STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3194

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 69

       S.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Energy and Environment and Water and Land, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 69 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ENDORSING AND SUPPORTING THE ALOHA+ CHALLENGE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to endorse and support the Aloha+ Challenge to achieve ambitious targets related to clean energy, local food, natural resource management, waste reduction, smart sustainable communities, and green workforce by 2030.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Department of Land and Natural Resources; Department of Health; Department of Agriculture; Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Office of Planning; State Sustainability Coordinator; County of Kauai Office of Economic Development; Hawaii Energy Policy Forum; Hawaii Green Growth; The Nature Conservancy; Ulupono Initiative; The Sky Ohana; Enterprise Honolulu; and fifteen individuals.  Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from one individual.

     Your Committees find that Hawaii exemplifies the urgent need for action on the global challenge to build more sustainable economies, as Hawaii's people depend on imports for roughly 95 percent of their energy and 85 percent of their food, at an estimated annual cost of more than $8,000,000,000.

     Your Committees further find that drawing from experience from other international commitments, key elements for an Aloha+ Challenge:  A Culture of Sustainability – He Nohona ‘Ae‘oia have been outlined, with principles and targets based on current state priorities and policies, including:

     (1)  Respecting the culture, character, beauty, and history of the State's island communities;

     (2)  Striking a balance between economic, social, community, and environmental priorities;

     (3)  Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs; and

     (4)  Addressing the impacts of climate change and increasing climate change resilience.

Leadership and support by the Legislature is critical for the success of implementing the Aloha+ Challenge.  Your Committees note that a statewide commitment to the Aloha+ Challenge should also help to promote education for sustainable development for youth and Hawaiian values.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy and Environment and Water and Land that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 69, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 69, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Energy and Environment and Water and Land,

____________________________ MALAMA SOLOMON, Chair

____________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair