STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3770

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1881

H.D. 1

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 1881, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LAND USE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to prohibit passenger ropeways in all land use districts, with an exemption for a government entity or official government-recognized corporation or nonprofit organization, subject to legislative approval.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Defend Oahu Coalition, Keep the North Shore Country, North Shore Neighborhood Board #27, Hawaii's Thousand Friends, Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, and eight individuals.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Office of the Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu, Kaukonahua Ranch, and one individual.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Doppelmayr Group.

Your Committee finds that the State's environment provides essential habitats for native species that are under constant threat from invasive species, climate change, and development.  This measure will prohibit passenger ropeways to ensure that the State's fragile environments are protected from commercial development under the guise of agricultural use.

Your Committee notes that this measure's prohibition on aerial lifts and tramways on all lands in all land use districts may raise regulatory takings claims. Thus, amendments to this measure are necessary to address this concern.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Specifying that the prohibition on passenger ropeways in all land use districts shall only apply to public property; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1881, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1881, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

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KARL RHOADS, Chair