Bill > HCR128

This concurrent resolution recognizes the critical importance of freshwater to Hawaii's nearshore marine ecosystems and reaffirms the state's constitutional obligation to protect natural resources. The resolution highlights how freshwater from rivers, streams, springs, and groundwater is vital to marine habitat health, supporting native lifeforms like limu (algae and seaweed), and enabling the lifecycle of endemic species such as native goby fish, prawns, and mollusks. It emphasizes that alterations to freshwater sources like excessive groundwater extraction or pollution can damage marine habitats, leading to coral bleaching and biodiversity loss. The resolution urges state and county governments to prioritize protecting and restoring freshwater flows by developing comprehensive water resource management plans that balance human needs with environmental sustainability. Additionally, it calls for educational and outreach efforts to raise awareness about the ecological significance of freshwater to marine ecosystems. The resolution is grounded in Hawaii's constitutional provisions, specifically Article XI, which mandates conservation of natural resources for present and future generations, and draws upon a Hawaii Supreme Court precedent requiring analysis of potential impacts on Native Hawaiian traditional and customary rights.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HCR&billnumber=128&year=2025