REQUESTING ALL BRANCHES OF THE UNITED STATES MILITARY TO DISPLAY THE HAWAIIAN FLAG ON ALL UNITED STATES MILITARY RESERVATIONS AND MILITARY TRAINING FACILITIES IN THE STATE.

2024 Regular Session Introduced by Kurt Fevella

SCR 209 directs HIEMA to identify and trim/remove trees blocking evacuation routes, assess risks, and adopt urban-forestry measures to improve disaster evacuation safety.

Referred to CMV, JHA, referral sheet 28

#hawaiianflag #unitedstatesmilitary

Summary — SCR 209 (Concurrent Resolution)

Important note: The bill header supplied names a request for U.S. military branches to display the Hawaiian flag, but the full text provided and the legislative actions relate to disaster preparedness (large trees obstructing evacuation routes). This summary follows the provided version content (evacuation routes / large trees). If you intended the military-flag measure, please confirm.

Purpose and intent

SCR 209 requests that the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency (HIEMA) take proactive steps to reduce the risk that large roadside trees pose to timely evacuations and emergency response during natural disasters. The resolution emphasizes that obstructions on evacuation routes can endanger lives and impede emergency services.

Key provisions

The concurrent resolution requests that HIEMA:
- Identify existing large trees along designated evacuation routes that could obstruct roads during an evacuation.
- Trim, spray, or remove trees that have the potential to obstruct evacuation routes.
- Conduct comprehensive risk assessments for specific high‑risk trees and publish the findings.
- Implement urban-forestry best practices (proper pruning, selection of storm‑resistant species, and responsible planting guidelines).
- Strengthen community‑based disaster preparedness so residents understand evacuation procedures while protecting environmental resilience.

Administrative actions:
- Transmit certified copies of the resolution to: the Governor; Director of Transportation; Adjutant General; Administrator of HIEMA; and Deputy Director for Highways.

Who is affected

Hawaii Emergency Management Agency (primary agency asked to act)

Department of Transportation and county highway officials (coordination and implementation)

Adjutant General and other emergency-response leadership

Residents and communities located along evacuation routes (safety benefits; potential tree removals)

Property owners and urban forestry/landscape stakeholders (possible pruning/removal; planting guidelines)

Environmental and cultural stakeholders (trade‑offs between hazard reduction and environmental resilience)

Procedural status and timeline

Introduced: March 7, 2025 (concurrent resolution).

Senate actions: Passed (report and resolution adopted 04‑02‑2025; transmitted to House).

House referrals: Referred to committees (CMV, JHA; later re‑referred to WAL/PBS and other committees per referral sheet history).

Committees consulted included PSM (Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs), HWN, WAL, PBS.

This is a concurrent resolution (non‑binding request), not a law and does not appropriate funds.

Potential impacts and considerations

Could improve evacuation safety and emergency access if implemented.

May require coordination and funding at state and county levels for pruning/removal, risk assessments, and public outreach.

Could raise environmental, cultural, and property‑rights concerns where tree removal or pruning is proposed; the resolution urges balancing preparedness with environmental resilience.

Outcomes depend on HIEMA’s follow‑through and interagency cooperation; the resolution does not compel action or provide funding.

Bill