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HCR 164

URGING THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU, COUNTY OF MAUI, COUNTY OF HAWAII, AND COUNTY OF KAUAI TO CREATE AND MAINTAIN A COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF HURRICANE REFUGES AND SHELTERS ELECTRONICALLY ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by David Alcos and 4 co-sponsors

HCR 164 urges Hawaii counties to inventory, rate, and publish an electronic, public list of hurricane refuges with capacity, pet access, and accessibility details.

Report and Resolution Adopted. Transmitted to House.
#emergencymanagement #hurricaneshelters #publiclyavailableinformation
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Bill Summary · HCR 164

Summary — HCR 164 (2025)

Status: Concurrent resolution — Report and Resolution Adopted; transmitted to the House.
Introduced: May 26, 2025. Sponsors: Alcos, Pierick, Shimizu, Ward, Marten. Companion: HR 159.

Purpose

HCR 164 urges the four counties of Hawaii (City & County of Honolulu, County of Maui, County of Hawaii, County of Kauai) to compile and publish a comprehensive, publicly accessible electronic list of designated hurricane refuges and shelters. The resolution is intended to improve public access to shelter information and to support emergency preparedness in the face of increasing extreme weather risks.

Key provisions

  • Counties are urged to inventory all designated emergency refuges and shelters and document each facility’s ability to withstand a Category 1 hurricane or higher.
  • Counties are urged to publish an electronic list on a government-run website that, at minimum, includes:
    1. Facility name, address, and site-specific instructions;
    2. The category of hurricane the facility is rated to sustain;
    3. Capacity limits;
    4. Pet-friendliness designation;
    5. Access and functional needs accommodation designation (HD1 language).
  • HD1 adds: electronic lists should include disclaimers that a listed refuge/shelter may not be open during a specific emergency; actual shelter activation will be determined and announced at the time of an emergency.
  • Each county is urged to collaborate with the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency (HI-EMA) to produce a statewide list consolidating shelters and their hurricane ratings.
  • Certified copies of the resolution are to be transmitted to HI-EMA and each county’s emergency management/civil defense administrator.

Who is affected

  • Primary: County emergency management agencies in Honolulu, Maui, Hawaii, and Kauai — responsible for inventorying, rating, and publishing shelter data.
  • Secondary: Hawaii Emergency Management Agency (coordination role).
  • Public impact: Residents, visitors, people with pets or access/functional needs who rely on timely shelter information.

Procedural history & timeline

  • Filed: May 26, 2025.
  • Passed relevant Senate committees and adopted by the Senate (Report and Resolution Adopted, transmitted April 17, 2025).
  • Adopted by the House on June 1, 2025 (placed on Congrat. & Memorial Res. Calendar; nonrecord vote recorded).
  • As a concurrent resolution, HCR 164 expresses legislative intent and urges action but does not create binding law or appropriate funds.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Benefits: Improved public awareness and quicker decision-making during storms; better accommodation planning for pets and people with access/functional needs; enhanced inter-county coordination.
  • Implementation needs: Time and resources for facility assessments, rating methodology, website development/maintenance, and regular updates. Counties may need to clarify rating standards and shelter activation policies.

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

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