Advocate for the ʻĀina and your Community This Legislative Session
By Kirsten Kagimoto, Chapter Deputy Director | Reading time: 3 minutes
Today, Wednesday, January 15, the Hawaiʻi State Legislature reconvened to take up laws and policies that have the potential to shape the future of our island home for generations.
The 2025 Legislative Session promises to be eventful, with a handful of new lawmakers in office, and most notably, new House of Representative leadership. Several key issues are set to take center stage, with the potential for transformative measures that will create a more resilient future:
Water Resources
With Oʻahu’s drinking water already compromised, it is crucial to protect the island’s remaining sources from further contamination. This session, we anticipate proposals addressing:
The proposed site for Oʻahu’s next landfill, as well as future landfill siting on other islands.
Remediation requirements for jet fuel released from large underground storage tank facilities.
The confirmation of the controversial Water Commission loea seat, along with possibly two additional anticipated vacancies on the Commission.
Invasive Species and Biosecurity
Since the last legislative session, Hawaiʻi’s invasive pest crisis has worsened. Coconut rhinoceros beetles continue to wreak havoc on Oʻahu—where it is now more common to see coconut rhinoceros beetle munched niu than healthy ones—and are spreading across Kauaʻi. Meanwhile, little fire ants continue to infiltrate new communities on Oʻahu, Maui, and Kauaʻi. With permanent quarantine rules soon to be in place, the Agriculture Department will need additional funding and staffing to see through their invasive species responsibilities, as well as a higher level of accountability to ensure the status quo foot dragging does not continue to the detriment of our natural environment. Further, there is a need for enhanced biosecurity measures and invasive species controls to combat current and future invasive species threats.
Housing, Development, and the Environment
Affordable housing is poised to be a central issue this session, as indicated by the Green Administration and lawmakers. We will closely monitor housing legislation to ensure it is not used as a pretext to weaken environmental, cultural, agricultural, and good governance laws. Addressing the many root causes of our housing challenges and avoiding harmful red herrings must remain the priority.
We will also stand in strong defense of the Hawaiʻi Land Use Commission, ensuring it retains the authority and expertise needed to navigate and balance the complex public interests affected by large-scale developments.
Climate Resiliency
The impacts of climate destabilization are already here and will only worsen. Hawaiʻi must stay on track to meet its clean energy goals with energy sources that are truly clean, renewable, and safe, not only to minimize our carbon emissions but to build out our islands’ resiliency. Resiliency also requires up-to-date building codes that account for climate impacts and protect our families and first responders and guarantees that insurance remains accessible and equitable for communities most at risk.
Lahaina
We remain committed to supporting the Lahaina community in their recovery and rebuilding efforts. We will continue to stand with the West Maui community to ward off unwanted exploitation of their freshwater and natural resources by politically connected landowner and developer interests.
Get Involved This Session
Bills are already being introduced and our staff and volunteers are busy sifting through to track bills in our priority areas. We are just days away from opening day—now is the time to prepare to make this your most engaged legislative session yet. Our Hawaiʻi CapitolWatch program aims to make participating in the legislative process as easy as possible. Be sure to follow along with our priority bills at hawaiicapitolwatch.org and sign up for CapitolWatch email alerts here.
Also consider signing up for the Environmental Legislative Network, a network for activists, community leaders, students, professors, elected officials, and others to share news and calls to action regarding Hawaiʻi’s natural and cultural public trust resources - simply email us at hawaii.chapter@sierraclub.org to be added to the ELN email list.