Bill > HB357

This bill addresses the urgent need to improve hurricane preparedness and infrastructure in Hawaii by appropriating funds for the Office of the Governor to strengthen existing hurricane shelters and develop new shelters capable of withstanding category five hurricanes. The legislation is motivated by findings that climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of hurricanes in the northern Pacific, with warmer seas and reduced trade winds leaving Hawaii more vulnerable to devastating storms. The bill notes that current hurricane shelters are inadequate, with only a few refuge areas capable of holding up to 100,000 people, while emergency management expects 200,000 people might need shelter during a hurricane. Furthermore, the legislature acknowledges that most wooden homes in Hawaii would be damaged or destroyed even in a category one hurricane, and very few existing structures can withstand more powerful hurricanes. The appropriation will support collaboration between the Governor's Office, the Insurance Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, and Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to enhance shelter infrastructure, with funding allocated for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027. The bill emphasizes a moral obligation to protect current and future generations by improving hurricane resilience, and it is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Military Affairs and Security

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=357&year=2026