HDOT Climate Resilience Action Plan | May 2021

Introduction 1

VISION As a steward of the State’s investment in the State Highway Network, the Highways Division for the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation (HDOT) must plan for, respond to, and recover from disruptions, including those associated with extreme weather events. HDOT’s policies, programs, and day-to-day operations must consider increases in the frequency and intensity of such events and, over the long-term, changing climatic conditions such as sea level rise, more frequent floods, increased rockfalls, and wildfires; and impacts to the public. HDOT recognizes this responsibility and will implement the recommendations in this Action Plan to meet climate change challenges. As a member of the State’s Climate Commission and its Climate Ready Hawaii Initiative, HDOT will also support the Commission’s efforts to develop climate change strategies that are “clean, equitable and resilient.” It should also be noted that HDOT’s vision includes initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from both HDOT and from the public to limit contributions to changing climate conditions. Efforts to encourage the use of active transportation modes, autonomous vehicles, electric vehicle fleets, teleworking, and many others can help to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change. PURPOSE OF THIS ACTION PLAN The Hawai‘i Highways Climate Adaptation Action Plan (Action Plan) provides a roadmap for HDOT’s Highways Division to make the highway system more resilient to climate-related effects. It: ⊲ identifies locations along the state highways that are exposed to natural hazards, and ⊲ outlines strategies to be implemented and actions to be taken to incorporate resilience into its programs and policies. This Action Plan prioritizes recommended actions that results in a multi-year Implementation Plan that encompasses all aspects of HDOT’s core functions—funding, planning, designing, constructing, operating, maintaining, and protecting highway assets.

HDOT’s vision is to develop and maintain a viable and resilient highway system for Hawai‘i. HDOT’s mission is to provide a safe, efficient, accessible, and sustainable intermodal highway system that ensures the mobility of people and goods and enhances and/or preserves economic prosperity and the quality of life.

Kuhio Highway | Wainiha

Resilience is the ability to adapt to changing conditions and withstand, respond to, and recover rapidly from disruptions. (HDOT Highways Division Definition 12/20/2019)

8 HAWAI I HIGHWAYS C L I MAT E ADAP TAT I ON ACT I ON P L AN