed by the Senator of Senate District 12; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to make a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2025; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Transportation; Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu; Director of the Department of Planning and Permitting of the City and County of Honolulu; Director of the Department of Transportation Services of the City and County of Honolulu; and Chief of Police of the Honolulu Police Department. Report Title: Permitted Events; City and County of Honolulu; Road Closures
WHEREAS, the City and County of Honolulu grants permits for over one hundred events every year; and
WHEREAS, these events range from parades, such as the annual Prince Kuhio parade, to races, such as the Honolulu Marathon; and
WHEREAS, many of these events occur in the urban core of Honolulu; and
WHEREAS, to ensure the safety of participants and spectators, these events often require significant road closures of major arteries in urban Honolulu; and
WHEREAS, depending on the event, these road closures can last up to twelve hours; and
WHEREAS, these road closures can be disruptive to residents who live in the area where the event is taking place, sometimes preventing a resident from either leaving or returning to their neighborhood until the event is over, and can impede timely access to emergency services; and
WHEREAS, there are sometimes multiple events scheduled for the same week or weekend which leads to increased traffic congestion and inconvenience; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2024, that the City and County of Honolulu is requested to convene a task force to examine permitted events in urban Honolulu; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to study:
(1) The frequency and timing of permitted events;
(2) The impact of permitted events on the community in which the event is being held;
(3) Solutions to allow access to residents and emergency services when the permitted event results in road closures that enclose neighborhoods and prohibit any through traffic;
(4) The permitting process for events and the steps applicants must undergo for a permit, including how the applicant ensures the community in which the event is located will not be adversely impacted; and
(5) Road closure management, including any steps the applicant must take to ensure road closures do not impede emergency services; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to consist of the following individuals:
(1) The Director of Transportation, or their designee;
(2) The Director of the Department of Planning and Permitting of the City and County of Honolulu, or their designee;
(3) The Director of the Department of Transportation Services of the City and County of Honolulu, or their designee; and
(4) The Chief of the Honolulu Police Department, or their designee; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to invite the following individuals to participate in the working group:
(1) A representative from an entity that has hosted either a parade or a marathon;
(2) A representative from an entity that has hosted an event at Ala Moana Regional Park;
(3) A resident from Waikiki, to be appointed by the Representative of House District 24;
(4) A resident of Ala Moana, to be appointed by the Representative of House District 25; and
(5) A resident of urban Honolulu, to be appointed by the Senator of Senate District 12; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to make a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2025; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Transportation; Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu; Director of the Department of Planning and Permitting of the City and County of Honolulu; Director of the Department of Transportation Services of the City and County of Honolulu; and Chief of Police of the Honolulu Police Department.
Report Title:
Permitted Events; City and County of Honolulu; Road Closures