HCR 123 Summary

• Request the Department of Health, in consultation with the John A. Burns School of Medicine at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa, to conduct a study on cumulative health effects of persistent urban noise in Honolulu, including extent of noise, quality of life impacts, and potential solutions from other urban areas.

• Study should examine multiple noise sources including transit noise (buses, fire trucks, garbage trucks), vehicle noise (horns, alarms, motorcycles, mopeds), entertainment venues, and other sources like leaf blowers, power washing, and harbor noise.

• Department of Health has jurisdiction over noise pollution under Chapter 342F, Hawaii Revised Statutes, which requires prevention, control, and abatement of noise pollution.

• Department must submit findings and recommendations to the Legislature by September 1, 2021.

• Certified copies to be transmitted to the Director of Health, Dean of the John A. Burns School of Medicine, Mayor of Honolulu, Chairperson of Honolulu City Council, and Chairperson of the Downtown-Chinatown Neighborhood Board.