Bill > HR98

This Resolution requests the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission to establish a task force to address the areas in Koolauloa, a region on Oahu, that are most susceptible to the impacts of rising sea levels. The task force will be comprised of various officials, including a co-chairperson from the Commission, the Director of Transportation, legislative committee chairs overseeing transportation, the Director of the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, and a Koolauloa resident, along with any other individuals deemed necessary. Its responsibilities will include identifying vulnerable areas, exploring solutions like shoreline protection or relocation, and gathering community input through public meetings. The task force is also required to submit a report with its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature before the 2023 session. This action is prompted by the documented threats of climate change and sea level rise, which have already caused significant coastal erosion, flooding, and damage to infrastructure in Hawaii, particularly in the Koolauloa area.