Panel hears HDOT and military liaisons on bill to let state DOT enter agreements with Defense for work at military sites

House Bill 2336 would authorize the Hawaii Department of Transportation to enter into agreements with the U.S. Department of Defense for provisional services at federal military installations and allow charging administrative fees. HDOT and military affairs representatives said the bill formalizes and streamlines partnerships used for projects that serve both military and civilian needs.

Kirk Oltaguro, a deputy director at HDOT, testified the department supports the measure and is prepared to answer member questions. John Green of the Military and Community Relations Office said such agreements allow the state to receive critical support and improve coordination for projects that also support disaster response and logistics. "In Hawaii's isolated geography, harbors and logistics hubs are not only national defense assets, they are essential components of the state's disaster response network," Green said.

Members asked how the work was previously funded and executed; witnesses described a mix of Department of Defense construction planning (for on‑base work), intergovernmental service agreements and partnership contributions for off‑base projects (examples cited included Kalaeloa and runway improvements at Hickam). A committee member raised a statutory restriction that Title 23 federal highway funds may not be used under the proposed agreements; HDOT said project funding sources would be determined on a case‑by‑case basis and that the bill does not rely on Title 23 funds but seeks to combine federal, military and local resources to meet priority needs.

Committee members pressed HDOT on the bill’s added value if existing partnerships already handle similar work; HDOT said the intergovernmental service agreement authority would help expedite projects and allow the state to procure locally when appropriate. HDOT emphasized the goal of supplementing, not supplanting, federal funds.

No vote was taken; the committee closed questions and moved to the next item. The record shows members asked HDOT to clarify funding sources and procurement processes before any decision‑making action.