Hawaii soon will no longer be the only state without a fire marshal, thanks to legislation that was signed into law Friday.

But it may take up to a year to set up an Office of the State Fire Marshal and hire for the position, Hawaii County Fire Department Chief Kazuo Todd said at a press conference in Honolulu at the State Capitol.

That’s in part because the county fire departments are preparing for the peak of Hawaii’s fire season next month.

Todd, one of many people involved with the crafting of Senate Bill 2085, called the fire marshal position “crucial.”

“This has been something that we’ve been lacking for almost four decades now,” he said. “This position will make a difference in our local situation by allowing us to have someone at the state level focused in on these problems that are currently plaguing our state.”

The bill signing in the governor’s fifth floor ceremonial room was one of two press conferences Friday that saw nearly 20 bills enacted. On Wednesday Gov. Josh Green approved 12 bills regarding agriculture, biosecurity and land management.

This week’s flurry comes ahead of Wednesday’s deadline for the governor to sign, veto or let bills from the 2024 Legislature become law without his signature.

The fire marshal bill along with several related measures were very much top of mind as the state nears the one-year anniversary of the Aug. 8 wildfires that killed at least 102 people on Maui. Green noted that, at one point, the state had more than 3,000 households living in area hotels due to the loss of homes.

“This morning it was four households and 13 people,” he said. “So that’s 99.99%.”

Green also said that, of the 4,000 properties and other structures that were destroyed, 88% of the debris has now been removed from residential lots.

The fire marshal bill was one of four fire-related fire bills. A second gives law enforcement and fire officials more authority to inspect premises to ensure compliance with the state’s Fireworks Control Law.

A third bill establishes a language access coordinator so that emergency management officials can help people whose first language is not English.

And a fourth fire bill creates the offense of charitable fraud during a state of emergency to crack down on deceptive acts or practices. Civil Beat reported on possible fraudulent fundraising efforts after the fires.

The governor said that anyone found violating the new law would be penalized harshly.

Sen. Angus McKelvey, who represents Lahaina, championed the bill.

“I can’t reiterate what the governor said enough — that if you come into Hawaii with fraud as an intention, you will pay the price,” McKelvey said. “We’ve seen so many families who have suffered so much absolute hell. And when people give money, they’re relying on the fact that the money they give is going to be in the hands of the very victims, not elsewhere. It’s not going to enrich those for other purposes.”

McKelvey, who lost his home in the fire, said charitable fraud ends up diminishing the fundraising work of reputable groups because it makes some donors think their contributions would be wasted.

Public Safety

At a second bill-signing event, Green approved two measures relating to traffic and public safety.

House Bill 2526 increases to a class C felony a third or subsequent offense involving unauthorized driving or operation of motor vehicles. The vehicle used in the offense could also be subject to forfeiture. 

HB 2526 was inspired by the 2023 traffic death of a McKinley High School student. But last month the governor said he might veto it because it could increase caseloads for prosecutors, law enforcement, the Judiciary, the Hawaii Public Defender’s Office and the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation without providing additional funding for enforcement.

Green said he changed his mind after speaking with the author of the bill, House Speaker Scott Saiki.

Saiki said at the press conference that some 9,000 people a year are believed to drive in Hawaii without licenses.

“Sadly, there are just too many people in Hawaii who die or are seriously injured while they are a passenger in a vehicle, on a sidewalk, or even in a crosswalk,” said Saiki, who represents the district where the fatality occurred. “This year, the Legislature made it a priority to work on pedestrian and traffic safety. We know that something has to change in Hawaii.“

Green also signed Senate Bill 2347, which establishes the offense of habitual violent crime. It was opposed by the Public Defender’s Office, the Community Alliance on Prisons and the American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii, which generally argued the bill was unnecessary.

Not so, said Sen. Sharon Moriwaki.

She said that many of her Waikiki constituents have complained about multiple assaults in her district.

Kauhale Updates

The Friday flow of press conferences began with Green and Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi holding a media briefing on an emergency shelter and housing facility on Kapiolani Boulevard.

Waikiki Vista, a former educational facility, was purchased by the City and County of Honolulu two years ago for $37.5 million. Blangiardi said it was the largest acquisition in the history of the city.

But the mayor said his administration recognized the property’s potential to develop both emergency and workforce housing.

In addition to being home to the Royal Hawaiian Band, Waikiki Vista has provided emergency shelter and transitional housing to 21 families including 37 adults and 41 children.

Housing Solutions is the property manager for the building, and manages five floors of affordable housing studio units. And Catholic Charities Hawaii administers a program known as Hale Imi Ola, meaning “to seek life,” in offices on four floors.

Full occupancy is expected by the end of the summer.

State and city officials said more help for the homeless is coming later this year, including a new facility on North King Street to provide medical triage services and a kauhale village of tiny homes.