Douglas Johnson, owner of a shrinking beachfront lot in Punaluʻu, Oʻahu, has repeatedly violated the terms under which the Department of Land and Natural Resources allowed him to install temporary emergency erosion control revetments over the years. Most recently, on … Continued
Honokohau Headache: In 2020, Environment Hawaiʻi detailed in its August and September cover stories the strife surrounding the auction of a 10-year lease to operate the boat storage yard at Honokohau small boat harbor in West Hawaiʻi. Until recently, the … Continued
Two developments lie behind the 2021 Legislature’s passage of acts relating to land use laws in Hawaiʻi: A state Supreme Court ruling that interpreted the applicability of the statute of limitations for grievances filed over a Land Use Commission decision; … Continued
The 2021 Legislature may not be remembered for actions that will have sweeping, dramatic impact on Hawaiʻi’s environment. Still and all, a number of bills that will push the state closer to a cleaner, sustainable future did manage to cross … Continued
Legislative resolutions don’t carry the weight of law, but they do provide clues as to what statutory changes might be given serious consideration in years to come. This year, the resolution that received the most publicity was probably Senate Concurrent … Continued
By now, most people are familiar with the “hockey stick” phenomenon. That occurs when a trend that may have been bumping along at a gradual increase suddenly shoots skyward, going nearly vertical over a relatively short period. It appears on … Continued
The article that begins on page 3 of this pdf, “Agencies Seek Funding, Explore Options For Mitigating Effects of Sea Level Rise,” contains an error: Engineering with Nature is a program of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, not FEMA. Also, … Continued
ADC Payout: Among the payments for settlements and judgments authorized by the state Legislature earlier this year was one for $131,849.52, identified as the settlement for a case brought in federal court in 2018. Early that year, the Agribusiness Development Corporation was sued by … Continued
“It’s pretty intense,” says state toxicologist Dr. Diana Felton. With rising seas and more frequent severe storms expected as a result of the climate crisis, she and Department of Health colleague Dr. Iris van der Zander warn of the increased … Continued
(This article has been corrected to reflect that Engineering with Nature is a program of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, not FEMA.) As Environment Hawai‘i reported in April, sea level rise threatens to draw sewage from cesspools and other on-site disposal systems into coastal … Continued