RELATING TO THE HAWAII CLIMATE INSTITUTE.

SB2484

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2484

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to the hawaii CLIMATE INSTITUTE
.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

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SECTION 1.

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The legislature finds that while Hawaii
is recognized globally for leadership in clean energy, the State and the
neighboring countries in the Pacific region continue to face escalating impacts
of climate change and variability, including sea level rise, declining
rainfall, and increasing air and sea surface temperature.
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These impacts include increased likelihood of
extreme events such as flooding, hurricanes, drought, wildfire, heat waves,
storms, and coastal erosion.
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These catastrophic
events have obvious impacts to property and infrastructure, but may also lead
to growing public health risks which threaten lives, ecosystems, cultural
heritage, and economic stability across the region.

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The
legislature further finds that the university of Hawaii is uniquely positioned
to lead the next phase of climate adaptation by integrating advanced scientific
analysis, Hawaiian knowledge systems, and community partnerships to inform
action.
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Building this capacity will
require developing and sustaining a skilled, homegrown climate literate
workforce that is capable of applying research to real-world resilience
challenges.

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The
legislature also finds that recent funding cuts to the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration's climate research and services have dismantled key
functions like climate data collection, modeling, and regional projections.
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These actions are creating critical voids in
authoritative climate information essential for disaster preparedness,
agriculture, and infrastructure adaptation planning.

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The
legislature additionally finds that there is no state agency tasked with
developing the climate science that underpins Hawaii's resilience and
adaptation planning.
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Hawaii will be
vulnerable to increasing natural hazards if the gaps created by federal funding
cuts are not offset by state support for locally-derived climate assessments,
robust and granular forecasts, and adaptation tools.

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The
purpose of this Act is to establish the Hawaii climate institute at the university
of Hawaii to consolidate expertise, attract federal and philanthropic funding to
expand climate and community resilience research, train the next generation of
climate professionals, and deliver locally-derived solutions for issues
uniquely specific to Hawaii and the Pacific region.

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SECTION
2.
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Chapter 304A, Hawaii Revised
Statutes, is amended by adding a new subpart to part IV to be appropriately
designated and to read as follows:

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SUBPART
.
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HAWAII CLIMATE
INSTITUTE.

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�304A-A
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Hawaii climate institute; establishment.
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(a)
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There is established the Hawaii climate
institute at the university of Hawaii.

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(b)
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The Hawaii climate institute shall be located
in and be a part of the university of Hawaii at Manoa campus, to be
administratively attached to the university of Hawaii at Manoa's school of
ocean and earth science and technology.
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The institute shall be administered by a director appointed by the board
of regents upon recommendation by the president.

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(c)
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The Hawaii climate institute shall:

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(1)
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Foster cross-disciplinary collaboration across
the university of Hawaii system;

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(2)
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Provide granular, artificial intelligence-enabled
climate projections for use in planning, health, resource management and policy
decisions;

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(3)
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Develop degree programs and curricula
integrating climate resilience and Hawaiian knowledge;

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(4)
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Support internships, fellowships, and
field-based learning opportunities;

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(5)
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Build a climate literate workforce pipeline by
preparing the next generation of Hawaii-based scientists, planners, health
professionals, and community leaders for careers in climate adaptation and
sustainability across all sectors;

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(6)
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Attract and leverage federal and philanthropic
resources to expand climate and community resilience research; and

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(7)
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Elevate the university of Hawaii's leadership
role in global climate adaptation.

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304A-B
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Hawaii climate institute; faculty; support
positions.
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(a)
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The Hawaii climate institute shall include
two administrative, professional, and technical staff positions for institute
operations and research coordination.

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(b)
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The president shall allocate funds and hire
the following positions to support the Hawaii climate institute:

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(1)
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Four faculty positions at the university of
Hawaii at Manoa school of ocean and earth science and technology specializing
in climate change and variability impacts and community resilience;

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(2)
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One faculty position at the university of
Hawaii at Manoa Thompson school of social work and public health specializing
in the intersection of public health and climate change;

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(3)
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One faculty position at the university of
Hawaii John A. Burns school of medicine specializing in the impacts of climate
change on human health;

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(4)
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One faculty position at the university of
Hawaii at Manoa Hawai
ʻ
inuiākea
school of Hawaiian knowledge specializing in the intersection of Hawaiian
knowledge systems and climate change; and

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(5)
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One faculty position in the university of
Hawaii at Manoa college of tropical agriculture and human resilience
specializing in climate change impacts on Pacific Island agriculture.

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304A-C
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Hawaii climate institute; tax revenues;
allocation.
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Notwithstanding any law
to the contrary, including section 37-79, six per cent of the additional
revenue cumulatively generated by any increase to the transient accommodations
tax rates pursuant to section 237D-2(a)(6) and (c)(4) beginning on January 1,
2026, and section 237D-2(e) beginning on July 1, 2026, and by assessment of the
transient accommodations tax on gross rental proceeds derived from cruise fares
pursuant to section 237D-2(a) shall be allocated to the university of Hawaii
annually to support the programs and operations of the Hawaii climate
institute."

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SECTION
3.
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The
international
pacific research center of the university of Hawaii at Manoa's school of ocean
and earth sciences and technology shall be transferred and integrated into the
Hawaii climate institute
established pursuant to section 304A-A, Hawaii
Revised Statutes.

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SECTION
4.
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There is appropriated out of the
general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $3,000,000 or so much
thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 to support the core
operations of the Hawaii climate institute.

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The sum
appropriated shall be expended by the university of Hawaii for the purposes of
this Act.

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SECTION 5.
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There is appropriated out of the general
revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $3,000,000 or so much thereof as may
be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 to support collaborative research and
community engagement projects of the Hawaii climate institute.

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The sum
appropriated shall be expended by the university of Hawaii for the purposes of
this Act.

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SECTION 6.
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If any provision of this Act, or the
application thereof to any person or circumstance, is held invalid, the
invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of the Act that can
be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end
the provisions of this Act are severable.

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SECTION 7.
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In codifying the new sections added by
section 2 and referenced in section 3 of this Act, the revisor of statutes
shall substitute appropriate section numbers for the letters used in
designating the new sections in this Act.

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SECTION 8.
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This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

University
of Hawaii; Hawaii Climate Institute; International Pacific Research Center;
Transient Accommodations Tax; Appropriation

Description:

Establishes
the Hawaii Climate Institute at the University of Hawaii to support climate
resilience and adaptation initiatives of the University and the State.
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Requires six per cent of the revenue
generated by any increase to the Transient Accommodations Tax rates beginning
on January 1, 2026, and by assessment of the Transient Accommodations Tax on
gross rental proceeds derived from cruise fares to be allocated to the
University of Hawaii annually to support the programs and operations of the
Hawaii Climate Institute.
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Transfers the International
Pacific Research Center of the University of Hawaii at Manoa's School of Ocean
and Earth Sciences and Technology to the Hawaii Climate Institute.
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Appropriates funds.

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