HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-03-16 Letter to Kaialii Kahele and Mike Gabbard re HB 427, HD 2 relating to Dark Night Skies ProgramHarry Kim
Mayor
Wil Okabe
Managing Director
Barbara J. Kossow
Deputy Managing Director
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(Offire of f4r ator
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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.
Kahele/Gabbard
March 16, 2017
Page 2
to the health of wildlife and humans, in addition to interfering with astronomy, star-
gazing activities, and encroaching on wilderness areas.
So the Dark Sky initiative works to encourage the use of appropriate lighting for
the benefit of all.
Respectfully submitted,
Harry Kim
Mayor
County of Hawai' i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.