§344-4  Guidelines.  In pursuance of thestate policy to conserve the natural resources and enhance the quality of life,all agencies, in the development of programs, shall, insofar as practicable,consider the following guidelines:

(1)  Population.

(A)  Recognize population impact as a majorfactor in environmental degradation and adopt guidelines to alleviate thisimpact and minimize future degradation;

(B)  Recognize optimum population levels forcounties and districts within the State, keeping in mind that these will changewith technology and circumstance, and adopt guidelines to limit population tothe levels determined.

(2)  Land, water, mineral, visual, air, and othernatural resources.

(A)  Encourage management practices whichconserve and fully utilize all natural resources;

(B)  Promote irrigation and waste watermanagement practices which conserve and fully utilize vital water resources;

(C)  Promote the recycling of waste water;

(D)  Encourage management practices whichconserve and protect watersheds and water sources, forest, and open spaceareas;

(E)  Establish and maintain natural areapreserves, wildlife preserves, forest reserves, marine preserves, and uniqueecological preserves;

(F)  Maintain an integrated system of stateland use planning which coordinates the state and county general plans.

(G)  Promote the optimal use of solid wastesthrough programs of waste prevention, energy resource recovery, and recyclingso that all our wastes become utilized.

(3)  Flora and fauna.

(A)  Protect endangered species of indigenousplants and animals and introduce new plants or animals only upon assurance ofnegligible ecological hazard;

(B)  Foster the planting of native as well asother trees, shrubs, and flowering plants compatible to the enhancement of ourenvironment.

(4)  Parks, recreation, and open space.

(A)  Establish, preserve and maintain scenic,historic, cultural, park and recreation areas, including the shorelines, forpublic recreational, educational, and scientific uses;

(B)  Protect the shorelines of the State fromencroachment of artificial improvements, structures, and activities;

(C)  Promote open space in view of its naturalbeauty not only as a natural resource but as an ennobling, living environmentfor its people.

(5)  Economic development.

(A)  Encourage industries in Hawaii which wouldbe in harmony with our environment;

(B)  Promote and foster the agriculturalindustry of the State; and preserve and conserve productive agricultural lands;

(C)  Encourage federal activities in Hawaii toprotect the environment;

(D)  Encourage all industries including thefishing, aquaculture, oceanography, recreation, and forest products industriesto protect the environment;

(E)  Establish visitor destination areas withplanning controls which shall include but not be limited to the number ofrooms;

(F)  Promote and foster the aquacultureindustry of the State; and preserve and conserve productive aquacultural lands.

(6)  Transportation.

(A)  Encourage transportation systems in harmonywith the lifestyle of the people and environment of the State;

(B)  Adopt guidelines to alleviateenvironmental degradation caused by motor vehicles;

(C)  Encourage public and private vehicles andtransportation systems to conserve energy, reduce pollution emission, includingnoise, and provide safe and convenient accommodations for their users.

(7)  Energy.

(A)  Encourage the efficient use of energyresources.

(8)  Community life and housing.

(A)  Foster lifestyles compatible with theenvironment; preserve the variety of lifestyles traditional to Hawaii throughthe design and maintenance of neighborhoods which reflect the culture and moresof the community;

(B)  Develop communities which provide a senseof identity and social satisfaction in harmony with the environment and provideinternal opportunities for shopping, employment, education, and recreation;

(C)  Encourage the reduction of environmentalpollution which may degrade a community;

(D)  Foster safe, sanitary, and decent homes;

(E)  Recognize community appearances as majoreconomic and aesthetic assets of the counties and the State; encourage greenbelts, plantings, and landscape plans and designs in urban areas; and preserveand promote mountain-to-ocean vistas.

(9)  Education and culture.

(A)  Foster culture and the arts and promotetheir linkage to the enhancement of the environment;

(B)  Encourage both formal and informalenvironmental education to all age groups.

(10)  Citizen participation.

(A)  Encourage all individuals in the State toadopt a moral ethic to respect the natural environment; to reduce waste andexcessive consumption; and to fulfill the responsibility as trustees of theenvironment for the present and succeeding generations; and

(B)  Provide for expanding citizenparticipation in the decision making process so it continually embraces morecitizens and more issues. [L 1974, c 247, pt of §1; am L 1976, c 27, §2; am L1985, c 76, §1; gen ch 1993]

 

Case Notes

 

  No mandate to adopt guidelines prior to making decisions onprograms.  63 H. 453, 629 P.2d 1134.