House Bill 505, which would fund the Red Hill response effort and establish a special fund for long-term remediation and a Red Hill Victim Impact Entity (VIE), drew broad support at the Jan. 28 hearing from community groups, water officials and a number of people who identified themselves as affected residents.

Ryan Kanakawole of the Department of Land and Natural Resources told the committee, “The department strongly supports House Bill 505. We support the funding for the Red Hill VIE and the establishment of the special fund,” and noted that DLNR had already created three support positions in the previous legislative session and is actively recruiting.

Ernie Lau of the Honolulu Board of Water Supply testified the board “stands in strong support of this bill” and thanked community members for sustained advocacy. A number of affected residents and community organizations also urged swift action, saying long-term funding and an insulated office are necessary because remediation and monitoring will take decades.

Public testimony included affected household representatives who said they continue to use bottled water or live with health concerns; others urged the committee to require the Navy to contribute to cleanup costs and to ensure any public funds directly benefit affected households.

The committee accepted technical amendments and directed that the bill be reported with an HD1 and a defective date for further drafting. The committee report will ask for clarity on funding sources and explicitly reference the need to seek federal and Navy contributions and to consider how gifts, grants and donations are allocated so that affected residents receive compensation where appropriate.