WHEREAS, an integral part of the State Capitol is the reflecting pool that surrounds the Capitol, which is occupied by legislative and administrative offices; and

WHEREAS, the reflecting pool represents the Pacific Ocean which surrounds the Hawaiian Islands much like the pool surrounds the State Capitol; and

WHEREAS, since its inception, the stagnant water in the reflecting pool has been plagued with algae and other water quality problems; and

WHEREAS, the annual costs to clean and maintain the reflecting pool runs into the thousands of dollars requiring the regular services of a cleaning crew and other maintenance expenses; and

WHEREAS, considering the sophistication of environmentally designed technologies and other modern alternatives capable of addressing the reflecting pool problem, it would be to the advantage of the State to explore these alternatives; and

WHEREAS, high school and middle school students in Hawaii have consistently displayed an appreciation for many of the maladies of modern society and have responded to these problems with creative and ingenious science fair and school projects; and

WHEREAS, the creativity and ingenuity of high school and middle school students should be utilized to find a solution to the reflecting pool problem by way of a statewide contest open to any public or private high school or middle school student; and

WHEREAS, participating students would be allowed to test their entry or hypothesis on the reflecting pool water; and

WHEREAS, winning entries would be judged by selected jurors and receive cash prizes; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2006, that the state administration, the Department of Education, and the University of Hawaii are requested to join the Legislature in sponsoring a contest for public and private high school and middle school students to find a solution to the algae and water quality problem at the State Capitol reflecting pool; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that representatives from the Department of Accounting and General Services or a designated state agency, the University of Hawaii, the Department of Education, and the Legislature are requested to serve as judges for the contest; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature is requested to contribute funds for the cash prizes for winning students; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Accounting and General Services or a state agency selected by the Department is requested to test the winning entries or hypotheses; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, the Comptroller, the Chairperson of the Board of Education, the Superintendent of Education, the President of the University of Hawaii, the Chairperson of the Board of Regents, and the Presidents or Headmasters of Hawaii's private high and middle schools.

Report Title:

State Capitol Reflecting Pool; High School and Middle School Students