THE SENATE

S.C.R. NO.

101

THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

URGING A TRANSITION TO A PLANT-BASED LIFESTYLE.

 

 

            WHEREAS, a plant-based lifestyle that incorporates plant-based nutrition and plant-based construction materials offers a multitude of beneficial impacts to human health, animal welfare, and the environment; and 

 

WHEREAS, a plant-based lifestyle also champions Aloha ʻĀina by fostering a respectful and nurturing relationship with the land, encouraging practices that protect and enhance the natural environment, thereby ensuring the well-being of future generations; and 

 

WHEREAS, a plant-based lifestyle aligns with traditional Hawaiian dietary practices, enriching biodiversity through the cultivation of endemic and canoe plants, supporting the restoration of the Ahupuaʻa system, aiding in the prevention and mitigation of natural disasters, advancing food security, and advocating for the use of sustainable building materials, thereby fostering a holistic approach to environmental stewardship, cultural preservation, and community well-being; and 

 

WHEREAS, Dr. Kekuni Blaisdell found that the traditional Native Hawaiian diet consisted of around 78% carbohydrates, 12% protein, and 10% fat, with poi, ʻuala, ʻulu, green leafy vegetables, and seaweed making up most of the carbohydrates and fish, chicken, and pork making up the proteins; and 

 

WHEREAS, plant-based nutrition consists primarily of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, beans, nuts, and seeds, while minimizing or eliminating animal products, such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and dairy products; and 

 

WHEREAS, many health care associations advocate for a plant-based diet including the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, American Heart Association, and MD Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas; now, therefore, 

 

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2024, the House of Representatives concurring, that this body urges a transition to a plant-based lifestyle; and 

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, Comptroller, Director of Health, Superintendent of Education, Chair of the Board of Education, Director of the Department of Agriculture, Director of the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, and mayors of each of the counties.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Report Title: 

Plant-based Lifestyle; Renewables; Greenhouse Gases; Emissions