STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1687-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.R. No. 120

H.D. 1

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.R. No. 120 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS, TO CONVENE A WORKING GROUP TO COORDINATE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLANNING TO REDUCE INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS FOR HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS DEVELOPMENTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of Transportation, in collaboration with the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, to convene a working group to:

(1) Coordinate capital improvement planning to reduce infrastructure costs for Hawaiian home lands developments; and

(2) Submit a report to the Legislature prior to the Regular Session of 2027.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that Act 279, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022, provided significant funding to reduce the backlog of applicants awaiting Hawaiian home lands leases, but the high cost of infrastructure development remains a major barrier to preparing lots for homesteading. These costs, including roads, water, sewer, drainage, and electrical systems, are often compounded by fragmented planning and a lack of coordination among state agencies. Your Committee further finds that the Department of Transportation and Department of Hawaiian Home Lands frequently undertake infrastructure projects in overlapping geographic areas, presenting opportunities to reduce duplicative efforts and achieve cost savings through coordinated planning. This measure addresses these issues by requesting the convening of a working group to align capital improvement planning, improve interagency coordination, and identify strategies to reduce infrastructure costs and accelerate the development of Hawaiian home lands.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Designating the Chairperson of the Hawaiian Homes Commission as a co-chair of the working group; and

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

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.R. No. 120, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs in the form attached hereto as H.R. No. 120, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

DARIUS KILA, Chair