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Youth Activists Secure Landmark Climate Agreement for Zero Emissions in Hawaii

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1 year ago

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Youth Activists Secure Landmark Climate Agreement for Zero Emissions in Hawaii


A groundbreaking legal settlement in Hawaii, driven by 13 young climate activists, mandates the state’s Department of Transportation to achieve zero emissions across all transportation modes by 2045. The settlement emerged from the 2022 lawsuit, Navahine F v. Hawaii Department of Transportation, which argued that the state’s prioritization of fossil fuel-based transportation projects violated the constitutional rights of the plaintiffs to a clean and healthful environment. Hawaii Governor Josh Green lauded the activists for mobilizing the state toward aggressive climate action, emphasizing the importance of this legally binding commitment to transforming Hawaii’s transportation infrastructure.

The historic agreement will require Hawaii officials to devise a comprehensive roadmap to fully decarbonize ground, sea, and inter-island air transportation. The legal settlement is a significant win in the broader movement for Indigenous and youth-led climate activism, particularly as it integrates young people into advisory roles to ensure the state’s adherence to the zero-emissions target. This effort is part of a wider national push for food and climate sovereignty, with states like Montana achieving similar legal victories that underscore the constitutional right to a clean environment.

Despite Hawaii’s progressive climate policies, including goals to decarbonize its power sector by 2045 and make state vehicles carbon-free by 2035, recent years have seen setbacks in emissions reductions. The new settlement, however, is expected to catalyze substantial progress by holding the state accountable through judicial oversight until the zero-emission goals are met. The cooperative nature of this agreement, involving diverse stakeholders from government officials to young activists, exemplifies a unified approach necessary for addressing the climate crisis in Hawaii’s unique island context.



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Hawaii

Hawaii delivers last-second win over Cal in Hawaii Bowl | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

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4 hours ago

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December 25, 2025

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Hawaii delivers last-second win over Cal in Hawaii Bowl | Honolulu Star-Advertiser


Jamm Aquino / jamm.aquino@staradvertiser.com

Hawaii quarterback Micah Alejado (12) threw a pass against the Cal Golden Bears during the first half of Wednesday’s Hawaii Bowl at the Ching Complex.

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Reserve quarterback Luke Weaver came off the sideline and threw a 22-yard scoring pass to Nick Cenacle with 10 seconds left to deliver the Hawaii football team a 35-31 victory over California in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl on Wednesday.

The Golden Bears took a 31-28 lead with 1:57 to play on Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele’s 1-yard sneak.

The Warriors drove to the 22 on quarterback Micah Alejado’s 13-yard pass to Cam Barfield. But Alejado was hurt on the play, and he hobbled to the UH sideline.

Weaver, who was activated for this game, then lofted the decisive scoring pass to Cenacle.

Weaver was limited to four regular-season games to preserve his redshirt season. But the redshirt limit does not apply to the postseason, clearing Weaver to be activated.

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The Warriors scored 21 points in a row to tie it at 21 with 13:50 to play.

Down 21-13, Micah Alejado lofted a 3-yard pass to the threshold of the end zone. Pofele Ashlock made a leaping catch, then curled the ball around the right pylon for the touchdown.

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On the 2-point play, Alejado under-handed a shuttle pass to Barfield, who found the end zone to tie it.

Led by Campbell High graduate Sagapolutele’s accurate passing — many on side-armed throws to the flats — the Golden Bears scored on their first three possessions for a 21-0 lead.

But the Warriors eventually got on the board in the second quarter. A play after Pofele Ashlock dropped a screen, he made a one-handed grab for a 30-yard gain. The Warriors drove to the 13, from where Alejado found Ashlock at the end of a corner route to cut the deficit to 21-7 with 3:57 left in the half.

On the Bears’ next possession, Matagi Thompson broke up Sagapolutele’s third-down pass. On fourth down, reserve defensive back Riis Weber blocked Michael Kern’s punt. That set up Kansei Matsuzawa’s 29-yard field goal.

—
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Federal judge upholds Hawaii’s new climate change tax on cruise passengers

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16 hours ago

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December 24, 2025

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Federal judge upholds Hawaii’s new climate change tax on cruise passengers


A federal judge’s ruling allows Hawaii’s new tourist tax, which includes a levy on cruise ship passengers, to take effect in 2026

HONOLULU — A federal judge’s ruling clears the way for Hawaii to include cruise ship passengers in a new tourist tax to help cope with climate change, a levy set to go into effect at the start of 2026.

U.S. District Judge Jill A. Otake on Tuesday denied a request seeking to stop officials from enforcing the new law on cruises.

In the nation’s first such levy to help cope with a warming planet, Hawaii Gov. Josh Green signed legislation in May that raises tax revenue to deal with eroding shorelines, wildfires and other climate problems. Officials estimate the tax will generate nearly $100 million annually.

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The levy increases rates on hotel room and vacation rental stays but also imposes a new 11% tax on the gross fares paid by a cruise ship’s passengers, starting next year, prorated for the number of days the vessels are in Hawaii ports.

Cruise Lines International Association challenged the tax in a lawsuit, along with a Honolulu company that provides supplies and provisions to cruise ships and tour businesses out of Kauai and the Big Island that rely on cruise ship passengers. Among their arguments is that the new law violates the Constitution by taxing cruise ships for the privilege of entering Hawaii ports.

Plaintiff lawyers also argued that the tax would hurt tourism by making cruises more expensive. The lawsuit notes the law authorizes counties to collect an additional 3% surcharge, bringing the total to 14% of prorated fares.

“Cruise tourism generates nearly $1 billion in total economic impact for Hawai‘i and supports thousands of local jobs, and we remain focused on ensuring that success continues on a lawful, sustainable foundation,” association spokesperson Jim McCarthy said in a statement.

According to court records, plaintiffs will appeal.

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Hawaii will continue to defend the law, which requires cruise operators to pay their share of transient accommodation tax to address climate change threats to the state, state Attorney General Anne Lopez said in a statement.

The U.S. government intervened in the case, calling the tax a “scheme to extort American citizens and businesses solely to benefit Hawaii” in conflict with federal law.



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Episode 39 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption is underway at Kīlauea | Maui Now

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1 day ago

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December 24, 2025

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Episode 39 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption is underway at Kīlauea | Maui Now


December 23, 2025, 9:01 PM HST

[V1cam] Kīlauea volcano, Hawaii (west Halemaʻumaʻu crater) VC: USGS

Episode 39 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption began at 8:10 p.m. HST on Dec. 23, according to an update from the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. Sustained lava fountains approximately 100 feet in height are currently erupting from both north and south vents, with increasing heights.

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Past episodes have produced incandescent lava fountains over 1,000 feet high that produce eruptive plumes up to 20,000 feet above ground level.  According to the National Weather Service, winds are blowing from the northeast direction, which suggests that volcanic gas emissions and volcanic material may be distributed to the southwest. 

[V3cam] Kīlauea volcano, Hawaii (south Halemaʻumaʻu crater) VC: USGS
  • All eruptive activity is confined to Halemaʻumaʻu crater within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park; commercial airports in Hawai’i County (KOA and ITO) will not be affected by this activity.
  • Three Kīlauea summit livestream videos that show eruptive lava fountains are available here: https://www.youtube.com/@usgs/streams
  • KPcam and MKcam provide views of the plume height for aviation purposes

Episode 39 was preceded by overflows of degassed lava that began at approximately 6:41 p.m. from the south vent and continued to increase in intensity until 8:10 p.m., when sustained fountaining began, according to the HVO.

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Most episodes of Halemaʻumaʻu lava fountaining since Dec. 23, 2024, have continued for around a day or less and have been separated by pauses in eruptive activity lasting generally at least several days. 

No changes have been detected in the East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone. 

Kīlauea Volcano Alert Level/Aviation Color Code remain at WATCH/ORANGE. All current and recent activity is within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.

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