Urging The Department Of Land And Natural Resources To Prioritize The Restoration And Protection Of Additional Wetlands And Anchialine Pools.
Summary
H.R. 191 is a House Resolution urging the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) to prioritize the restoration and protection of additional wetlands in Hawaii. It also asks the Division of Aquatic Resources within DLNR to extend wetland-style protective policies to anchialine pools, which are described as rare and vulnerable ecosystems. In addition, the resolution requests that the County of Maui place wetland protection, especially in Kihei on Maui, ahead of development concerns where feasible.
The resolution explains that wetlands provide multiple public benefits, including flood reduction, drought and wildfire resilience, water filtration, habitat protection, and support for coral reefs and recreational ocean uses. It also notes that preventing wetland degradation is more cost-effective than restoring damaged wetlands later. The measure is framed as an environmental and resource-management priority rather than a regulatory overhaul, and it directs certified copies to state and county officials for awareness and action.
Impact
Because H.R. 191 is a resolution rather than a bill, it does not directly amend Hawaii statutes or create enforceable legal requirements. Its practical effect is advisory: it encourages DLNR and the Division of Aquatic Resources to prioritize wetland and anchialine pool protection and asks Maui County to consider wetland preservation over development where feasible. The resolution may influence agency policy, permitting priorities, and local land-use decisions, especially in sensitive areas such as Kihei, but it does not itself change the Clean Water Act, coastal zone laws, or state environmental statutes.
Sentiment
The overall sentiment reflected in the resolution is strongly supportive of environmental protection and restoration. The bill text presents wetlands and anchialine pools as ecologically important, economically prudent to preserve, and increasingly threatened by degradation and development. No committee testimony or vote history is provided, so there is no recorded opposition or amendment debate in the supplied materials. Based on the text alone, the measure appears to have been introduced in a favorable, conservation-oriented posture.
Contention
The main point of tension identified in the resolution is the balance between wetland protection and development, particularly on Maui and in Kihei. The resolution explicitly asks that wetland protection be prioritized over development concerns where feasible, which suggests that land-use and permitting interests could conflict with conservation goals. Another implied area of concern is whether existing protections are sufficient, since the resolution argues for additional restoration and broader application of protective policies to anchialine pools. No direct opposition is documented in the provided record, but the language indicates likely friction between environmental advocates, permitting authorities, and development interests.