75
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES             H.R. NO.              
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2000                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                     HOUSE  RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THAT THE LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE BUREAU CONDUCT A STUDY
   TO ASSESS THE AVAILABILITY AND POSSIBLE BARRIERS OF NATIVE
   HAWAIIAN PLANTS IN LOCAL NURSERIES FOR USE IN PUBLIC
   LANDSCAPING PROJECTS AND/OR OTHER COMMERCIAL PROJECTS.


 1       WHEREAS, the State of Hawaii is internationally renowned
 2   for the scenic beauty of its natural environment, and a unique
 3   native flora, which includes many plants found nowhere else in
 4   the world;  and
 5   
 6       WHEREAS, native Hawaiian plants are currently faced with
 7   many threats that are a  direct result of human activities,
 8   such as the clearing of forests for urban expansion,
 9   agriculture, and grazing, and the introduction of exotic plants
10   and animals, both intentionally and unintentionally;  and
11   
12       WHEREAS, over the past several years the public's awareness
13   of environmental preservation has increased and with it has
14   come a growing interest in native Hawaiian plants and their
15   cultural significance;  and
16   
17       WHEREAS, the cultivation of rare and common native plant
18   species is a valid and necessary strategy to conserve Hawaii's
19   native flora, and such a strategy would create a market for new
20   businesses in the State to reduce the need to continue
21   importing potentially noxious exotic species;  and
22   
23       WHEREAS, using native plants in public places and/or within
24   commercial development can help to preserve the species,
25   further educate residents about our precious natural resources
26   and so encourage more widespread cultivation;  and
27   
28       WHEREAS, the State is currently encouraged to incorporate
29   native plants into public landscaping projects whenever and
30   wherever feasible (section 103D-408, Hawaii Revised Statutes),
31   but by requiring a minimum percentage of native plants that
32   could potentially increase incrementally over time as the
33   supply of native plants in nurseries increases, this would
34   create a greater awareness for Hawaii's natural and cultural
35   heritage among residents and visitors to the islands and
36   benefit our economy;  and

 
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 1   
 2       WHEREAS, there may be potential barriers that need to be
 3   addressed, such as difficulties for commercial growers in
 4   obtaining collecting permits that hinder the acquisition of
 5   seeds, cuttings, and other propagules, the direct competition
 6   between privately owned nurseries and State nurseries that
 7   provide plants below market cost, and, although awareness has
 8   increased, further education and marketing needs to be done
 9   starting with landscape architects, many of whom are not
10   familiar with the native plants available nor how to use them;
11   now, therefore,
12   
13       BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the
14   Twentieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session
15   of 2000, that the Legislative Reference Bureau conduct a study
16   to assess the current and potential availability of nurseries
17   providing native Hawaiian plants for use in public landscaping
18   projects and the feasibility of requiring the use of a minimum
19   percentage of native plants for such projects in order to help
20   preserve the species and their cultural significance;  and
21   
22       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Reference
23   Bureau submit its findings and recommendations in a report to
24   the State Legislature no less than twenty days prior to the
25   convening of the 2001 Regular Session;  and
26   
27       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this
28   Resolution be transmitted to the Legislative Reference Bureau,
29   the Department of Land and Natural Resources, the Governor, and
30   the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
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34                         OFFERED BY:  ____________________________