The Senate’s joint committees voted April 11, 2025, to pass House Concurrent Resolution 121 (HD1) with recommended technical amendments directing the U.S. Department of Defense (including Army and Navy) and the State Department of Transportation to coordinate with appropriate state and county agencies on plans to use Kolekole Pass as an expanded emergency egress route.

Why it matters: Kolekole Pass has been discussed for years as an alternate egress during major incidents that could block primary highways. The resolution seeks interagency coordination to ensure the pass can be used safely and reliably in emergencies.

Testimony and discussion: The Department of Transportation submitted written testimony in support and told the committee it expects improvements later in the year to enable Kolekole Pass for emergency egress. Community commenters urged federal funding and faster action to ensure redundancy for evacuation routes.

Committee action: Chairs conferred and recommended passage with technical amendments. The committee adopted the recommendation in roll‑call votes across the joint panels.

Votes and formal outcome: The recommendation to pass with technical amendments was adopted; recorded yes votes included Senator Glenn Wakai (chair voting aye), Senator Fukunaga, Senator Rose, Senator DeCoite and members of the Transportation, Culture and the Arts committee who recorded aye votes during the joint vote. The measure will be transmitted to the agencies named in the resolution.

Next steps: Agencies named — the U.S. Department of Defense, the State Department of Transportation and relevant county departments — were asked to coordinate planning and report back per the resolution’s timeline. Implementation will depend on federal and state coordination and any required funding or land agreements.

Ending: The committees advanced the resolution to encourage interagency planning for Kolekole Pass as an emergency route; implementation details and any capital work will be decided by agencies and require separate approvals.