ʻAʻole LNG for Hawaiʻi: Resources and Perspectives

Written By Sierra Club Hawaiʻi Chapter

Expert Analyses, Perspectives, and Presentations

Below are a collection of presentations from third-party energy experts and environmental advocates that highlight the various concerns regarding the state’s pursuit of LNG and partnership with Japanese methane supplier, JERA.

Funders Hui Learning Conversation on LNG No. 2— Hear from energy law experts Chris Gunn of KPE Consulting and Isaac Moriwake of Earthjustice describe the regulatory pathways that LNG giant JERA must navigate to bring LNG to Hawaiʻi by 2030. (October ‘26). Click here to watch.

Funders Hui Learning Conversation on LNG No. 1— Hear from Richard Rocheleau of the Hawaiʻi Natural Energy Institute (HNEI) on HNEI’s independent assessment of economic considerations, tradeoffs, and important questions surrounding the LNG proposal for Hawaiʻi. (September ‘26). Click here to watch.

No. 34 Makakilo-Kapolei-Honokai Hale Neighborhood Board Meeting— JERA representatives present their LNG proposal and take questions from board members and public. (July ‘26). Click here to watch.

LNG is About Being Bold, Doing Good and Getting it Right — Urban and regional planning professor and expert in disaster management Karl Kim outlines the unaddressed safety, security, and economic risks of JERA’s LNG proposal for Hawaiʻi (May ʻ26).

The Clean Energy Future Hawaiʻi Can Actually Build: New TFIE Strategy White Paper by Michael Barnard, published in Clean Technica (April ‘26).

No. 34 Makakilo-Kapolei-Honokai Hale Neighborhood Board Meeting— Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi Director Wayne Tanaka reviews the Hawaiʻi LNG proposal with Neighborhood Board No. 34, followed by the passage of a board resolution in conditional opposition to LNG. (March ‘26). Click here to watch.

State House Informational Briefing— Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection (EEP)- Presentation given by Mark Glick of Hawaiʻi State Energy Office on their alternative fuels study with an analysis of the study by Dr. Matthias Fripp, Director of Global Policy Research, Energy Innovation. (March ‘26). Click here to watch.

Honolulu Climate Commission (HCC) LNG Presentation— Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi Director Wayne Tanaka and Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis’ Energy Data Analyst Anika Juhn present on the numerous economic, safety, and environmental concerns with the LNG proposal for Hawaiʻi, followed by an economic focused presentation by University of Hawaiʻi Professor, Michael Roberts and Dr. Matthias Fripp. (February ‘26). Click here to watch.

EEP and HSH Joint Public Hearing on HB1568 (LNG Ban Bill)— Hawaiʻi Natural Energy Institute, JERA, and State Energy Office answer committee members’ questions on LNG. (Feb ‘26). Click here to watch.

100% Renewable or Fossil Fuel Lock-in? WHY LNG IS A CRITICAL MISSTEP by GridLAB. Argues that the investments required for LNG infrastructure establishes a ‘lock-in’ effect, generating perverse incentives to delay renewable deployment. This paper proposes that a direct reallocation of capital toward renewable energy and storage offers a more financially robust and risk-averse pathway to the state’s electricity affordability and energy security goals.

Further documents relating to the JERA LNG proposal for Hawaiʻi compiled by Life of the Land can be found here.

*Additional regulatory updates and insights regarding the JERA LNG proposal can also be found at Ililani Media and Life of the Land.

Press Releases and Articles:

Community Voices: Op-eds and Letters to the Editor

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