HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H.B. NO.
1881
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII
A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO LAND USE.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. Chapter 205, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"[Underlined: §205- ] [Underlined: Passenger ropeways; mountains; prohibited.] [Underlined: (a) Notwithstanding sections 46-4, 205-2, 205-4.5, 205-5, and 205-6 or any other law to the contrary, passenger ropeways shall be prohibited on mountain lands within all land use districts.]
[Underlined: (b) As used in this section:]
[Underlined: "Aerial lift" means a ropeway on which passengers are transported in cabins or on chairs.]
[Underlined: "Aerial tramway" means a ropeway on which passengers are transported in cable-supported carriers that:]
[Underlined: (1)] [Underlined: Are not in contact with the ground or terrain; and]
[Underlined: (2)] [Underlined: Reciprocate between terminals.]
[Underlined: "Commercial funicular" means a ropeway on which carriers are supported and guided by a guideway, are p][Underlined: ropelled by means of a haul rope system, and are operated as a single or double reversible system and which is used for commercial purposes.]
[Underlined: "Detachable grip lift" means a monocable or bicable ropeway system on which carriers circulate around the system alternately attaching to and detaching from a moving haul rope.]
[Underlined: "Mountain" means a natural elevation of the earth's surface that rises prominently above the surrounding terrain and satisfies at least two of the following criteria:]
[Underlined: (1)] [Underlined: The summit or highest point of the landform is at least one thousand feet above the base elevation of the surrounding terrain within a horizontal radius of three miles;]
[Underlined: (2)] [Underlined: The average natural slope of the landform, measured from base to summit, is fifteen per cent or greater over a horizontal distance of at least one thousand feet;]
[Underlined: (3)] [Underlined: The landform exhibits a topographic prominence of at least five hundred feet, as determined by United States Geological Survey topographic maps or equivalent geospatial data; or]
[Underlined: (4)] [Underlined: The landform is formally named and classified as a mountain in the United States Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System or equivalent federal or state registry.]
[Underlined: "Passenger ropeway" means a device or system used to transport passengers along a level, inclined, or declined path by means of a haul rope or other flexible elements that is driven by a power unit that remains essentially at a single location. "Passenger ropeway" includes:]
[Underlined: (1)] [Underlined: Aerial lifts, including detachable grip lifts and chair lifts;]
[Underlined: (2)] [Underlined: Aerial tramways; and]
[Underlined: (3)] [Underlined: Commercial funiculars.]
[Underlined: "Passenger ropeway" does not include elevators.]"[Underlined: ]
SECTION 2. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.
Report Title:
Land Use; Passenger Ropeways; Mountains; Prohibition
Description:
Prohibits passenger ropeways on mountain lands within all land use districts. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
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