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Bill

SB 1598

RELATING TO ADAPTATION PATHWAYS PLANNING.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Lorraine Inouye

Hawaii establishes adaptive climate planning framework allowing flexible, staged responses to sea-level rise and climate impacts rather than fixed long-term strategies.

Re-Referred to WLA/AEN, WAM.
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Bill Summary · SB 1598

Legislative bill overview

SB 1598 establishes a framework for "adaptation pathways planning" in Hawaii, a strategic approach to climate resilience that identifies multiple possible futures and flexible response strategies rather than committing to a single long-term plan. The bill creates processes for state agencies to evaluate how communities and infrastructure can adapt to climate impacts through staged decision-making that can adjust as conditions change.

Why is this important

Hawaii faces acute climate vulnerabilities including sea-level rise, increased flooding, coral bleaching, and freshwater contamination that threaten coastal communities, agriculture, and military installations. Adaptation pathways planning allows policymakers to make incremental, reversible decisions now while preserving options rather than locking in rigid infrastructure or land-use commitments that may prove inadequate or unnecessary as climate impacts evolve.

Potential points of contention

  • Cost and implementation burden: Creating adaptive management frameworks across multiple state agencies requires ongoing monitoring, modeling, and periodic reassessment—potentially substantial costs that may compete with immediate disaster response or other priorities
  • Uncertainty in planning: Adaptation pathways depend on climate projections that inherently contain uncertainty; communities may struggle with how to balance preparation against speculation about future conditions
  • Private property and development conflicts: Flexible, staged adaptation strategies may restrict or delay private development, agricultural use, or business expansion in areas identified as high-risk, creating tensions between climate preparedness and economic interests

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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