STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1630

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.R. No. 8

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts, to which was referred S.R. No. 8 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING INTERNATIONAL DARK SKY WEEK,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request that April 21 through April 28, 2025, be recognized as International Dark Sky Week in Hawaii.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and six individuals.

Your Committee finds that light pollution has significant negative economic and environmental consequences for the ecology and human health of all communities. Your Committee further finds that Darksky International is the globally recognized authority on light pollution and has established International Dark Sky Week to raise awareness about light pollution. Your Committee concludes that recognizing International Dark Sky Week will promote the protection and enjoyment of dark skies and encourage responsible outdoor lighting. Your Committee further finds that implementing a task force to provide recommendations on dark sky legislation will further benefit the State.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Adding language to convene a task force to study light pollution and dark skies to ensure the preservation of dark skies throughout the State;

(2) Requesting the task force include the following individuals:

(A) The Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, or the Chairperson's designee, who is requested to be chair of the task force;

(B) The Director of the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, or the Director's designee;

(C) The Director of Transportation, or the Director's designee;

(D) The President of the University of Hawaii, or the President's designee;

(E) The Director of the Institute for Astronomy, or the Director's designee;

(F) The Chief Executive Officer of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, or the Chief Executive Officer's designee;

(G) The mayor of each county, or each mayor's designee; and

(H) A representative from the University of Hawaii at Hilo;

(3) Requesting the chair of the task force invite the following individuals to participate as members of the task force:

(A) A representative of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service;

(B) A representative of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;

(C) A representative of the United States Military;

(D) A representative of the Federal Aviation Administration;

(E) A representative of the United States Coast Guard;

(F) A representative of the Federal Highways Administration;

(G) A member of the Hawaiian Astronomical Society; and

(H) A representative from the DesignLight Consortium;

(4) Specifying issues that the task force is requested to consider and evaluate when developing the dark night skies protection strategies and recommendations;

(5) Requesting that the task force submit a report to the Legislature, no later than December 1, of each year of 2025 and 2026; and

(6) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 8, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 8, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts,

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CHRIS LEE, Chair