STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1783-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.C.R. No. 154

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 154 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE COUNTY OF HAWAIʻI TO EXPAND THE HELE-ON SHARED RIDE PROGRAM TO SERVE THE ENTIRE ISLAND OF HAWAIʻI, INCLUDING RURAL AND UNDERSERVED AREAS SUCH AS WEST HAWAIʻI, NORTH KOHALA, SOUTH KOHALA, KAʻŪ, AND PUNA,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the County of Hawaiʻi to expand the Hele-On Shared Ride Program to serve the entire island of Hawaiʻi, including rural and underserved areas such as west Hawaiʻi, North Kohala, South Kohala, Kaʻū, and Puna.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State Council on Developmental Disabilities and one individual.

Your Committee finds that reliable, affordable, and accessible transportation is essential for residents to access health care, employment, and other critical services, yet significant gaps remain for individuals living in rural and underserved areas of the island of Hawaiʻi. Currently, the Hele-On Shared Ride Program operates only in east Hawaiʻi, leaving communities in west Hawaiʻi, North and South Kohala, Kaʻū, and Puna without access to comparable on-demand transportation services. This measure improves transportation equity and access for all residents by requesting the expansion of the Hele-On Shared Ride Program island-wide and encouraging collaboration and strategic implementation with appropriate stakeholders.

Your Committee notes that should the County of Hawaii expand the Hele-On Shared Ride Program, it should ensure that the expansion does not cause any disruption to existing public transportation routes.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 154 and recommends its adoption.

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

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DARIUS KILA, Chair