Bill Text: HI HR44 | 2015 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: DAGS; State Capitol Pond

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2015-04-09 - Resolution adopted in final form. [HR44 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2015-HR44-Introduced.html

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	44
TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

 

REQUESTING THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF ACCOUNTING AND GENERAL SERVICES IS URGED TO OPERATE the WATER PUMPING SYSTEM OF THE STATE CAPITOL PONDS FOR TWO HOURS PER DAY.

 

 

 

     WHEREAS, the State Capitol's original design did not include a surrounding reflecting pool; and

 

     WHEREAS, the concept of a surrounding pond was later suggested to Governor John A. Burns by Jacqueline Kennedy; and

 

     WHEREAS, the design of the State Capitol Building was intended to serve as a representation of the Hawaiian Islands with numerous instances of symbolism being used such as the volcano shaped chambers of the House of Representatives and the Senate; the chandeliers in each chamber serving as a representation of the sun and moon; the pillars representing palm trees; and the color schemes in the chambers and throughout the Capitol Building representing the ocean and the earth; and

 

     WHEREAS, determining that the idea of a pond surrounding the State Capitol as a representation of the beauty of the blue Pacific Ocean which surrounds our island home fit into this entire theme of the design of the State Capitol, the decision was made to include two ponds in the final design of the State Capitol Building; and

 

     WHEREAS, the ponds surrounding the State Capitol Building have become an integral part of the structure and have become a place where people sit to relax near the calm and soothing flow of the water; and

 

     WHEREAS, prior to the renovation of the State Capitol in the 1990s, fish thrived in the surrounding pond; however, after renovations were completed, the decision was made not to replenish the surrounding ponds with fish; and

 

     WHEREAS, unbeknownst to many, the waters of the surrounding pond are mainly composed of salt water and numerous salt water fish, including Manini, Mamo, Kala, Papio, Aholehole, and Mullet now live in the pond along with Tilapia; and

 

     WHEREAS, although a system exists to pump water into the surrounding ponds causing the circulation of water and creating an aerated environment, the pumping system is often not used causing the surrounding ponds to become stagnant and odorous due in part to this lack of circulation; and

 

     WHEREAS, some have expressed that the water of the surrounding pond was cleaner when fish were able to thrive in the pond and that there is a noticeable difference in the quality of the water when the pumps are run, even just for a few hours a day; and

 

     WHEREAS, maintaining the marine life population in the ponds surrounding the State Capitol Building, a uniqueness recognized nationally, as being the only Capitol Building in the United States surrounding by a pond containing marine fish; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-eighth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2015, that the Department of Accounting and General Services is urged to operate the water pumping system of the State Capitol Ponds for two hours per day in order to circulate the water contained in the pond; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the certified copies of this resolution be sent to the State Comptroller and the building manager of the State Capitol Building; and

 

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title: 

DAGS; State Capitol Pond