HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

303

TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

Renaming the NATURAL ENERGY LABORATORY OF HAWAII AUTHORITY as the GEORGE R. ARIYOSHI NATURAL ENERGY LAB.

 

 


     WHEREAS, former Governor George R. Ariyoshi was a visionary who served three terms, from 1974 to 1986, as the first governor of Japanese-American ancestry in the United States; and

 

     WHEREAS, being the first governor of Japanese-American ancestry proved to be among one of many firsts he achieved during his three terms in office, as he brought new ideas and innovative policies to his administration; and

 

     WHEREAS, Governor Ariyoshi emphasized and created long-term plans to secure Hawaii's future, and to preserve the state's fragile environment by recognizing the potential of our natural resources to provide renewable sources of power; and

 

     WHEREAS, Governor Ariyoshi proposed various ideas to protect the islands, including the idea of "controlled growth" to limit the impact of the growing population within the islands; the State Plan, which included measures to conserve the environment; and investment in alternative and renewable sources of power, including the development of ocean technologies; and

 

     WHEREAS, Governor Ariyoshi's vision was instrumental in developing the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii (NELH), which was created by the Legislature in 1974 to research ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC); and

 

     WHEREAS, Governor Ariyoshi's involvement in establishing the Mini-OTEC was essential to its success, as it became the first example of an ocean thermal energy conversion electric power plant in the world; and

 

     WHEREAS, in 1986, the Hawaii Ocean Science and Technology (HOST) Park was created under the High Technology Development Corporation as a separate entity, and in 1990, NELH and HOST Park were merged into the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority (NELHA) and attached to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; and

 

     WHEREAS, HOST Park was the first to successfully install a commercial 40 inch diameter, deep-water pipeline to pump water from below 2,200 foot depths up to the surface; and

 

     WHEREAS, Governor Ariyoshi recognized that these ecologically-friendly techniques could benefit businesses and boost the economy, and was able to develop a master plan and attain a master lease to help reduce bureaucratic red tape for potential businesses; and

 

     WHEREAS, cold, nutrient-rich seawater is being used for several purposes, including the production of power, air-conditioning, and for growing marine plants and animals, including abalone, oysters, finfish, shrimp, pearls, vegetables, and even flowers; and

 

     WHEREAS, this facility is now drawing international interest and many countries want to emulate this technology; and

 

     WHEREAS, through these and other assets, NELHA has attracted tenants who can use its unique complement of natural and logistical resources to engage in successful, productive research and commercial activities that support sustainable industry development in Hawaii and provide advanced technology jobs for the local economy; and

 

     WHEREAS, NELHA could not have been as successful without the early, visionary encouragement and support of Governor Ariyoshi, whose vision for NELHA has become synonymous with the current vision for a sustainable future for Hawaii; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2008, the Senate concurring, that the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority be renamed the "George R. Ariyoshi Natural Energy Laboratory" in honor of former Governor Ariyoshi; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Chief Executive Officer of NELHA.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

Report Title: 

Governor Ariyoshi; National Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority