2023 Legislative Session Policy Priorities
Based on four days of panel discussions, keynote speakers, and working groups, the participants of the 2022 Hawaiʻi Sustainability Summit collaboratively came up with legislative priorities across six key areas:
Rezone to allow multi-generational housing and residential and commercial zones nearby each other
Create an employer working group to analyze housing needs over lifetime
Meaningfully engage communities throughout the State and County Request for Proposals (RPF) procurement process
Revise affordable housing policies
Set up neighborhood board systems to make sustainable communities community-driven
Survey major organizations to gauge investment/projects in the next 5 yrs to find synergies in sustainability
Develop affordable living plan (as opposed to looking only at affordable housing) and socialize it with all key stakeholders
Allow communities to themselves define sustainable development, align regulatory processes
Take advantage of HRS 46-15 to pilot an affordable housing project in a location where people work
Fast-track permitting to achieve smart sustainable communities
Smart Sustainable Communities
Policy Priorities
Operationalize ‘Āina Aloha Economic Future’s Assessment Tool for Policies, Projects, and Programs
Create an ecosystem of Kama‘āina jobs, via schools, vocational institutions, and small businesses
Align priorities named by the State with increased budget to support kuaʻāina workforce and education
Empower education of a Kama‘āina workforce through DOE, UH, and corporations
Establish an Aloha ‘Āina place-based skill building and training through a visitor green fee
Establish a “one stop shop” that supports ‘Ōiwi-informed HR, legal, and other services for diverse industry
Green Workforce (Kua‘āina) and Education Policy Priorities
Commit to a food economy that incentivizes local food and consumption
Pass a bill to require P-20 agricultural and ‘āina-based education
Set a target for 70% staple food production in Hawaiʻi via subsidies, tax breaks, and policy incentives
Decrease imported foods
Create a “Made in Hawai‘i” County Showcase
Boost conscious purchasing practices through increasing understanding of what local food is
Establish a 10-year local food mandate based on good data, industry, and community input
Pass a bill that requires geographic preference in food procurement
Co-locate farmers markets to coincide with schools
Local Food
Policy Priorities
Prioritize biosecurity and protection of native species
Create a holistic ahupua‘a management (beyond ridge to reef) educational system for grades K-16 and beyond
Aloha ‘āina community-based stewardship funded through a visitor green fee
Create a county-level natural resource management architect position
Require ecosystem awareness within project permitting processes
Increase natural resource management state funding while advancing community organizing
Provide education on natural resource management
Prioritize water resource management
Implement public signage of inoa‘āina (place names) with priority on major ahupua‘a
Conduct community exploration and evaluation to assess development of smart sustainable communities
Natural Resource Management
Policy Priorities
Establish education for renewable energy tax credits, rebates; advocacy for resources through public marketing in businesses and schools
Expand subsidies, increase rebates; implement incentive programs for energy improvements and expansion of renewables
Strengthen culture of energy conservation through diversified incentives and education at all levels
Invest in network coordinators to support collaboration for consumer education and incentives
Community support and funding for geothermal exploratory research
Hold government and policy accountable to leading by example
Education and advocacy for firm energy sources
Implement accessible energy education campaigns to increase community energy literacy, from keiki to kupuna
Create an educational campaign and a community hui to explore alternate energy solutions, i.e. hydrogen and others
Review the state energy code for relevance and applicability in tropical zone unique to Hawaiʻi
Clean Energy Transformation Policy Priorities
Adopt and implement the updated Zero Waste Plan in the County of Hawaiʻi
Implement an educational campaign on waste reduction
Create a public/private task force to develop a plan to reduce waste by 70%
Establish a state department of environmental protection separate from DOH for more innovation
Eliminate single use plastic statewide
Mandate government funded projects be near-zero waste; and reuse abandoned buildings and materials