STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3420

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 179

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Public Safety and Military Affairs and Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 179 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE COUNTY OF MAUI TO ENFORCE THE PROVISIONS OF THE FIRE CODE OF THE COUNTY OF MAUI RELATING TO FIRE HAZARDS, BRUSH CLEARANCE, FUEL BREAKS, ROADSIDE VEGETATION CLEARING, AND EMERGENCY ACCESS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the County of Maui to enforce the provisions of the Fire Code of the County of Maui relating to fire hazards, brush clearance, fuel breaks, roadside vegetation clearing, and emergency access.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from Aloha Independent Living Hawaii.

Your Committees find that residents of Maui County, especially vulnerable residents, continue to live in temporary and permanent housing in West Maui, and their safety depends on reliable evacuation routes, accessible ingress and egress, and proactive management of hazardous fuels near homes and roads. Strong, visible enforcement of existing fire code requirements is essential to protect lives, housing, and major access corridors, particularly for people who need more time, assistance, or equipment to evacuate. This measure urges effective enforcement of fire codes to protect the safety of residents in Maui County.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Public Safety and Military Affairs and Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 179 and recommend its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Public Safety and Military Affairs and Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs,

________________________________ GLENN WAKAI, Chair

________________________________ CAROL FUKUNAGA, Chair