HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

221

THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

 

Commending the heroes and protectors of O‘ahu's Drinking water.

 

 

 

     WHEREAS, ola i ka wai means water is life; and

 

     WHEREAS, the U.S. Navy Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility stores over 100 million gallons of fuel that sits a mere 100 feet above O‘ahu's main aquifer, and over the years, the aging tanks have leaked an estimated 180,000 gallons of fuel into O‘ahu's natural resources; and

 

     WHEREAS, in November 2021, an estimated 19,000 gallons of jet fuel leaked from the aging tanks affecting nearly 100,000 residents; and

 

     WHEREAS, Ernest "Ernie" Lau, chief engineer and manager of the City and County of Honolulu's Board of Water Supply, continues to advocate for the protection of Hawai‘i's water supply and publicly supports the O‘ahu Water Protectors' efforts to pressure the U.S. Navy in light of the 1,100 gallons of highly toxic fire suppressant foam spill in November 2022; and

 

     WHEREAS, Healani Sonoda-Pale, the Lead Organizer for the O‘ahu Water Protectors, has mobilized volunteers for countless sign waving events, educational campaigns, and peaceful demonstrations over the past 15 months to raise awareness of O‘ahu's water crisis; and

 

     WHEREAS, Wayne Tanaka, attorney, engineer, and lifelong environmental advocate, has served as the Executive Director of the Sierra Club of Hawai‘i since October 2021; he continues to be steadfast in his efforts to maintain pressure on state and federal agencies to protect O‘ahu's precious water resource in this critical moment of history; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawai‘i, Regular Session of 2023, that this body hereby commends Ernest "Ernie" Lau, Healani Sonoda-Pale, and Wayne Tanaka as heroes and protectors of O‘ahu's drinking water and extends to them its warmest aloha and best wishes for continued success in their future endeavors.

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

Report Title: 

Ernest "Ernie" Lau, Healani Sonoda-Pale, Wayne Tanaka; Heroes and Protectors of O‘ahu's Drinking Water