Bill > SR175

This resolution urges state agencies that own or control land in West Maui, Hawaii, to take immediate and aggressive action to reduce wildfire risk to Lahaina and surrounding communities. Specifically, it calls for these agencies to identify and remove hazardous vegetation and combustible growth, establish and maintain defensible space (areas cleared of flammable materials around structures) and fuel breaks (strips of land where vegetation is managed to slow or stop the spread of fire), and improve emergency access routes. The resolution highlights the ongoing responsibility of the state to manage wildfire risk, referencing past legislation (Act 302) that established the Office of the State Fire Marshal to oversee fire risk assessment and community risk reduction programs. It points to the documented role of unmanaged vegetation on state lands in the spread of the 2023 Lahaina wildfire and emphasizes the need for systematic fuel reduction, particularly near residential areas, schools, temporary housing for wildfire survivors, and evacuation corridors. The resolution also urges specific agencies like the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to prioritize these actions on their lands, and requests a report on their efforts to the Legislature by December 31, 2026.

Government Affairs

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SR&billnumber=175&year=2026