Hawaiʻi’s climate keiki inspire hundreds of viewers
by Lauren Ballesteros-Watanabe | Reading time: 5 minutes
We launched our Decolonizing Climate Action series last week! The part one event- Hawaiʻi’s Climate Keiki- featured a panel of keiki and wahine whose words and passion for mālama ʻāina and climate justice were nothing short of chicken skin. Each demonstrated the power of standing up for what you believe in with nothing but true aloha for ʻāina, community, and our collective future.
We chose this as the inaugural conversation in our series to highlight the radical and visionary work of individuals, in this case youth, coming together to demand accountability and transformation of one of our major institutions- the Department of Transportation (DOT). This summer, 14 youth from Hawaiʻi Island, Maui, Molokaʻi, Oʻahu and Kauaʻi filed suit against the State of Hawaiʻi for violating their constitutional right to a clean and life-sustaining climate. Future discussions will uplift more ways that people are rising to protect ʻāina and secure climate solutions ingrained with indigenous stewardship and kānaka maoli values and resource management knowledge.
To explain the the significance of decolonization as a part of the global response to the climate crisis further, as has been recognized by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change this year, here are the words of Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi’s very own Wayne Tanaka shared during the webinar:
“If we open our eyes we can see the consequences and vulnerabilities that have resulted, from having our prime fishing grounds polluted with PCBs and industrial waste, to our prime farm lands developed into mansions growing swimming pools and palm trees, to people standing in line for hours at a time to buy toilet paper and spam whenever our harbors are threatened. So as we listen to this discussion today, let us acknowledge the ways in which our islands, our planet are being harmed and held hostage by colonial institutions and assumptions, and that are rooted in the perpetration of historic and ongoing injustices against indigenous peoples including Queen Liliʻuokalani and the Hawaiian Kingdom, and the kānaka maoli to whom this ʻāina rightfully belongs. And especially for those of us fortunate to have immigrated and settled on these islands, let us reflect on our particular role, our responsibility, to restore and defend the environmental, cultural, and moral integrity of Hawaiʻi nei, as not just the key to our survival, and because as beneficiaries of this ʻāina it is the right, just thing for us to do.”
The conversation unfolded through the magical moderation provided by Makanalani Gomes, who is one of three co-chairs of the United Nations Global Indigenous Youth Caucus. Born in Waipio, Oʻahu and Puna, Hawaiʻi Island, Makanalani’s passion for ʻāina and infectious energy elicited incredible insight into the space. Another wahine and familiar name is Marti Townsend, former Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi Chapter Director, who laid out what is at stake and framed Navahine F. v. HDOT. Marti is now a specialist with Earthjustice which is co-counsel on the youth climate lawsuit, along with Our Children’s Trust who represents and supports young people in active climate litigation across the U.S. and around the world.
Marti presented a crash course on environmental constitutional law in Hawaiʻi to highlight the arguments underpinning the lawsuit. Beginning with a few key aspects of the Constitution’s Article 11, aka The Public Trust Doctrine, and Article 9, the right to a clean and healthful environment; their foundational concepts were pulled from Hawaiian Kingdom law, which is rooted in traditional Hawaiian land and resource management principles and values. Article 9 is particularly visionary, as it gives each of us the right that we can enforce in court. The Supreme Court recently ruled that this right assumes the right to a life sustaining climate system. However, the reality is that the law is only as good as the laws that implement them. The unfortunate reality Marti shared was that “Hawaiʻi’s emissions from transportation are 85% higher than all the other countries.” The DOT needs to reduce emissions 19 times faster today because they haven’t hit their target goals since 2008.
Hence the critical importance of these courageous keiki’s lawsuits in order to bridge the gap between what lawmakers are directing the Dept. of Transportation to do and what the department isn’t doing to fulfill their duties. The panelists began with sharing the impacts that climate change has had in their lives:
Kū is a kalo farmer whose family has raised crops for many generations in Kauaʻula Valley in West Maui. Drought really impacts their agricultural work, as well as the deterioration of shorelines. Sadly, Kū shared that recently, “iwi kupuna have been exposing themselves and being washed away,” so her family helps to restore them.
Mesina is third generation born and raised in Kailua, Oʻahu. Having lived in beach community for most of their lives, between those generations they all have seen a lot of change. As an avid swimmer, Mesina shared that just in her lifetime, coral reefs are noticeably dying.
Kaliko’s family is from Honokohau in West Maui. Their home was tragically swept away in 2018, Tropical Storm Olivia washed away her house and upended her life. Eroded ʻāina after flooding disrupts so many lives. No kid should experience what she has and that’s what motivates her to be involved in this case.
But since they are action oriented, each panelist also shared their favorite way to mālama ʻāina. Whether it be native tree planting, invasive species removal, or clean ups of beaches or historical sites, these keiki are giving back. Kuleana to place is what drives them to be a part of this case, especially knowing the constitutional right to a healthful environment and life-sustaining climate system. As understanding individual action must include system change, the keiki had these words for the future governor:
Don’t just be about re-election, i.e. doing what’s popular rather than the right thing.
Take to heart how climate change and their decisions, or indecision, affects the resident of this state.
Care about historical sites because they are really important to many communities, i.e. respect kānaka ʻoiwi.
There is no denying that we are in an existential fight for our lives and the lives of future generations - a reality that takes its toll on each of us. But as the climate keiki share, climate anxiety is best addressed through climate action. Mesina left a final note - “a lot of times there is a feeling of hopelessness. But being involved in systemic action makes it at least feel like something is getting done.” What keeps Kū going is “seeing the positive change that we put forward. Watching what we’ve planted grow.” But for 10-year-old Kaliko, an indispensable self-care tactic is sleep! Epic advice. We hope you will take a moment to listen to their stories and manaʻo. In the coming weeks, we will learn the date of their hearing and will offer ways to support them in their lawsuit! And if you’re itching to share your own climate story and ways you love to make a difference, check out our interactive padlet!
We look forward to sharing details on this series to create a resilient thriving future that equitably addresses the climate crisis. That requires not only transitioning away from the broken systems that created today’s pandemonium but more importantly undergoing intentional work to heal ourselves to in turn heal our communities and the ʻāina. Stay tuned!