There are 2 pieces of legislation now in the Hawai'i House of Representatives pertaining to noise. Rather, there is one Resolution and one Bill, that affect numerous of the noise issues we are concerned with here at Quieter O'ahu: Urban Noise and Emergency Response Vehicle Sirens. We are asking your assistance to bring heightened visibility to both legislative actions through an email campaign addressed to the introducers/offerrors of this legislation. There will likely be follow-on email campaigns as this legislation moves through the legislative process.
These legislative initiatives are:
HR6 - REQUESTING THE STATE AUDITOR, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE JOHN A. BURNS SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT MANOA, TO CONDUCT A STUDY ON THE CUMULATIVE HEALTH EFFECTS OF PERSISTENT URBAN NOISE IN HONOLULU.
This study is important as it will formally document and bring legislative focus and attention to many of the urban noises we are subjected to every day that pose a very real risk to the health of O'ahu residents. Among the topics the study will address include, but are not limited to:
(1) Busses “kneeling” along the Beretania Street, Hotel Street, and King Street routes, which generate a hydraulic noise followed by a beeping noise;
(2) High-pitched and extremely piercing sirens of police vehicles, fire trucks, and ambulances
(3) The downshifting of fire trucks traveling down Nuuanu Avenue to King Street;
(4) Garbage trucks circling through Chinatown and downtown Honolulu with their back-up beepers and rattling large containers beginning at 4:30 a.m. and sometimes as early as 2:30 a.m.;
(5) Honking car horns and car alarms at unpredictable times;
(6) Tourist trolley bells clanging three to four jingles in a row;
(7) Squealing noises that are particularly penetrating and intense from poorly maintained brakes of buses, garbage trucks, and tourist trolleys;
(8) Loud motorcycle engines that can also trigger more noise by setting off car alarms;
(9) Mopeds without mufflers or with modified mufflers; and back-up beepers on various vehicles that can be heard from blocks away, which are especially noticeable at night and in the early morning; and
WHEREAS, other sources of noise that contribute to the urban cacophony and discord include:
(1) Low—frequency repetitive bass music that emanates with occasional spikes in volume from music playing at area venues, especially open-air venues;
(2) Smokers congregating outside their favorite bar or restaurant, often continuing until 2:00 a.m. or later;
(3) Leaf blowers in the street, in parks, and around residential buildings during and outside legally permitted times;
(4) Persons whistling and yelling at each other throughout the night; and
(5) Homeless campers creating various noises, including the occasional quarrel or fight; and
WHEREAS, other more intermittent noises contribute to additional disruptive noise that intrudes on urban residents throughout the day and night, such as:
(1) Power washing of streets and private plazas;
(2) Grease trap pumping at some restaurants, starting as early as 6:00 a.m. and utilizing a very loud motor;
(3) Street cleaning machines that tend to be operated around 4:30 a.m.;
(4) Recycling operations from bars that involve a large dump of glass bottles all at once and sorting of individual bottles, several times a week at unpredictable hours; and
(5) Harbor noise, including loud hammering.
Full text of HR6 can be read at this link:
https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/search/isysquery/0f292ea0-0e5b-4426-950d-aeec6d09b596/1/doc/#hit1
ACTION REQUESTED ON HR6:
1. We request that all subscribers send an email To: Representative Saiki, repsaiki@Capitol.hawaii.gov - offeror of the resolution, with a cc: to All Representatives, reps@Capitol.hawaii.gov
2. Email subject: We Urgently Need the HEALTH EFFECTS OF PERSISTENT URBAN NOISE Study proposed by HR6!!
3. Recommended text: Noise on O'ahu has reached intolerable levels, having strongly negative impacts on both health and quality of life. I urge each representative to support HR6. signed - [your name]
HB518 - RELATING TO EMERGENCY RESPONSE VEHICLES
This legislation addresses, among other issues:
Emergency response vehicle noise task force. This proposes establishment of an emergency response vehicle noise task force within the department of health for administrative purposes, as provided in section 26-35, to examine the use and effectiveness of lights and sirens by emergency response vehicles. The task force shall (among other tasks):
(1) Evaluate the impact of sirens at night on communities that surround facilities for emergency response vehicles in urban and rural areas;
(2) Evaluate the relative effectiveness of utilizing lights alone compared to using lights and sirens at night in enhancing the safety of first responders, patients, and the public; and
(3) Recommend rules on the appropriate use of lights and sirens by emergency response vehicles for adoption by the relevant agencies.
The task force shall consist of nineteen members to be appointed in the manner and to serve for the terms provided in section 26-34; provided that the members shall be the director of health or the director’s designee, who shall serve as chairperson.
The full text of HB518 can be read at this link:
https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/search/isysquery/0f292ea0-0e5b-4426-950d-aeec6d09b596/3/doc/#hit1
ACTION REQUESTED ON HB518:
1. We request that all subscribers send an email To: Representative Holt, repholt@Capitol.hawaii.gov - submitter of the Bill, with a cc: to All Representatives, reps@Capitol.hawaii.gov
2. Email subject: I strongly support HB518 - RELATING TO EMERGENCY RESPONSE VEHICLES.
3. Recommended text: The noise of our emergency response vehicles on O'ahu is ear-splitting and nerve-shattering. And it doesn't have to be this bad. We should curtail the use of sirens and look at alternative sounds which are less impacful such as have been adopted by many European locales addressing this noise in their communities. This noise negatively impacts both health and quality of life. I urge each representative to support HB518. signed - [your name]
If each household addressed by this email sends just one (1) email to above Representatives, we will have over 200 emails in the inboxes of every legislature calling their attention to the worst of noises in our community. If each person in each household send one email, well, imagine the numbers.
Please participate in this email campaign.
These legislative initiatives are:
HR6 - REQUESTING THE STATE AUDITOR, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE JOHN A. BURNS SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT MANOA, TO CONDUCT A STUDY ON THE CUMULATIVE HEALTH EFFECTS OF PERSISTENT URBAN NOISE IN HONOLULU.
This study is important as it will formally document and bring legislative focus and attention to many of the urban noises we are subjected to every day that pose a very real risk to the health of O'ahu residents. Among the topics the study will address include, but are not limited to:
(1) Busses “kneeling” along the Beretania Street, Hotel Street, and King Street routes, which generate a hydraulic noise followed by a beeping noise;
(2) High-pitched and extremely piercing sirens of police vehicles, fire trucks, and ambulances
(3) The downshifting of fire trucks traveling down Nuuanu Avenue to King Street;
(4) Garbage trucks circling through Chinatown and downtown Honolulu with their back-up beepers and rattling large containers beginning at 4:30 a.m. and sometimes as early as 2:30 a.m.;
(5) Honking car horns and car alarms at unpredictable times;
(6) Tourist trolley bells clanging three to four jingles in a row;
(7) Squealing noises that are particularly penetrating and intense from poorly maintained brakes of buses, garbage trucks, and tourist trolleys;
(8) Loud motorcycle engines that can also trigger more noise by setting off car alarms;
(9) Mopeds without mufflers or with modified mufflers; and back-up beepers on various vehicles that can be heard from blocks away, which are especially noticeable at night and in the early morning; and
WHEREAS, other sources of noise that contribute to the urban cacophony and discord include:
(1) Low—frequency repetitive bass music that emanates with occasional spikes in volume from music playing at area venues, especially open-air venues;
(2) Smokers congregating outside their favorite bar or restaurant, often continuing until 2:00 a.m. or later;
(3) Leaf blowers in the street, in parks, and around residential buildings during and outside legally permitted times;
(4) Persons whistling and yelling at each other throughout the night; and
(5) Homeless campers creating various noises, including the occasional quarrel or fight; and
WHEREAS, other more intermittent noises contribute to additional disruptive noise that intrudes on urban residents throughout the day and night, such as:
(1) Power washing of streets and private plazas;
(2) Grease trap pumping at some restaurants, starting as early as 6:00 a.m. and utilizing a very loud motor;
(3) Street cleaning machines that tend to be operated around 4:30 a.m.;
(4) Recycling operations from bars that involve a large dump of glass bottles all at once and sorting of individual bottles, several times a week at unpredictable hours; and
(5) Harbor noise, including loud hammering.
Full text of HR6 can be read at this link:
https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/search/isysquery/0f292ea0-0e5b-4426-950d-aeec6d09b596/1/doc/#hit1
ACTION REQUESTED ON HR6:
1. We request that all subscribers send an email To: Representative Saiki, repsaiki@Capitol.hawaii.gov - offeror of the resolution, with a cc: to All Representatives, reps@Capitol.hawaii.gov
2. Email subject: We Urgently Need the HEALTH EFFECTS OF PERSISTENT URBAN NOISE Study proposed by HR6!!
3. Recommended text: Noise on O'ahu has reached intolerable levels, having strongly negative impacts on both health and quality of life. I urge each representative to support HR6. signed - [your name]
HB518 - RELATING TO EMERGENCY RESPONSE VEHICLES
This legislation addresses, among other issues:
Emergency response vehicle noise task force. This proposes establishment of an emergency response vehicle noise task force within the department of health for administrative purposes, as provided in section 26-35, to examine the use and effectiveness of lights and sirens by emergency response vehicles. The task force shall (among other tasks):
(1) Evaluate the impact of sirens at night on communities that surround facilities for emergency response vehicles in urban and rural areas;
(2) Evaluate the relative effectiveness of utilizing lights alone compared to using lights and sirens at night in enhancing the safety of first responders, patients, and the public; and
(3) Recommend rules on the appropriate use of lights and sirens by emergency response vehicles for adoption by the relevant agencies.
The task force shall consist of nineteen members to be appointed in the manner and to serve for the terms provided in section 26-34; provided that the members shall be the director of health or the director’s designee, who shall serve as chairperson.
The full text of HB518 can be read at this link:
https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/search/isysquery/0f292ea0-0e5b-4426-950d-aeec6d09b596/3/doc/#hit1
ACTION REQUESTED ON HB518:
1. We request that all subscribers send an email To: Representative Holt, repholt@Capitol.hawaii.gov - submitter of the Bill, with a cc: to All Representatives, reps@Capitol.hawaii.gov
2. Email subject: I strongly support HB518 - RELATING TO EMERGENCY RESPONSE VEHICLES.
3. Recommended text: The noise of our emergency response vehicles on O'ahu is ear-splitting and nerve-shattering. And it doesn't have to be this bad. We should curtail the use of sirens and look at alternative sounds which are less impacful such as have been adopted by many European locales addressing this noise in their communities. This noise negatively impacts both health and quality of life. I urge each representative to support HB518. signed - [your name]
If each household addressed by this email sends just one (1) email to above Representatives, we will have over 200 emails in the inboxes of every legislature calling their attention to the worst of noises in our community. If each person in each household send one email, well, imagine the numbers.
Please participate in this email campaign.