HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

18

THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO CONVENE A WORKING GROUP TO ASSESS the viability of SAFE PUBLIC ACCESS TO HUEHUE LAVA TUBE ON THE ISLAND OF HAWAII.

 

 

 


     WHEREAS, the Huehue lava tube is a large cave that was formed in 1801 by lava flow from the Hualalai volcano; and

 

     WHEREAS, the lava tube sits on Department of Transportation land in Keahole, about two miles north of the Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport; and

 

     WHEREAS, the site is easily visible from the Queen Kaahumanu Highway and attracts visitors who park illegally along the side of the roadway; and

 

     WHEREAS, visitors to the Huehue lava tube are also reported to engage in other illegal and dangerous behaviors, such as stopping in the roadway, making illegal U-turns, and attempting to cross the highway on foot; and

 

     WHEREAS, in January 2019, the Department of Transportation attempted to address these concerns by installing no-parking signs and concrete barriers along relevant parts of the Queen Kaahumanu Highway and no-trespassing signs at the lava tube's entrance; and

 

     WHEREAS, there continue to be safety concerns and community complaints regarding visitors' behavior on the Queen Kaahumanu Highway; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirtieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2019, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Transportation is requested to convene a working group to assess the viability of safe public access to the Huehue lava tube; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Director of Transportation or the Director's designee is requested to serve as the working group's Chairperson and that the following individuals or their respective designees are invited to be members:

 

(1)  The Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources;

 

(2)  The Administrator of the Division of State Parks of the Department of Land and Natural Resources;

 

(3)  The President of the Hawaii Tourism Authority;

 

(4)  The State Representative and State Senator for the district;

 

(5)  The Division Chief of the Traffic Division of the County of Hawaii Department of Public Works;

 

(6)  The Chief of the Hawaii Police Department;

 

(7)  The Chairperson of the Kona Traffic Safety Committee;

 

(8)  The Executive Director of People's Advocacy for Trails Hawaii; and

 

(9)  Any other individual as determined by the Director of Transportation; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2020; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Transportation, Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources; Administrator of the Division of State Parks of the Department of Land and Natural Resources; President of the Hawaii Tourism Authority; State Representative and State Senator for the district; Division Chief of the Traffic Division of the County of Hawaii; Department of Public Works; Chief of the Hawaii Police Department; Chairperson of the Kona Traffic Safety Committee; Executive Director of People's Advocacy for Trails Hawaii.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

Report Title: 

Department of Transportation; Working Group; Huehue Lava Tube