STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2180-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: S.C.R. No. 180

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committees on Public Safety and Water & Land, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 180 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING STATE AGENCIES THAT OWN OR CONTROL LAND IN WEST MAUI TO IMPLEMENT AND ENFORCE AGGRESSIVE VEGETATION MANAGEMENT, FUEL REDUCTION, DEFENSIBLE SPACE, AND EMERGENCY ACCESS MEASURES TO REDUCE WILDFIRE RISK TO LAHAINA AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to urge state agencies that own or control land in West Maui, including the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Department of Accounting and General Services, Department of Land and Natural Resources, and any other applicable state agencies, to immediately identify, prioritize, and abate hazardous vegetation, invasive grasses, and other combustible growth on lands in or adjacent to Lahaina and nearby West Maui communities for the purpose of reducing the risk of wildfires.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committees find that post-disaster reports regarding the August 2023 Maui wildfires documented that state-owned lands formed part of the larger, unmanaged, fire-prone grassland landscape around Lahaina and that West Maui remained at high wildfire risk because invasive grasses lacked active management, placing the State on clear notice that similar conditions can again serve as a conduit for the spread of fire into developed areas if hazardous fuels are not systematically reduced. Your Committees further find that community concern remains acute regarding rampant vegetation growth on large parcels near homes, schools, evacuation corridors, and temporary housing areas for wildfire survivors.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Public Safety and Water & Land that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 180 and recommend its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Public Safety and Water & Land,

____________________________ MARK J. HASHEM, Chair

____________________________ DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair