Hawaii House Bill HCR10

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/13/26
• Refer: 3/10/26
• Report Pass: 4/1/26
• Refer: 4/1/26
• Report Pass: 4/9/26
• Engrossed: 4/9/26
• Refer: 4/10/26

Caption

Urging The City And County Of Honolulu To Establish A Permanent Landfill Host Benefits Program And Program Advisory Group.

Impact

The establishment of a Landfill Host Benefits Program would create a structured system of financial compensation and resources aimed at offsetting the negative effects experienced by communities hosting landfills. The resolution draws upon a previous annual allocation of $2 million by the City and County of Honolulu directed towards the Leeward Coast community between 2006 and 2009, providing a historical precedent for compensating affected areas and emphasizing the necessity of ongoing support in similar circumstances.

Summary

HCR10 is a House Concurrent Resolution from the State of Hawaii urging the City and County of Honolulu to establish a permanent Landfill Host Benefits Program. This resolution acknowledges the inherent rights of communities to a clean and healthful environment as stated in the Hawaii State Constitution. The resolution emphasizes growing evidence that nearby residents living close to landfills suffer from significant health impacts, including respiratory issues and an increased risk of serious conditions like lung cancer, exacerbated by contamination from dust and pollutants emanating from these sites.

Contention

Despite the acknowledgment of the health impacts associated with landfills, potential points of contention could arise regarding the funding mechanisms for the proposed benefits program and the effectiveness of the advisory group tasked with community consultation. Concerns may also be raised about whether the program can adequately address the diverse needs of different communities, especially those that have endured past hardships due to landfill operations. Additionally, the urgency and determination of local government to implement such a program sustainably would be critical to its success.