Hawai‘i State House majority floor leader, Rep. Cindy Evans recently introduced the Sustainable Living Research Bill (HB873 and SB109) to allow for the development of sustainable practices under a new permit process which allows for some exemptions from the rules that have long been obstacles to sustainable living.

The bill is co-sponsored by Rep. Tom Brower, Rep. Romy M. Cachola, Rep. Angus McKelvey, Rep. Mark Nakashima, Rep. Joy A. San Buenaventura, Rep. Chris Todd, Rep. Ryan I. Yamane and Sen. Karl Rhoads.

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“We all want to be in compliance with county codes, rules and protocol, but for many the things required for compliance are simply out of reach,” said Leonard Sussman, founder of the Kirpal Meditation and Ecological Center. This legislation will enable agricultural communities to show all of the incredible innovations that are taking place within the sustainable living community and be able to prove their viability. There are remarkable people working to save our planet by building, working and living sustainably. These noble efforts should be legal.”

The Sustainable Living Research Bill will:

Increase real affordable and sustainable green housing; positively impacting Hawai‘i’s high homeless numbers;

Improve our state’s disaster preparedness by researching and developing practices to alleviate impacts due to a state of emergency;

Increase employment in small business sustainable enterprises;

Promote the growth of small, locally owned farms that educate and employ a new breed of young farmers;

Provide additional protection for consumers from the disruptions in transport of supplies to the Hawaiian Islands;

Reduce dependence on imports of food and energy by promoting locally sustainable alternatives;

Alleviate landfill problems by increasing ways to reduce, reuse and recycle;

Promote the development of think tanks focusing on sustainable research and development;

Bring current zoning and land use codes into compliance with local community values;

Work in unison with Hawai‘i’s Aloha Challenge Goals for 2030.

For information about the Hawaii Sustainable Community Alliance, go online.