Hawaii Revised Statutes, Chapter 341 — Environmental Advisory Council

Division 1. Government — Title 19. Health

Hawaii Revised Statutes as published by the Hawaii State Legislature (files updated 1/5/2026 7:14 PM).

Division 1 Government

Title 19 Health

Chapter 341 Environmental Advisory Council

§341-1 Findings and purpose

The legislature finds that the quality of the environment is as important to the welfare of the people of Hawaii as is the economy of the State. The legislature further finds that the determination of an optimum balance between economic development and environmental quality deserves the most thoughtful consideration, and that the maintenance of the optimum quality of the environment deserves the most intensive care.

The purpose of this chapter is to stimulate, expand and coordinate efforts to determine and maintain the optimum quality of the environment of the State.

[L 1970, c 132, pt of §1]

§341-2 Definitions

As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:

"Council" means the environmental advisory council established in this chapter.

"Director" means the director of the office of planning and sustainable development.

"Office" means the office of planning and sustainable development.

[L 1970, c 132, pt of §1; am L 2006, c 75, §12; am L 2021, c 152, §10 and c 153, §9]

§341-3 and 341-4 REPEALED

L 2021, c 152, §§18, 19.

§341-5 Repealed

[Repealed]

[L 2006, c 75, §17]

§341-5.5 Environmental advisory council; established; quorum; number of votes necessary to validate acts

(a) There is created an environmental advisory council not to exceed fifteen members. Members of the environmental advisory council shall be appointed by the governor as provided in section 26-34. The environmental advisory council shall be established within the office of planning and sustainable development for administrative purposes. The term of each member shall be four years. Vacancies shall be filled for the remainder of any unexpired term in the same manner as original appointments. The environmental advisory council chairperson shall be elected by the council from among the appointed members of the council.

(b) A majority of all of the members currently appointed to the environmental advisory council shall constitute a quorum to do business, and the concurrence of a majority of all of the members currently appointed to the environmental advisory council shall be necessary to make any action of the council valid.

(c) Members shall be appointed to ensure a broad and balanced representation of educational, business, and environmentally pertinent disciplines and professions, such as the natural and social sciences, the humanities, architecture, engineering, environmental consulting, public health, and planning; educational and research institutions with environmental competence; agriculture, real estate, visitor industry, construction, and media; and voluntary community and environmental groups. The members of the environmental advisory council shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses, including travel expenses, incurred in the discharge of their duties.

[L 2021, c 152, §2; am L 2021, c 153, §9; am L 2022, c 186, §1]

§341-6 Functions of the environmental advisory council

The environmental advisory council shall serve as a liaison between the office of planning and sustainable development and the general public by soliciting information, opinions, complaints, recommendations, and advice concerning ecology and environmental quality through public hearings or any other means and by publicizing such matters as requested by the director. The environmental advisory council may make recommendations concerning ecology and environmental quality to the office of planning and sustainable development and shall meet at the call of the council chairperson or the director of the office of planning and sustainable development upon notifying the council chairperson. The environmental advisory council shall monitor the progress of state, county, and federal agencies in achieving the State's environmental goals and policies and shall submit its report and recommendations for improvements concerning ecology and environmental quality to the office of planning and sustainable development, which shall include the report and recommendations in its annual report to the legislature. All state and county agencies shall cooperate with the council by responding to its requests for information.

[L 1970, c 132, pt of §1; am L 1974, c 248, §1; am L 1983, c 140, §2; am L 2021, c 152, §11 and c 153, §9; am L 2023, c 24, §2]