HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

279

TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2011

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

requesting the University of Hawaii at Hilo to seek grant moneYs and additional resources for studying the feasibility of incorporating native Hawaiian plant species in capital improvement projects.

 

 

 


     WHEREAS, a 2003 study by the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources reported that although native Hawaiian plants can be successfully grown and mass produced for private and public landscaping projects, many species have become extinct or are rare and threatened, thus caution should be exercised when utilizing these plants in landscaping projects; and

 

     WHEREAS, House Bill No. 378 (Regular Session 2011) proposed amending section 103D-408, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to require all plans, designs, and specifications for state capital improvement projects to exclusively incorporate native Hawaiian land plant species; and

 

     WHEREAS, House Bill No. 378 has multiple benefits, including the beautification of state facilities and properties, showcasing unique varieties of native Hawaiian plants, and preventing further spread of invasive species into Hawaii's fragile ecosystem; and

 

     WHEREAS, before mandating the use of native Hawaiian plants in state projects, however, more research should be conducted to assess the environmental and nutritional needs of the different varieties of plants and, in particular, to identify plants with drought tolerant traits to increase the likelihood of survival; and

 

WHEREAS, the vast majority of native Hawaiian plants have a poor survival rate between the elevations of one hundred feet above sea level and fifteen hundred feet above sea level; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-sixth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2011, the Senate concurring, that the University of Hawaii at Hilo is requested to seek grant moneys and additional resources for studying the feasibility of incorporating native Hawaiian plant species in capital improvement projects; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature requests that the study include a categorization of the different native Hawaiian plant varieties suitable for use in state projects, an assessment of the environmental and nutritional needs of native Hawaiian plants, and other recommendations for incorporating these plants without jeopardizing their survival; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the University of Hawaii at Hilo is requested to submit a final report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2012; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chancellor of the University of Hawaii at Hilo; the President of the University of Hawaii; and the Chairperson of the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Native Hawaiian Plants; Landscaping; UH Hilo