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HR 83

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.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Terez Amato and 12 co-sponsors

Hawaii bill requests education and land agencies collaborate to expand, equitably distribute, and maintain tree canopy coverage at public schools statewide.

The committee on WAL recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Hashem, Morikawa, Belatti, Ichiyama, Iwamoto, Poepoe, Woodson, Shimizu, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.
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Bill Summary · HR 83

Legislative bill overview

HR 83 requests that Hawaii's Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) and Department of Education (DOE) develop a formal, long-term collaborative program to increase tree canopy coverage at public schools statewide. The bill emphasizes equitable distribution and sustainability of these efforts across the school system.

Why is this important

Tree canopy at schools provides measurable benefits: reduced heat island effects (lowering cooling costs), improved air quality, enhanced student mental health and focus, and stormwater management. Given Hawaii's tropical climate and growing sustainability concerns, expanding shade coverage addresses both operational efficiency and student wellbeing across often under-resourced school campuses.

Potential points of contention

  • Funding mechanism unclear: The bill requests collaboration but doesn't specify budget allocation, raising questions about whether existing agency budgets will absorb costs or if new appropriations are needed
  • "Equitable distribution" definition: Without clear criteria, disagreement could arise over which schools prioritize planting (newer vs. older campuses, different neighborhoods, varying soil/climate conditions)
  • Long-term maintenance commitments: Sustained tree care requires ongoing resources; unclear whether agencies have capacity for decades-long stewardship, especially if initial planting is done quickly
  • Species selection and local ecology: Different Hawaiian islands have distinct growing conditions; one-size-fits-all approaches may fail or require expensive interventions

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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