Legislators expected to pass disaster resilience funding bill

By HI Now Staff

HONOLULU (HI Now) - Hawaiʻi is planning to invest in a safer, more resilient future. A bill, SB1396, has passed through conference committee and heads to the House and Senate floors for its final vote tomorrow, May 2. The measure would provide funding to pay for environmental and infrastructure projects that make Hawaiʻi more resilient to disasters like hurricanes and wildfires.

Kāwika Riley, a member of the Hawaiʻi Climate Advisory Team, joined HI Now Daily to talk about what passage of this bill will mean for our state. He shared that the money will come from a small increase in the tax visitors pay, meaning those who enjoy Hawaiʻi’s beauty and natural resources will help care for it, too. The funds would support important efforts like clearing dry brush to reduce wildfire risks, managing coastal erosion, and upgrading critical infrastructure.

This historic step will help ensure Hawaiʻi’s communities are better prepared for disasters, and our state remains a desirable place for visitors to travel to for generations to come.

Click here to read the article and watch the recording aired on May 1, 2025.