From Kaua`i to the Big Island, the plans of utilities to build large, fossil-fuel-guzzling power plants or transmission lines of questionable need are being challenged by citizen groups. Here’s an update on four of the most contentious projects on Kaua`i, … Continued
Less than a year after state inspectors found heptachlor epoxide in Moloka`i cucumbers, Lonnie Williams’ 40-acre farm has gone belly up after only four years of farming on the island. Concerned that his produce might be contaminated, last year he … Continued
When A Day at the Beach Turns Nasty The Hawaiian rain slips through the soil, drips from the lush green leaves and flushes the earth clean. A big rain makes torrents of water rush through numerous streams, brown and foamy … Continued
In Hawai`i, per capita consumption of petroleum is among the lowest in the United States. Hawai`i residents use half of what Texas residents use, and a quarter of what Alaskans use, says petroleum engineer Jack Zagar, the first of several … Continued
Environment Hawai`i has completed ten years of publication. With this issue, we embark on our second decade. It is an achievement in which we take some measure of pride. The newsletter has consistently given its readers reports that are neither … Continued
The recently approved memorandum of understanding between the Maui County Board of Water Supply (BWS) and Alexander & Baldwin calls for the two parties to arrive at several additional agreements relating to specific areas covered in the memorandum of understanding. … Continued
Deep in the Alaka’i, Native Birds Slowly Yield Secrets to Scientists Kaua’i is often touted as the last great hope for some of Hawai’i’s imperiled birds. Its rain forests are relatively healthy and intact, it’s not yet heavily developed and … Continued
Lobbying the Hawai`i State legislature is a lot like playing chess. The difference, however, is that your pieces all have their own distinct personalities and you never know when they’re going to switch sides. And when you are lobbying on … Continued
On June 2, at its first meeting of the year, the state Natural Area Reserves (NAR) Commission voted against cutting 4,000 acres from the Pu`u Maka`ala NAR on the Big Island. The only dissenter was the member appointed to represent … Continued
State Limits Hunting in Bird Sanctuary: Why? The Pu`uwa`awa`a Forest Bird Sanctuary on the island of Hawai`i is crawling with feral sheep, goats, and pigs. For that matter, the entire upper portion of the ahupua`a is alive with the animals, … Continued