Commission on Population and the Hawaiian Future

Corporate body

Commission on Population and the Hawaiian Future

• CPHF

1973-1983

The commission was the successor of the Temporary Commission on Population Stabilization. It was created by Act 204, Session Laws of Hawaii (SLH) 1973 and codified as Chapter 224, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

It was part of the Office of the Governor from 1973-1980. In 1980 it was assigned to the Department of Planning and Economic Development for administrative purposes under Act 302, SLH 1980. It was dissolved in 1983 by Act 126, SLH 1983.

The commission served the Governor in an advisory capacity on all matters relating to population and planning.

Specifically, it:
• Studied the effects of population change on the attainment of state goals in the areas of health care, education, urban planning, transportation, housing, welfare, and recreation.
• Conducted research on migration in or out of the State and developed means of influencing the population of the state and its distribution.
• Calculated the capacity of the State with reference to agricultural production, waste production, recycling, and regeneration time of natural resources and factored technological advances in those areas into the calculations.
• Coordinated efforts to establish population and environmental awareness and knowledge in the educational system of the state; cooperated with the Department of Education and the University of Hawaii.
• Coordinated effective family planning service delivery; delegated the operational responsibility for a comprehensive state family planning program to the appropriate state-operating agency.
• Studied the interrelationship between the State, the United States, and the world with reference to population planning.
• Cooperated with the Office of Environmental Quality Control in matters of mutual concern relating to population and its effects on the environment.
• Considered existing research on population and the environment.
• Applied for funds from federal or other governmental agencies to attain the objectives of the Commission.
• Formulated policies and administrative rules to attain the objectives of the Commission.
• Held public hearings and conferences.

The Commission met regularly to discuss its plans and progress. It conducted research on population issues with government agencies, private foundations, and individual scholars. The Commission held public meetings, seminars, and workshops to enhance public awareness of population issues and to receive public opinion on those issues. It sponsored production of educational brochures and slide shows for presentation to schools and community groups.

Reports were made to the Governor, the Legislature and the people of Hawaii when deemed necessary, but at least once per year. Whenever possible, the Commission worked with the Hawaii Public Broadcasting Authority and other media to distribute its information.

Act 204, Session Laws of Hawaii (SLH) 1973, codified as Chapter 224, Hawaii Revised Statutes.
Act 302, SLH 1980

The Commission consisted of eleven members appointed by the Governor, to serve without compensation. There was in addition a paid executive secretary and staff to carry out the work of the Commission.

Department of Planning and Economic Development

Research and Economic Analysis Division

Temporary Commission on Population Stabilization (1970-1972)

Office of Governor George R. Ariyoshi (1974-1986)

Office of Governor John A. Burns (1962-12-03-1974-12-02)

Hawaiʻi State Archives

Created in 2001-03-16, A. Hoof

• English

Hawaii State Constitution, Article IX, Section 6
Hawaii Revised Statutes, 1976, Chapter 224
Archives Library: Government Publications:
-LRB: Guide to Government in Hawaii, 7th Edition, Legislative Reference Bureau, 1980.
-DPED: Publications of CPHF

Records of the CPHF.
Schmitt, Robert C. “Population Policy in Hawaii,” The Hawaiian Journal of History, vol 8 (1974), pp 90-110.

2001-03-16, A. Hoof: Created
2020-10-07, Joel Horowitz: Entered into AtoM