STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3919

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.C.R. No. 154

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs and 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,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent 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 Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Disability and Communication Access Board, and Enterprise Mobility.

Your Committees find that many individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, kupuna, and households with access and functional needs in rural and neighbor island communities face significant barriers to transportation, including long commutes, limited fixed-route options, and a lack of accessible transit services. The County of Hawaiʻi Mass Transit Agency sought to reduce these barriers by implementing the Hele-On Shared Ride Program in East Hawaiʻi, which offers subsidized, on-demand transportation services that are accessible to individuals who use mobility devices. Expanding the Hele-On Shared Ride Program statewide would help to further address these gaps by providing more flexible, demand-responsive transportation options. This measure supports greater independence, community integration, and equity by ensuring that individuals in underserved areas have access to the services necessary to meet their transportation needs.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs and Transportation that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 154, and recommend its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs and Transportation,

________________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair

________________________________ GLENN WAKAI, Chair