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Committee advances HCR 37 asking emergency agency to expand preparedness outreach for kupuna
Summary
The House Committee on Health & Homelessness voted to advance HCR 37 on April 1, 2025, asking the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to collaborate with agencies to develop outreach programs that inform kupuna about emergency preparedness.
The House Committee on Health & Homelessness voted to advance HCR 37 on April 1, 2025, asking the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to collaborate with relevant agencies to develop initiatives and outreach programs to inform kupuna about emergency preparedness.
An AARP representative told the committee that older adults face disproportionate risk in disasters, citing the 2023 Lahaina fire. "Kupuna are the most likely to die in any in every single disaster," the representative said, adding, "3 quarters of those who died were 60 and older." The witness said the Lahaina report offered general recommendations but did not include specific steps to prevent deaths among kupuna and expressed support for a proposal targeted at elders and caregivers.
Committee Chair Martin said the panel would move HCR 37 "as is." Support for the resolution was recorded from AARP and written testimony from Hawaii Family Caregiver Coalition, Be Ready Manoa, AlohaCare and the Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs. During a roll-call the chair and vice chair voted aye; Reps. Amato, Chen, Kiyohokapu Lilloi, Takayama, Alcos and Garcia also voted aye. Rep. Takanuchi was excused; the committee's recommendation was adopted.
HCR 37 requests that the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency work with other relevant agencies to create outreach and initiatives aimed at informing kupuna about emergency preparedness. The hearing record and committee action did not specify a timeline, specific program elements, or funding for the proposed outreach, nor did the committee assign next-step staff work during the session.
Sponsors and committee members emphasized targeted outreach to elders and caregivers as the rationale for the resolution. The committee hearing lasted only long enough to hear supporting testimony and vote to advance the measure; no amendments or referral to a committee-of-the-whole were recorded.
With the committee's recommendation adopted, HCR 37 will proceed according to the Legislature's rules for resolutions; next steps in the process and any agency responses were not specified at the hearing.
