THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	129
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

AFFIRMING SUPPORT FOR THE EXPANSION OF programs and projects that increase TREE CANOPY COVERAGE AND INSTALL shade treeS in urban areas TO MITIGATE the effects of URBAN HEAT ISLANDS ACROSS THE STATE.

 

 

     WHEREAS, an urban heat island effect occurs when built environments with extensive pavement, rooftops, and other heat-absorbing materials experience significantly higher temperatures than surrounding areas; and

 

     WHEREAS, the effects of urban heat islands are already being felt across the State, increasing heat exposure and the risk of heat-related illness among residents; and

 

     WHEREAS, a tree canopy refers to the leaves, branches, and stems of trees that cover the ground when viewed from above, and provide shade below; and

 

     WHEREAS, children, kupuna, individuals with preexisting medical conditions, and residents of low-canopy and lower-income neighborhoods are particularly vulnerable to extreme heat and face heightened risks of heat-related illness; and

 

     WHEREAS, shade trees mitigate the effects of urban heat islands by lowering ambient and surface temperatures and providing cooling through shade and evapotranspiration; and

 

     WHEREAS, the City and County of Honolulu's Urban Tree Plan guides local efforts to expand the urban tree canopy as a critical means to mitigate urban heat and improve public health, including achieving its goal of increasing the urban tree canopy to thirty-five percent by 2035; and

 

     WHEREAS, recent urban tree canopy assessments documented a decline in tree canopy coverage in Honolulu and identified disparities in canopy coverage among communities with differing socioeconomic levels; and

 

     WHEREAS, statewide programs, such as the Kaulunani Urban and Community Forestry Program and the Shade Trees for Schools initiative, demonstrate successful models for expanding tree canopy coverage and shade through coordinated public investment and community partnerships; and

 

     WHEREAS, urban tree canopy programs provide multiple co-benefits, including improved air quality, reduced stormwater runoff, lower energy costs, enhanced biodiversity, and better mental and physical health outcomes; and

 

     WHEREAS, collaboration across state and county agencies is necessary to maximize the effectiveness and equitability of shade tree and urban canopy strategies across the State; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2026, the House of Representatives concurring, that this body affirms its support for expanding programs and projects that increase tree canopy coverage and install shade trees in urban areas to mitigate the effects of urban heat islands throughout the State; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that state and county agencies are requested to collaborate on efforts to advance urban tree canopy programs and projects, including by assessing:

 

     (1)  The distribution of urban heat island conditions, existing tree canopy coverage, trends in canopy loss or gain, and disparities in canopy access across the State;

 

     (2)  Priority areas with high heat exposure and low tree canopy coverage;

 

     (3)  Opportunities for integrating shade tree strategies into capital improvement projects, housing development, transit-oriented development, and climate resilience planning;

 

     (4)  Strategies for coordinating with community organizations, schools, and the private sector;

 

     (5)  Best practices for tree species selection, soil volume, irrigation, maintenance, and long-term canopy health; and

 

     (6)  Statewide urban tree canopy standards and targets; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, Chair of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, Director of the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, and the Mayors of each county.

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

 

 

 

Report Title: 

Governor; BLNR; OPSD; Counties; Tree Canopy; Urban Heat Island Effects