H.R. 132 Summary

• Requests the Department of Transportation conduct a feasibility study on establishing an intra-island water ferry system along Oahu's leeward coast, with one ferry landing potentially originating from Waianae Small Boat Harbor.

• Study must identify appropriate routes and harbors, financing options with rate/fee estimates, environmental compliance requirements under Hawaii law, and operational specifications including vessel design, passenger/cargo capacity, and automobile capacity.

• Study must evaluate the ferry system's potential to reduce traffic congestion on commutes between the Waianae region and downtown Honolulu during peak traffic periods.

• Requires the Department of Transportation to submit study findings, recommendations, and any proposed legislation to the Legislature no later than twenty days before the 2017 Regular Session begins.

• Notes that any ferry system from Waianae Small Boat Harbor would require exemption from Act 6 (2005), which prohibits net increases in commercial vessel permits for state small boat harbors in ocean waters between Kalaeloa Point and Kaena Point.