2017-03-16 Letter to Kaialii Kahele and Mike Gabbard re HB 427, HD 2 relating to Dark Night Skies Program

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Harry Kim Mayor Wil Okabe Managing Director Barbara J. Kossow Deputy Managing Director &UUN ofc-lbbial"i (Offire of f4r ator 25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2603 • Hilo, Hawaii 96720 • (808) 961-8211 . Fax (808) 961-6553 KONA: 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy., Bldg. C • Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740 (808) 323-4444 • Fax (808) 323-4440 March 16, 2017 Senator Kaiali'i Kahele, Chair Committee on Higher Education Hawai'i State Capitol Honolulu, HI 96813 Senator Mike Gabbard, Chair Committee on Agriculture and Environment Hawai'i State Capitol Honolulu, HI 96813 Dear Chairs Kahele and Gabbard, and Members: RE: HB 427, HD 2 Relating to Dark Night Skies Protection Thank you for this opportunity to comment on HB 427, HD2. Hawaii County has worked to transition 11,000 County and State street lamps to LED which results in reduced light pollution and 50% reduction ($1 million annually) in operating energy costs. Our Department of Research and Development, in partnership with the Department of Public Works Traffic Division, the Department's Energy Program, the Institute for Astronomy, Hawaii Wildlife Center, and Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, is promoting friendly night skies through its Dark Sky initiative. This initiative is the outcome of the successful LED streetlight replacement project that installed fully shielded LED lamps with custom designed blue spectrum filters. Research has shown that nighttime illumination interferes with migratory bird and nesting turtle activity, in addition to interfering with sleep cycles in humans. The replacement of energy wasting incandescent fixtures with light emitting diodes (LED) saves energy, but the blue light spectrum from most LED fixtures is particularly harmful County of Hawai'i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.