House concurrent resolution congratulating the Rutland High School cheerleading program on winning a record 11th consecutive Division I championship

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Dave Bosch and 14 co-sponsors

HCR 121 asks DoD, Army, Navy, and Hawaii DOT to coordinate with state and county agencies to expand Kolekole Pass for civilian emergency evacuation in West Oʻahu; non-binding.

Adopted pursuant to Joint Rule 16b

Main purpose

HCR 121 is a concurrent resolution requesting the United States Department of Defense (DoD), United States Army, United States Navy, and the State Department of Transportation (DOT) to coordinate with appropriate State and County departments and agencies to plan, expand, and prepare Kolekole Pass (a corridor through the Waiʻanae range at Nānākuli) for use as an expanded emergency evacuation route for West Oʻahu residents during dangerous gridlock, natural disasters, or other catastrophic emergencies.

Key provisions

Formally requests that the DoD, U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, and Hawaii DOT work with state and county partners to:

Expand, plan, and coordinate work related to preparing Kolekole Pass for civilian emergency use.
Implement necessary infrastructure improvements and establish protocols for civilian access in emergencies.

Notes prior military use of the pass and recent full-scale exercises (including February 2025) that tested civilian viability.

Recognizes limited alternative access to West Oʻahu (Farrington Highway as the primary route) and cites recent disasters (e.g., Maui fires) as rationale.

Directs that certified copies of the resolution be transmitted to: U.S. Secretary of Defense, Chief of Staff of the Army, Chief of Naval Operations, Hawaii’s congressional delegation, the Governor, the State DOT Director, and the City & County of Honolulu Emergency Management Administrator.

Who is affected

Primary beneficiaries: residents and communities on the West (Leeward) side of Oʻahu who face limited evacuation routes.

Implementing / consulted entities: DoD, U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, Hawaii DOT, state and county emergency management and transportation agencies, and potentially federal/state landowners.

The resolution is a formal request and does not appropriate funds or change legal authorities.

Procedural / timeline highlights

Introduced: March 20, 2025; Primary sponsor: Rep. Kila.

Committee referrals and reviews: TRN/PBS, FIN, PSM/TCA; public hearings in April 2025.

Senate amendment (SD1) adopted; House agreed to Senate amendments.

Adopted in final form: May 2, 2025 (with one “no” vote recorded; two members excused).

Companion measure: HR 117.

Practical implications and next steps

The resolution is non‑binding — it requests coordination rather than mandates action or funding.

If agencies act on the request, next steps likely include feasibility studies, interagency agreements, environmental and historic-preservation reviews, infrastructure design and funding decisions, operations protocols, and additional exercises to validate civilian use.

Implementation would require negotiation among federal (military), state, county, and potentially private stakeholders and would likely involve budgetary and legal considerations before Kolekole Pass could be regularly used as an emergency public evacuation corridor.

Bill