THE SENATE

S.C.R. NO.

174

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

requesting the counties to address light pollution issues THROUGH their ordinances.

 

WHEREAS, dark skies are vital to the success of Hawaii's astronomy and space surveillance industries; and

WHEREAS, astronomy and space surveillance conducted in Maui and Hawaii counties contribute millions of dollars to the State's economy every year; and

WHEREAS, artificial lighting on the ocean or illuminating the shoreline and nearshore waters can be disruptive to both avian and marine life; and

WHEREAS, such artificial lights have been documented to cause the death of hatching sea turtles, fledgling shearwaters, nocturnal flying sea birds, and migratory birds; and

WHEREAS, laboratory studies have shown that artificial lights can also harm corals that naturally spawn during a full moon by inducing them to spawn artificially during the dark phase of the moon cycle; and

WHEREAS, there are reports by fishers that such artificial illumination affects the behavior of fish; and

WHEREAS, light pollution also affects astronomical and space surveillance industries, including scientific establishments on Mauna Kea and Haleakala; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2004, the House of Representatives concurring, that the counties are requested to address all light pollution issues through their ordinances; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that these issues include eliminating or mitigating artificial lights from adjacent buildings affecting the shorelines and nearshore waters that harm sea turtles, Newell's shearwaters, dark-rumped petrels, band-rumped storm petrels, Hawaiian monk seals, or any other marine population so threatened or harmed; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that these issues include eliminating or mitigating artificial lights from buildings affecting the darkness of our skies near key astronomy and space surveillance sites; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Mayor and the Chairperson of the Council of each county.

Report Title:

Light Pollution; Cities and Counties; Building Ordinances