Committee approves statewide school tree-canopy program to cool playgrounds and support learning

The House Committee on Education voted on April 7 to pass HCR 91 and HR 83 as written, requesting the Department of Land and Natural Resources and the Department of Education collaborate to establish a formal, long-term program to expand and sustain tree canopy coverage at public schools statewide.

Heather McMillan, Urban and Community Forester with DLNR, told the committee DLNR "stands in strong support" of the measure and offered to answer questions. Jesse Souki, Deputy Superintendent of Operations for DOE, offered comments and said the department stood on its written testimony.

Chris Coughlin of the Boy Public Health Institute testified in support and cited studies on heat and student performance. Coughlin said asphalt playground surfaces can reach 150°F and that shade trees can reduce temperatures by "20 to 40°," noting research that a single tree within its canopy spread can reduce temperatures by "4 to 10°." He also referenced a National Bureau of Economic Research analysis of 10 million U.S. students showing that "for every 1° increase in temperature you have over 80° you see about a single percentage drop in student growth percentile," and urged the committee to move the resolution forward on grounds of student health and learning.

Committee members heard that tree canopy expansion can reduce heat stress, encourage outdoor activity and improve thermal comfort—factors the witnesses linked to better physical and academic outcomes. Support was also recorded from the Kaululu Nani Urban and Community Forestry Program Advisory Council and one individual.

The committee adopted the recommendation to pass HCR 91 and HR 83 unamended; the transcript records the recommendation was adopted but does not include a roll-call listing of members for that vote.