STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1745-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.C.R. No. 91

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 91 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES AND DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO COLLABORATE TO ESTABLISH A FORMAL, LONG-TERM COLLABORATIVE PROGRAM TO EXPAND, EQUITABLY DISTRIBUTE, AND SUSTAIN TREE-CANOPY COVERAGE ACROSS PUBLIC SCHOOLS STATE WIDE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of Land and Natural Resources and Department of Education to establish a formal, long-term collaborative program to expand, equitably distribute, and sustain tree-canopy coverage across public schools statewide.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Hawaiʻi Public Health Institute; Kaulunani Urban & Community Forestry Advisory Council; Trees for Honolulu's Future; and three individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education.

Your Committee finds that in addition to lowering the temperature on school campuses through shade, transpiration, and reduction of the heat-island effect, trees also absorb storm water, clean the air, beautify spaces, and help achieve state and county environmental goals. Your Committee further finds that the Department of Land and Natural Resources, through its Kaulunani Urban and Community Forestry Program, successfully partnered with the Department of Education under a 2025 Memorandum of Agreement to implement the Shade Trees for Schools initiative and successfully partnered in 2024 in a Fruit Trees for Schools pilot program initiative on campuses with agricultural programs. Given the strong demand for and benefits of these efforts, your Committee believes that a long-term program to build on the success of these initiatives is justified.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 91 and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Education.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water & Land,

____________________________

MARK J. HASHEM, Chair