HI HB358

Requires all public buildings, including public school buildings, constructed after January 1, 2026, to be designed to withstand category five hurricanes.

Mandates that public buildings constructed after January 1, 2026, be capable of being used as emergency shelters during hurricanes.

Amends Hawaii Revised Statutes Section 107-27 to add new design requirements for public buildings while maintaining existing exemptions for county codes and indigenous Hawaiian architecture.

Identifies findings that climate change has increased hurricane threat to Hawaii, with current shelter capacity of 100,000 people insufficient for expected demand of 200,000 people during a major hurricane event.