Kaʻū News Briefs June 21, 2024

Youth advocates sued the state over transportation emissions harming the environment and their cultural practices. They settled the case this week. Photo from the Governor's Office

GOV. JOSH GREEN LAUDED YOUTH ADVOCATES FOR CLIMATE RESPONSIBILITY on Thursday, during the announcement of the settlement of their lawsuit against the state Department of Transportation for emissions that pollute the environment. The announcement said the Navahine v. Hawai'i Department of Transportation constitutional climate case is the world's first youth-led case seeking to address transportation emissions. It was filed by youth ages nine to 19 in 2022 in First Circuit Court. Judge John Tonaki of the Hawai' State Environmental Court accepted the settlement on Thursday morning.
    Earth Justice and Children’s Trust noted that transportation ranks as the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Hawai'i, and in the United States.

State Environmental Judge John Tonaki accepted the settlement between youth plaintiffs and state.

    The settlement acknowledges the constitutional rights of Hawaii's youth to a life-sustaining climate and confirms the commitment by HDOT to plan and implement transformative changes of Hawaii's transportation system to achieve the state's goal of net-negative emissions by 2045.
    "The passion demonstrated by these young people in advocating for a healthy, sustainable future for their generation and those to come, is laudable," said the Governor. "This settlement informs how we as a state can best move forward to achieve life-sustaining goals and further, we can surely expect to see these and other youth in Hawaii continue to step up to build the type of future they desire."
    Thirteen youth from across the Hawaiian Islands brought the case in June 2022, asserting their rights to a safe and healthy climate and asking the Hawaii state government to take action to meet the climate emergency and enable Hawaii's paradigm shift to a climate-safe, zero-emissions transportation system.
    Navahine is also the first settlement agreement in which state government departments and agencies have agreed to work with youth plaintiffs to address concerns regarding constitutional issues arising from climate change, and commit to implementing specific plans and programs designed to decarbonize a state transportation system and reduce greenhouse gas pollution and fossil fuel dependence.
    The statement from the Governor says that the agreement reaffirms Hawaii's commitment to move from a fossil fuel dependent transportation system to a cleaner, safer system with more electric vehicles and more options for walking, cycling, and public transit. "The agreement offers an exemplary and replicable

Several of the youth plaintiffs' families grow kalo on Hawai'i Island. Photo by Elyse Butler for Earth Justice

model for decarbonizing transportation systems across the country and the world, including provisions for immediate and ongoing action by HDOT." It lists the following actions:
    Establishing a Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan within one year of the agreement, laying the foundation and roadmap to decarbonize Hawaiʻi's transportation system within the next 20 years.
    Creating a lead unit and responsible positions within HDOT to coordinate the mission of GHG reduction throughout the agency; oversee climate change mitigation and adaptation for the highways program;

Plaintiff Kawena K was nine when the  suit was filed. Her family grows kalo, sweet potato, ginger, ʻōlena (turmeric). Photo by Elyse Butler for Earth Justice

and ensure implementation of the Complete Streets policy of building and upgrading public highways for all users, ages, and abilities.
    Establishing a volunteer youth council to advise on HDOT mitigation and adaptation commitments in the years to come.
    Improving the state transportation infrastructure budgeting process to prioritize reduction of GHG and vehicles miles traveled (VMT) and transparently analyze and disclose the GHG and VMT impacts of each project and the overall program.
    Making immediate, ambitious investments in clean transportation infrastructure, including completing the pedestrian, bicycle, and transit networks in five years, and dedicating a minimum of $40 million to expanding the public electric vehicle charging network by 2030.We will continue to keep you updated as the Green administration takes further action to reduce carbon emissions in Hawaii, combat climate change, and protect our environment.
    Children have successfully filed climate change cases in Germany and Montana. A suit involving all of the European nations was dismissed. The verdict in a case in South Korea is expected this year.

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GETTING OFF FOSSIL FUEL BY SWITCHING TO SOLAR was one of the many ideas brought up at the USDA workshop with Kaʻū farmers on Friday in Pāhala. John Cross, Chair of Kaʻū Soil & Water District, noted that the there is no electricity running for 13 miles along Ka'alaiki, the upper road between Pāhala and Nāʻālehu. He said that the USDA's funding program for solar could help coffee farmers switch from diesel to solar to run their mills and roasters. There are some 73 farms in the Pear Tree and Cloud Rest lands without electricity, plus more along Ka'alaiki. See more on the workshop in upcoming Kaʻū News Briefs.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See upcoming events, print edition and archive at kaunews.com. Support this news service with advertising at kaunews.com. 7,500 copies in the mail and on stands.

HAWAI'I POLICE DEPARTMENT'S BACKPACK DRIVE is open now through July 19. The islandwide backpack drive is for island keiki in need. New, unfilled backpacks can be dropped off at any Hawai‘i Island police station now through July 19, including the police station in Nāʻālehu.
     Backpacks are the most requested non-food item by charities in Hawaiʻi. The donated backpacks will be distributed to children at women’s shelters, homeless shelters, and transitional housing facilities around the island.
    Since 2008, HPD has teamed up with Hope Services Hawaiʻi to collect school backpacks for children who cannot afford them. Last year more than 700 backpacks were collected throughout the island’s police stations and distributed by Hope Services. "Your contribution to help a child in need is greatly appreciated," says the HPD statement.