House committee advances bill to fund UH Mānoa Center for Climate Resilient Development

House Committee on Higher Education and Technology Chair Garrett and members voted to advance Senate Bill 657 SD1 HD1 on March 19, a measure to establish and operate a Center for Climate Resilient Development at the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST) at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa.

Supporters told the committee the center would provide locally controlled research and modeling used by state and county agencies for planning, permitting and infrastructure decisions. "My name is Colin Lee. I'm, here to testify in strong support of Senate Bill 657," said Colin Lee, a member of the research group that would staff the center. Michael Kane, testifying for the Department of Land and Natural Resources, said the department "also stand[s] in strong support" because it relies on the center's research for policy and investment choices. Dr. Keoni Dudley, who testified remotely, said he was "in very, very strong support of this bill."

Why it matters: Committee members and testifiers said the research produced by the center — including sea-level projections and localized flood and erosion modeling — is already used in state and county decisions such as shoreline setbacks and special management area permits. Members emphasized that federal funding for climate research is uncertain, and establishing a locally funded center would preserve ongoing modeling and applied research that informs infrastructure and land-use decisions.

Committee discussion noted past drafting that included a $3,000,000 line item in earlier versions. Committee members asked how an appropriation would be used; testifiers said the $3,000,000 figure previously proposed represented roughly the annual operating budget for the researchers in the room and primarily would pay salaries for climate modelers. "No additional full time equivalency. That's about our annual operating budget for the folks in this room," Lee said when asked whether the amount would fund new positions or consultants.

Questions from lawmakers focused on how the research translates to local planning and whether the center can continue work if federal grants shrink or change terminology. Representative Rapila asked whether researchers can frame work to avoid triggering federal scrutiny; Lee replied that the center's products address day-to-day impacts on infrastructure (for example, groundwater rise, coastal erosion and high-wave events) and that those impacts "have day to day impacts on our communities." Representatives also asked about coverage for islands such as Kauai and Maui; Lee said the researchers do work on rainfall and fluvial flooding models and are collaborating with county planning departments where grant funding allows.

The committee record lists supporting testimony from multiple organizations including the State Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, the City and County of Honolulu Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency, Ulupono Initiative, Surfrider Foundation Hawaii Region, Climate Protectors Hawaii, Coalition Earth, and the Climate Change and Health Working Group. The bill as before the committee included a defective date of July 1, 3000 and a blank appropriation in HD1; committee members noted a prior iteration contained a $3,000,000 amount but the circulated HD1 before the committee left the appropriation blank.

The chair recommended passing the bill unamended. The committee proceeded to a voice roll call; the chair and vice chair recorded aye votes and a majority of present members voted to adopt the recommendation. Representative Maroka recorded "reservations," and several members were excused. The committee's recommendation was adopted and the measure will move on in the legislative process.

The committee hearing transcript contains written testimony and oral statements from state researchers and agencies that the committee cited in its decision to advance the bill.