HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

97

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2002

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

requesting a feasibility study of building bridges Across streams for highways on the island of molokai.

 

 

WHEREAS, flooding streams in Hawai'i is a persistent and often life-threatening hazard; and

WHEREAS, intense rainfall of short duration is common so that floods can happen at any time, usually within a short amount of time; and

WHEREAS, most flood-related deaths are due to flash floods and 50 percent of all flash-flood fatalities are vehicle related; and

WHEREAS, the island of Moloka'i has only two highways, Kamehameha V Highway (450) and Maunaloa Highway (460), both forming the single main road crossing the island, east end to west end; and

WHEREAS, these highways provide the only accessible route to and from the airport, industrial area, churches, schools, stores, and residential areas; and

WHEREAS, these highways cross through several of the island's natural streams making these areas highly susceptible to overflow and potential flood hazards; and

WHEREAS, recently, Molokai's Kamehameha V highway in Kapa'akea near Kaunakakai was closed in several areas due to stream flooding and debris settlement, endangering residents and visitors alike, as well as preventing any travel to or from east Moloka'i; and

WHEREAS, during times of flooding, road closures occur making it impossible for emergency services to reach many parts of the island; and

WHEREAS, at least one fatality due to the flash flooding of the stream on the island of Molokai has been reported; and

WHEREAS, these highways may qualify for funding under the State Traffic Improvement Program and the Federal-Aid Highways Fund; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2002, the Senate concurring, that the Director of the Department of Transportation, in conjunction with the County of Maui, is requested to examine the feasibility of constructing bridges across those affected streams in the highways on the island of Molokai; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Director of Transportation is requested to report findings and recommendations to the Legislature at least 20 days before the convening of the Regular Session of 2004; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, President of the Senate, Director of Transportation, and the Mayor of County of Maui.

Report Title:

Feasibility study for Moloka'i Study