Environment

passed · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SR 89: ENDORSING WAIKIKI AS A WORLD SURFING RESERVE.

This Senate Resolution formally endorses Waikiki as a World Surfing Reserve, recognizing the area's historical significance to Native Hawaiian surf culture and its status as a globally renowned surf destination. The resolution highlights Waikiki's unique combination of rich surfing heritage, environmental importance, and economic value as a major tourist attraction. It acknowledges existing local management structures and the need to protect the area from climate change impacts while supporting ongoing conservation efforts. The resolution is non-binding and serves to transmit formal recognition to state and local officials, including the Board of Land and Natural Resources and the Waikiki Beach Special Improvement District Association.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill explicitly mentions protecting Waikiki from climate change impacts and acknowledges environmental importance, indicating support for environmental protection through conservation efforts.75% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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signed · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SCR 100: CONVENING A WORKING GROUP TO ESTABLISH A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION RECOGNIZED BY THE STATE TO SUPPORT SANCTUARIES AND OTHER CONSERVATION-RELATED INITIATIVES FOR ENDANGERED AND OTHER SPECIES.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution establishes a working group to study how Hawaii could create a state-recognized nonprofit organization to support endangered species sanctuaries and conservation projects. The group will be led by committee chairs from both legislative chambers and will include representatives from natural resources agencies and invited experts. Its main task is to research successful sanctuary models used in other places, examine how they are governed, and propose a structure for a new nonprofit that could help protect Hawaii's unique wildlife. The working group must submit its findings and recommendations to the Legislature by early 2027. This resolution does not create the nonprofit itself but sets up a process to develop plans for one.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill establishes working group to develop nonprofit organization for endangered species sanctuaries and conservation initiatives, directly supporting environmental protection and conservation efforts.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

passed · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SR 176: URGING THE COUNTY OF MAUI TO ADOPT ORDINANCES THAT ESTABLISH WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE SAFETY STANDARDS FOR PLANTATION TOWNS AND OTHER HIGH-RISK COMMUNITIES, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE COUNTY OF KAUAI'S ORDINANCE NO. PM-2025-425, RELATING TO THE PLANTATION CAMP DISTRICT WILDFIRE AND WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE, AND OTHER STATE AND NATIONAL WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE BEST PRACTICES.

This Senate Resolution urges the County of Maui to adopt local ordinances that establish wildfire safety standards for plantation towns and other high-risk communities. The bill encourages Maui to create rules for ember-resistant construction, defensible space around structures, vegetation management, and integrating wildfire risk into zoning and permitting decisions. It references Kauai's recent ordinance as a model and emphasizes tailoring these safety measures to Maui's historic plantation communities while learning from the 2023 wildfires. The resolution is non-binding and directs copies to county officials for consideration.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill promotes wildfire safety standards and vegetation management to protect natural resources and reduce environmental hazards in high-risk communities.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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passed both · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SCR 179: URGING THE COUNTY OF MAUI TO ENFORCE THE PROVISIONS OF THE FIRE CODE OF THE COUNTY OF MAUI RELATING TO FIRE HAZARDS, BRUSH CLEARANCE, FUEL BREAKS, ROADSIDE VEGETATION CLEARING, AND EMERGENCY ACCESS.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution urges the County of Maui to actively enforce existing fire code provisions related to vegetation management and fire safety. The bill directly affects property owners, large landowners, and residents in West Maui, particularly those living in temporary housing areas or near major evacuation routes. Key provisions include maintaining brush clearance of 30 to 100 feet from structures, clearing vegetation to less than 18 inches on smaller lots, creating fuel breaks on larger properties, and removing combustible vegetation along roadsides to ensure emergency access. The resolution specifically asks the county to prioritize enforcement on large parcels, areas near residential communities and survivor housing, and locations bordering evacuation corridors, using available tools like inspections, citations, and abatement orders to ensure compliance.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill strengthens fire safety regulations and vegetation management to reduce wildfire risk, protecting natural resources and communities from environmental hazards.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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passed · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SR 175: URGING STATE AGENCIES THAT OWN OR CONTROL LAND IN WEST MAUI TO IMPLEMENT AND ENFORCE AGGRESSIVE VEGETATION MANAGEMENT, FUEL REDUCTION, DEFENSIBLE SPACE, AND EMERGENCY ACCESS MEASURES TO REDUCE WILDFIRE RISK TO LAHAINA AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES.

This Senate Resolution urges state agencies that own or control land in West Maui to actively manage vegetation and reduce wildfire risks in Lahaina and nearby communities. It calls for clearing invasive grasses and other flammable plants, creating defensible space around homes and schools, and maintaining emergency access roads and evacuation routes. The measure specifically targets agencies like the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, and Department of Education, which manage significant land holdings in the area. The resolution is based on lessons from the 2023 Lahaina wildfires and recent weather patterns that have increased fuel loads, aiming to prevent future fire spread from unmanaged state lands into populated areas.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill mandates aggressive vegetation management and fuel reduction to reduce wildfire risk, protecting natural resources and communities from environmental hazards.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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passed · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SR 160: ESTABLISHING A SISTER-STATE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE STATE OF HAWAII, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND THE PREFECTURE OF YAMAGATA, JAPAN.

This Senate Resolution establishes a formal sister-state relationship between the State of Hawaii and Yamagata Prefecture in Japan to strengthen collaboration in trade, tourism, education, and cultural exchange. The resolution outlines specific pilot programs for culinary and agricultural exchanges, culinary tourism showcases, education and workforce development, and sustainable development initiatives. It directs the Governor to work with Japanese officials to create memoranda of understanding that will guide future cooperation in areas like food security, climate resilience, and rural revitalization.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill includes sustainable development initiatives and environmental collaboration between Hawaii and Japan, indicating supportive stance toward environmental protection.70% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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passed · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SR 150: URGING THE ADOPTION OF SHARED GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR THE RESTORATION OF WAIKIKI BEACHES.

This Senate Resolution urges the adoption of shared guiding principles for restoring and maintaining Waikiki beaches, which are vital to Hawaii's economy, culture, and public access. The bill proposes a collaborative approach involving the state, county, federal agencies, and private property owners to plan and fund beach improvements from Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor to Kaimana Beach. Key provisions include prioritizing public access to the ocean, conserving natural resources, coordinating regional planning for sand movement, and clarifying that property owners must maintain seawalls and infrastructure above the shoreline.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill explicitly promotes beach restoration, public access, and natural resource conservation in Waikiki, directly supporting environmental protection.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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passed both · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SCR 32: REQUESTING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A MARINE LIFE CONSERVATION DISTRICT CARRYING CAPACITY STUDY TASK FORCE TO DEVELOP A STATEWIDE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution requests the creation of a task force to develop a statewide plan for studying how many people can use Hawaii's marine life conservation districts without harming the ecosystems. The task force will be made up of representatives from state agencies, county governments, universities, community groups, and commercial ocean recreation operators. Its main job is to design a framework for carrying capacity studies, prioritize which districts to study first, set standards for how studies are conducted, and identify the funding and staffing needed to implement the program. The task force must submit its findings and recommendations to the legislature by the end of 2026, which may include proposed legislation to officially establish the statewide program.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill creates task force to study marine conservation district carrying capacity, aiming to protect ecosystems from overuse and strengthen environmental conservation efforts.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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passed · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SR 28: REQUESTING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A MARINE LIFE CONSERVATION DISTRICT CARRYING CAPACITY STUDY TASK FORCE TO DEVELOP A STATEWIDE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.

This Senate Resolution requests the creation of a task force to develop a statewide plan for studying the carrying capacity of marine life conservation districts in Hawaii. The task force will work with stakeholders from government agencies, universities, and local communities to design a framework for assessing how human activities affect these protected marine areas. It will also prioritize which districts need studies first, establish standards for conducting the research, and identify the funding and staffing needed to implement the program. The task force must submit its recommendations and any proposed legislation to the Legislature by the beginning of the 2027 session.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill establishes task force to study marine life conservation district carrying capacity, directly supporting environmental protection and marine resource conservation through scientific assessment and planning.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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signed · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SCR 159: URGING PUBLIC AND PRIVATE STAKEHOLDERS TO ADOPT SHARED GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR THE PLANNING, FINANCING, AND UNDERTAKING OF EFFORTS FOR THE RESTORATION, IMPROVEMENT, AND MAINTENANCE OF THE BEACHES, SHORELINE, AND COASTAL AREAS OF WAIKIKI.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution urges state and local leaders to adopt shared guiding principles for restoring and maintaining Waikiki beaches, which are vital to Hawaii's economy, culture, and public access. The bill outlines five key strategies including prioritizing public access to the ocean, conserving natural resources, coordinating regional planning across ownership boundaries, leading beach improvement efforts through state coordination with cost-sharing among multiple entities, and confirming property owners' responsibility for maintaining seawalls. While this resolution does not create new laws or funding, it establishes a framework for future planning and management of Waikiki's shoreline from Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor to Kaimana Beach.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill explicitly aims to restore Waikiki beaches, conserve natural resources, and prioritize public access to ocean, directly supporting environmental protection and conservation efforts.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment