HR 143: REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO CONVENE A WORKING GROUP TO ASSESS ENVIRONMENTAL AND CONSERVATION INITIATIVES NEEDED TO TRANSITION VOLCANO, HAWAII, INTO A BIOSPHERE AREA THAT PROMOTES ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND COMMUNITY WELL-BEING AND COMPLEMENTS THE NEIGHBORING HAWAIIAN ISLANDS BIOSPHERE RESERVE.

HOUSE RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO CONVENE A WORKING GROUP TO ASSESS ENVIRONMENTAL AND CONSERVATION INITIATIVES NEEDED TO TRANSITION VOLCANO, HAWAII, INTO A BIOSPHERE AREA THAT PROMOTES ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND COMMUNITY WELL-BEING AND COMPLEMENTS THE NEIGHBORING HAWAIIAN ISLANDS BIOSPHERE RESERVE.

     WHEREAS, the Hawaiian Islands Biosphere Reserve was a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) biosphere reserve that was comprised of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and Haleakala National Park; and

     WHEREAS, UNESCO biosphere reserves are recognized for their commitment to balancing human activity with environmental conservation and sustainable development; and

     WHEREAS, to become a UNESCO biosphere reserve, an area must be nominated by its national government and meet certain criteria related to conservation, sustainable development, and scientific research; and

     WHEREAS, although Hawaii Volcanoes National Park met these high environmental and conservation standards, the greater Volcano, Hawaii, area suffers from many issues that threaten its environment and natural resources; and

     WHEREAS, Volcano, Hawaii, has been subject to invasive plant species, Rapid Ohia Death, ungulates, declining native plant populations, and forest loss and degradation; and

     WHEREAS, Volcano, Hawaii, should adopt similar environmental and conservation initiatives as Hawaii Volcanoes National Park; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, that the Department of Land and Natural Resources is requested to convene a working group to assess environmental and conservation initiatives needed to transition Volcano, Hawaii, into a biosphere area that promotes environmental sustainability and community well-being and complements the neighboring Hawaiian Islands Biosphere Reserve; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to consist of the following individuals:

     (1)  The State Representative from House District 5, who shall serve as Chair of the working group; and

     (2)  A representative from the Volcano Community Association, to be invited by the Chair of the working group; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to:

     (1)  Conduct a literature review that assesses existing reports and studies that provide insight into the environment, natural resources, and socioeconomic conditions of Volcano, Hawaii;

     (2)  Develop best practices for native ohia forest stewardship that inform sustainable development, land use, green infrastructure development, and water resource management;

     (3)  Develop a community engagement strategy that increases education and awareness of environmental issues in Volcano, Hawaii;

     (4)  Develop a monitoring and evaluation system that tracks the progress of environmental and conservation initiatives in Volcano, Hawaii; and

     (5)  Identify potential buffer zones and conservation easements for activities that support ohia forest preservation and sustainable development; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to determine the scope of the actions and initiatives to be conducted in the biosphere area; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature and the Hawaii County Council no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2026; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Land and Natural Resources is requested to provide any necessary administrative support to the working group, including the preparation and drafting of the report; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group shall cease to exist on June 30, 2026; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the President of the Volcano Community Association Board of Directors.

Report Title:

Department of Land and Natural Resources; Volcano, Hawaii; Working Group; Biosphere

HOUSE RESOLUTION

requesting the department of land and natural resources to convene a working group to assess environmental and conservation INITIATIVES needed to transition volcano, Hawaii, into a biosphere area that promotes environmental sustainability and community well-being and complements the NEIGHBORING hawaiian islands biosphere reserve.

     WHEREAS, the Hawaiian Islands Biosphere Reserve is a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) biosphere reserve that is comprised of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and Haleakala National Park; and

     WHEREAS, UNESCO biosphere reserves are recognized for their commitment to balancing human activity with environmental conservation and sustainable development; and

     WHEREAS, to become a UNESCO biosphere reserve, an area must be nominated by its national government and meet certain criteria related to conservation, sustainable development, and scientific research; and

     WHEREAS, although Hawaii Volcanoes National Park meets these high environmental and conservation standards, the greater Volcano, Hawaii, area suffers from many issues that threaten its environment and natural resources; and

     WHEREAS, Volcano, Hawaii, has been subject to invasive plant species, Rapid Ohia Death, ungulates, declining native plant populations, and forest loss and degradation; and

     WHEREAS, Volcano, Hawaii, should adopt similar environmental and conservation initiatives as Hawaii Volcanoes National Park; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, that the Department of Land and Natural Resources is requested to convene a working group to assess environmental and conservation initiatives needed to transition Volcano, Hawaii, into a biosphere area that promotes environmental sustainability and community well-being and complements the neighboring Hawaiian Islands Biosphere Reserve; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to consist of the following individuals:

     (1)  Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, or the Chairperson's designee, who shall serve as Chair of the working group;

     (2)  A representative from the Department of Agriculture;

     (3)  A representative from the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience;

     (4)  The State Representative from House District 5; and

     (5)  The State Senator from Senate District 3; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Chair of the working group is requested to invite the following individuals to serve as members of the working group:

     (1)  A representative from the Office of the United States Representative for Hawaii's 2^nd Congressional District;

     (2)  A representative from the Natural Resources Conservation Service of the United States Department of Agriculture;

     (3)  A representative from the Forest Service of the United States Department of Agriculture;

     (4)  The Mayor of the County of Hawaii, or the Mayor's designee;

     (5)  The member of the Hawaii County Council representing District 5;

     (6)  The member of the Hawaii County Council representing District 6;

     (7)  A representative from the Planning Department of the County of Hawaii;

     (8)  A representative from the Department of Public Works of the County of Hawaii;

     (9)  A representative from the Department of Environmental Management of the County of Hawaii;

    (10)  A representative from the Office of Sustainability, Climate, Equity, and Resilience of the County of Hawaii;

    (11)  A representative from the Volcano Community Association;

    (12)  A representative from the Volcano Art Center;

    (13)  A representative from the Hawaii Wildlife Management Organization;

    (14)  A representative from Three Mountain Alliance;

    (15)  A representative from the Big Island Invasive Species Committee;

    (16)  A representative from the National Park Service at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park;

    (17)  A representative from Hawaii Island REALTORS;

    (18)  A representative from Kamehameha Schools; and

    (19)  A representative from Hawaii Land Trust; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to:

     (1)  Conduct a literature review that assesses existing reports and studies that provide insight into the environment, natural resources, and socioeconomic conditions of Volcano, Hawaii;

     (2)  Develop best practices for native ohia forest stewardship that inform sustainable development, land use, green infrastructure development, and water resource management;

     (3)  Develop a community engagement strategy that increases education and awareness of environmental issues in Volcano, Hawaii;

     (4)  Develop a monitoring and evaluation system that tracks the progress of environmental and conservation initiatives in Volcano, Hawaii; and

     (5)  Identify potential buffer zones and conservation easements for activities that support ohia forest preservation and sustainable development; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to determine the scope of the actions and initiatives to be conducted in the biosphere area; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature and the Hawaii County Council no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2026; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Land and Natural Resources is requested to provide any necessary administrative support to the working group, including the preparation and drafting of the report; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group shall cease to exist on June 30, 2026; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the United States Representative for Hawaii's 2^nd Congressional District; Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service of the United States Department of Agriculture; Chief of the Forest Service of the United States Department of Agriculture; Superintendent of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park; Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources; Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture; Dean and Director of the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience; Mayor of the County of Hawaii; members of the Hawaii County Council representing Council Districts 5 and 6; Planning Director of the Planning Department of the County of Hawaii; Director of the Department of Public Works of the County of Hawaii; Director of the Department of Environmental Management of the County of Hawaii; Administrator of the Office of Sustainability, Climate, Equity, and Resilience of the County of Hawaii; President of the Volcano Community Association Board of Directors; Chief Executive Officer of the Volcano Art Center; Co-Executive Directors of the Hawaii Wildlife Management Organization; Coordinator of the Three Mountain Alliance; Program Manager of the Big Island Invasive Species Committee; President of the Hawaii Island REALTORS Board of Directors; Chief Executive Officer of Kamehameha Schools; and President & Chief Executive Officer of Hawaii Land Trust.

Report Title:

Department of Land and Natural Resources; Volcano, Hawaii; Working Group; Biosphere

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1892

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2025

RE:   H.R. No. 143

      H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.R. No. 143 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO CONVENE A WORKING GROUP TO ASSESS ENVIRONMENTAL AND CONSERVATION INITIATIVES NEEDED TO TRANSITION VOLCANO, HAWAII, INTO A BIOSPHERE AREA THAT PROMOTES ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND COMMUNITY WELL-BEING AND COMPLEMENTS THE NEIGHBORING HAWAIIAN ISLANDS BIOSPHERE RESERVE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of Land and Natural Resources to convene a working group to assess environmental and conservation initiatives needed to transition Volcano, Hawaii, into a biosphere area that promotes environmental sustainability and community well-being and complements the neighboring Hawaiian Islands Biosphere Reserve.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Alaula Kipuka Refuge; Hawaiʻi Forest Farms; the Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi; Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi, Hawaiʻi Island Group; Volcano Community Association; and numerous individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

     Your Committee finds that Hawaii Volcanoes National Park was part of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designated Hawaiian Islands Biosphere Reserve, meaning the area met certain standards related to conservation, sustainable development, and scientific research.  Your Committee further finds that the high environmental standards met by Hawaii Volcanoes National Park starkly contrast with the greater Volcano, Hawaii area, which has been subject to invasive plant species, Rapid Ohia Death, forest degradation, and other environmental issues.  This measure encourages a coordinated effort to develop initiatives needed to promote the environmental well-being of Volcano, Hawaii.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Clarifying that the Hawaiian Islands Biosphere Reserve was, but is not currently, designated as a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) biosphere reserve;

     (2)  Changing the membership of the working group; and

     (3)  Amending the list of recipients of certified copies of this measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 143, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.R. No. 143, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,