§128-1  Policy and purposes.  (a) Because of the importance of the State as a strategic defense area, thedependence of the State upon seaborne commerce for food supplies and othercommodities essential to the public health, safety, and welfare and to theeconomic life of its people, the danger of shortages of such supplies andcommodities, and other emergency conditions affecting the readiness of thiscommunity to do its part in the existing national emergency which was declaredby the President on December 16, 1950, and the possibility of disasters oremergencies of great destructiveness resulting from enemy attack, sabotage, orother hostile action, therefore in order to insure that preparations of thisState and the government provided for this State will be adequate to deal withdisasters or emergencies, to make adequate provision against such shortages, tomaintain the strength, resources, and economic life of the community andprovide for prompt and effective action, as the circumstances develop and incooperation with the federal government, to further and promote the nationaldefense and civil defense and to protect the public health, safety, andwelfare, the provisions of this chapter are hereby found and declared to benecessary.

(b)  It is further declared to be a purpose ofthis chapter and a policy of the State that all civil defense functions of thisState be coordinated to the maximum extent with the comparable functions of thefederal government including its various departments and agencies, with thoseof other states and localities, and with those of private agencies of everytype, to the end that the most effective preparation and use may be made of allpersonnel, resources, and facilities for dealing with any disaster that mayoccur.  It further is the intent of the legislature that all other emergencyfunctions be coordinated to the maximum extent with the comparable functions ofthe federal government, its departments and agencies.

(c)  It is declared to be the intent of thelegislature to provide for and confer comprehensive powers for the purposesstated.  This chapter shall be liberally construed to effectuate its purposes,provided that this chapter shall not be construed as conferring any power orpermitting any action which is inconsistent with the Constitution and laws ofthe United States, but, in so construing this chapter, due consideration shallbe given to the circumstances as they exist from time to time.  This chaptershall not be deemed to have been amended by an act hereafter enacted at thesame or any other session of the legislature, unless this chapter is amended byexpress reference hereto. [L 1951, c 268, pt of §2; RL 1955, §359-1; HRS§128-1; gen ch 1993]

 

Attorney General Opinions

 

  Nothing in chapterauthorizes the governor to provide for the succession to the offices of thegovernor and lieutenant governor.  Att. Gen. Op. 61-87.