Bill Text: HI HCR140 | 2022 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Recognizing Ernest "ernie" Lau And His Role In Protecting Hawaii's Water Supply And Establishing The "ernie Lau Water Protector Poster Contest".

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-03-31 - Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on JHA with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Eli, Hashem, D. Kobayashi, Ohno excused (4). [HCR140 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2022-HCR140-Introduced.html

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	140
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

recognizing ernest "ernie" lau and his role in protecting hawaii's water supply and establishing the "ernie lau water protector poster contest".

 

 

 

     WHEREAS, Ernest "Ernie" Lau was born and raised in Hawaii, graduated from Waipahu High School and later the University of Hawaii at Manoa with bachelor's and master's degrees in engineering, and now resides in Manoa; and

 

     WHEREAS, Mr. Lau recalls wanting to be an engineer since high school; and

 

     WHEREAS, Mr. Lau first worked as a general contractor before working as an engineer for the Board of Water Supply of the City and County of Honolulu and serving as the chief engineer of the Department of Water of the County of Kauai, deputy director of the Department of Land and Natural Resources' State Commission on Water Resource Management, and administrator of the Public Works Division of the State Department of Accounting and General Services; and

 

     WHEREAS, since February 2012, Mr. Lau has served as the chief engineer and manager of Board of Water Supply of the City and County of Honolulu; and

 

     WHEREAS, Mr. Lau has been, and continues to be, a steadfast and relentless advocate for the protection of Hawaii's water supply from leaks and spills associated with the Red Hill fuel storage facility, which leaked twenty-seven thousand gallons of fuel in 2014 and spilled fourteen thousand gallons of fuel in November 2021; and

 

     WHEREAS, Mr. Lau has also exhibited leadership qualities while protecting Hawaii's water supply, including refusing to sign a non-disclosure agreement presented by the United States Navy regarding information about the Red Hill fuel storage facility; and

 

     WHEREAS, the public deeply appreciates Mr. Lau and the leadership qualities that Mr. Lau has displayed, as is evident in the numerous "I Love Ernie Lau – Protect Our Water" bumper stickers displayed on cars in the State; and

 

     WHEREAS, Mr. Lau has inspired people to join him in standing up for, and protecting, Hawaii's water supply; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2022, the Senate concurring, that the Legislature hereby expresses its deep gratitude and appreciation to Mr. Ernie Lau for his leadership; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature establishes the "Ernie Lau Water Protector Poster Contest" to perpetuate Mr. Lau's legacy of water protection by engaging elementary school students from all islands of Hawaii to take action to protect Hawaii's water; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that students from grades kindergarten through fifth grade are encouraged to create posters on the topic of protecting Hawaii's water; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the teachers of participating students are encouraged to submit these posters electronically to a designated email address by November 15, 2022; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the panel for judging the student's posters include:

 

     (1)  Two members of the Hawaii State House of Representatives or their designees;

 

     (2)  Two members of the Hawaii State Senate or their designees;

 

     (3)  One employee of the Board of Water Supply of the City and County of Honolulu; and

 

     (4)  Two employees of the Department of Education; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Speaker of the Hawaii State House of Representatives, President of the Hawaii State Senate, Superintendent of Education, and the Manager and Chief Engineer of the Board of Water Supply of the City and County of Honolulu.

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Ernie Lau; Board of Water Supply; Poster Contest