THE SENATE	S.R. NO.	19
TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2016		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

URGING THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION OF THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU TO LANDSCAPE HAWAII'S PUBLIC HIGHWAYS AND ROADS BY PLANTING MORE TREES.

     WHEREAS, trees are essential to a healthy environment for Hawaii, and increasing the number of trees planted in Hawaii would improve Hawaii's natural beauty and provide other needed benefits; and

     WHEREAS, trees supply oxygen in the air we breathe and keep the air supply fresh by absorbing carbon dioxide; and

     WHEREAS, trees provide shade and shelter, reducing annual heating and cooling costs in the United States by $2,100,000,000; and

     WHEREAS, tree roots stabilize the soil, prevent soil erosion, support the capture and conservation of our water supply, and help remediate pollutants; and

     WHEREAS, trees cut down on noise pollution by acting as sound barriers; and

     WHEREAS, trees lower air temperatures by evaporating water from their leaves; and

     WHEREAS, in the 1980s, Hawaii successfully planted 1,200,000 trees for the "A Million Trees of Aloha" initiative; and

     WHEREAS, the concept of "Green Hawaii" is to landscape Hawaii's highways and roads by planting more trees; and

     WHEREAS, Hawaii's visitor industry markets Hawaii as a "Tropical Wonderland"; and

     WHEREAS, many visitors to Hawaii expect a clean, green, and beautiful Hawaii with lush greenery; and

     WHEREAS, the lush beauty of Hawaii should be promoted, preserved, and perpetuated as a unique visitor experience; and

     WHEREAS, tourism is the primary economic driver of the State's economy; and

     WHEREAS, green landscapes enhance the visual impact of the tourist experience; and

     WHEREAS, landscaping is an integral part of our culture and plays an essential role in the quality of our environment, affecting our economic well-being and our physical and psychological health; and

     WHEREAS, it is well-known that tourists who visit Hawaii want to see the "real" Hawaii which includes indigenous or endemic trees and plants; and

     WHEREAS, landscaping with indigenous or endemic trees and plants may enhance the knowledge of visitors and residents on their many uses as they were often used by Native Hawaiians for medicine, shelter, and subsistence, and as nourishment for indigenous animals and birds; and

WHEREAS, it is the duty of the State to improve the economic well-being and physical and psychological health of its citizens if we are to keep our communities strong and prosperous; and

     WHEREAS, the reputation of Hawaii as a paradise is vital to the Native Hawaiian culture, State's tourism industry, and the State's economy; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-eighth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2016, that the State Department of Transportation and Department of Parks and Recreation of the City and County of Honolulu are urged to landscape Hawaii's public highways and roads by planting more trees, including trees that are indigenous or endemic to Hawaii; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the State Director of Transportation and Director of Parks and Recreation of the City and County of Honolulu.

Report Title: 

Tree Landscaping; Public Highways