REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO CONVENE A WORKING GROUP TO ESTABLISH AND RECOMMEND FEDERAL AND LOCAL SUBSIDIES FOR THE TRANSPORT OF WATERBORNE CARGO AND TO WORK AND CONSULT WITH THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, HAWAII'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION, AND THE LEGISLATURE.

HCR 170 is a concurrent resolution requesting Hawaii's Department of Transportation to form a working group focused on developing subsidies for waterborne cargo transport. The working group would include state agencies, legislators, county officials, and water carriers to recommend federal and local subsidy programs. This action directly addresses Hawaii's unique reliance on ocean shipping (over 98% of imports) for goods, as current subsidies exist for other transport modes but not general cargo. The resolution does not create subsidies itself but initiates a process to study and propose them, with a report due to the legislature by 2026.