HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1881
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO LAND USE.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. Chapter 205, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§205-    Passenger ropeways; mountains; prohibited. (a) Notwithstanding sections 46-4, 205-2, 205-4.5, 205-5, and 205-6 or any other law to the contrary, passenger ropeways shall be prohibited on mountain lands within all land use districts.

(b) As used in this section:

"Aerial lift" means a ropeway on which passengers are transported in cabins or on chairs.

"Aerial tramway" means a ropeway on which passengers are transported in cable-supported carriers that:

(1) Are not in contact with the ground or terrain; and

(2) Reciprocate between terminals.

"Commercial funicular" means a ropeway on which carriers are supported and guided by a guideway, are propelled by means of a haul rope system, and are operated as a single or double reversible system and which is used for commercial purposes.

"Detachable grip lift" means a monocable or bicable ropeway system on which carriers circulate around the system alternately attaching to and detaching from a moving haul rope.

"Mountain" means a natural elevation of the earth's surface that rises prominently above the surrounding terrain and satisfies at least two of the following criteria:

(1) The summit or highest point of the landform is at least one thousand feet above the base elevation of the surrounding terrain within a horizontal radius of three miles;

(2) The average natural slope of the landform, measured from base to summit, is fifteen per cent or greater over a horizontal distance of at least one thousand feet;

(3) The landform exhibits a topographic prominence of at least five hundred feet, as determined by United States Geological Survey topographic maps or equivalent geospatial data; or

(4) The landform is formally named and classified as a mountain in the United States Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System or equivalent federal or state registry.

"Passenger ropeway" means a device or system used to transport passengers along a level, inclined, or declined path by means of a haul rope or other flexible elements that is driven by a power unit that remains essentially at a single location. "Passenger ropeway" includes:

(1) Aerial lifts, including detachable grip lifts and chair lifts;

(2) Aerial tramways; and

(3) Commercial funiculars.

"Passenger ropeway" does not include elevators."

SECTION 2. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.

Report Title:

Land Use; Passenger Ropeways; Mountains; Prohibition

Description:

Prohibits passenger ropeways on mountain lands within all land use districts. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.