Mānoa, McCully, Makiki/Punchbowl, Tantalus, Papakōlea, and University
Senator Carol Fukunaga | Senate District 11
Safeguarding Communities is Priority #1
July 2025
.jpg)
It’s no surprise that safeguarding Oʻahu and neighbor island communities was a top priority during the 2025 session. Governor Green signed the following bills into law before July 4th to emphasize the urgency of tougher law enforcement:
As emphasized by DLE Director Lambert, “Today’s signing represents a change in the way that we view, prioritize and enforce (new laws against) individuals that recklessly place our communities at risk...”. “No longer will we look at it as a benign activity or family fun.”
-
Act 243, SLH 2025 – Relating to Fireworks: Amends multiple definitions and penalties for fireworks offenses, including heightened penalties if another person suffers substantial bodily injury or death because of the fireworks offenses.
-
Act 244, SLH 2025 – Relating to Fireworks: Allows recordings made by law enforcement agencies using drones to establish probable cause for arrests under the Fireworks Control Law if the drone is recording directly above public property.
.jpg)
Dept. Of Law Enforcement Director Mike Lambert
-
Act 246, SLH 2025 – Relating to Fireworks: Extends the sunset date of the Illegal Fireworks Task Force from 6/30/2025 to 6/30/2030 and extends the annual reporting requirements to the Legislature.
-
Act 247, SLH 2025 – Relating to Fireworks: Appropriates funds to the Department of Law Enforcement to conduct fireworks sting operations and establish an explosives and firearms laboratory.
Continued from July 2025 Newsletter
The state’s biennium budget funds 8 positions and $5,234,951 for Dept. of Law Enforcement’s Fireworks Enforcement Section, $2.42 million for the Illegal Fireworks Task Force, and gives the department tools to address security needs for the State Judiciary, Dept. of Education ($5 million for contract services) and Dept. of Hawaiian Homelands.
Finally, to help pave the way for neighbors to ask questions and learn about what’s being done in other communities, we’re joining area legislators Belatti and Dos Santos-Tam in co-sponsoring a community safety forum on August 27, 2025:
LOCATION: Stevenson Middle School Cafeteria – 1202 Prospect Street
DATE/TIME: August 27, 2025 - 6:00 PM
SPECIAL GUESTS: Dept. of Law Enforcement Director Mike Lamber and Honolulu
Police Dept. Major Paul Okamoto (Fireworks Safety)
Michelle Montgomery of Hawaii AntLab and Oahu Invasive Species Council (Safeguarding your Home from Little Fire Ants)
Please contact me at senfukunaga@capitol.hawaii.gov for more information.
Biosecurity Enforcement
We also expanded Department of Agriculture’s role to include biosecurity enforcement with new powers and increased penalties for illegally-transported plants, animals and microorganisms in Act 236, SLH 2025, Relating to Biosecurity. The department’s new role includes the addition of 44 permanent positions and $26.649 million for both fiscal years.
The Hawaii Invasive Species Council will be transferred to the department in 2030, which means that neighborhoods like Mānoa, Makiki/Tantalus and Papakōlea can continue their work with OISC and Hawaii Ant Lab to eradicate Little Fire Ants in 2025-2026.
Protection Against Wildfires
Finally, with the June 2025 appointment of State Fire Marshall Dori Booth, we are finally undertaking fire prevention/community protection seriously.
The recommendations of the 2023-2024 Hawaii Climate Advisory Team (https://www.hawaiiclimateadvisoryteam.org/) included:
-
Making a financial commitment to reduce the impacts of disasters,
-
Establishing/funding a permanent resiliency office to lead/coordinate a strategic approach to improve Hawaiʻi’s resilience and preparedness for climate-related disasters,
-
Implementing infrastructure improvements to reduce Hawaiʻi’s critical system vulnerabilities
-
Supporting/resourcing the Office of the State Fire Marshal and expand Firewise community programs.
This year’s measures represent a good starting point among the Office of the State Fire Marshal, Hawaii Firewise Management Organization (HFMO) and a variety of state/county partners:
-
Act 302, SLH 2025 – Relating to Fire Protection establishes the Office of the State Fire Marshal in the Department of Law Enforcement. Establishes the State Fire Marshal Selection Commission, appropriates funds and requires reports to the legislature.
-
Act 303, SLH 2025 – Relating to Fire Prevention requires the DLNR to establish an independent program relating to the prevention, control and extinguishment of wildland fires within forest reserves. It also authorizes the DOFAW Administrator to establish and maintain facilities for fire protection, fire prevention, pest control and forest/range protection and enhancement activities.
The biennium budget also funds $5.95 million (FY 26) and $9.38 million (FY 27) for forest and resource management to Dept. of Land and Natural Resources, with 22 new positions and $1.43 million (FY 26) for the Native Resources and Fire Protection Program.
I care about what you think!
Please take our safety hazards survey here
