Empowering the Future: Youth Leadership in Pua Kaiāulu Summer Program

by Lauren Ballesteros-Watanabe, Chapter Organizer | Reading time: 3.25 minutes

Over the past five weeks, we had the extraordinary privilege of participating in the Pua Kaiāulu youth summer program, a collaboration between PLACES and Kaʻala Farms. This program, deeply rooted in cultural and environmental education, has been a transformative experience, highlighting the importance of youth leadership in energy advocacy.

PLACES is an education-focused non-profit dedicated to supporting teachers in planning and implementing Place-based Cultural Projects (PBCP) for children across the Waiʻanae Coast. Kaʻala Farms, a revered agricultural complex and cultural learning center, has been instrumental in restoring watersheds in the Waiʻanae Valley. Their motto, “Out of the streets and into the ʻāina,” coined by Uncle Eric Enos, encapsulates the importance of connecting culture and land for holistic healing, especially for future generations.

The Pua Kaiāulu program consisted of five cohorts, each focusing on a different aspect of resilience and sustainability: land, water, ola pono (complete wellness), fire mitigation, and renewable energy. Beyond collaborating with the Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi, Hawaiʻi State Energy Office (HSEO), and L.E.I Foundation, the youth embarked on huakai to the Nation of Hawaiʻi, learning about innovative microgrids and energy sovereignty. They also learned about the renewable energy challenges faced by the Kahuku community and the AES-owned Na Pua Makani turbines.

EJ Workshops, Law School Mock Trial, and the Fundamentals
The Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi and the Hawaiʻi State Energy Office partnered to host three in-person workshops as part of the ongoing Energize Waiʻanae Moku initiative. These workshops centered on grounding principles such as energy justice, energy democracy, and energy sovereignty, and addressed Oʻahu’s current energy landscape, highlighting its inherent injustices and lack of community self-determination. We were also mentors at a mock trial hosted by Richardson Law School where they were hearing a case on a West Kauaʻi hydroproject and storage project that was diverting water from stream water used by kalo farmers in the area. Sound familiar?

One crucial distinction made was between clean and renewable energy, emphasizing that language matters in policy. Continuing to burn trash or trees for energy undermines decarbonization efforts and zero waste goals. The workshops also discussed Waiʻanae Moku’s role in the energy system, acknowledging the frustration over historical exploitation but recognizing the importance of transitioning away from fossil fuels.

Youth Vision: A System Rooted in Community Needs
The most enlightening aspect of the workshops was learning what the energy system would look like if designed if the Waiʻanae youth got to decide. At the end of our second workshop, we did a mapping exercise where they broke off into two groups. We gave them no limitations except tell them that the main reason they are sited for energy projects is their abundant lsun and land space. It was truly exciting to hear the wonderful ideas that they presented: sharing power amongst their moku, putting honmes first then making sure those homes are solarized, selling their power to other moku’s to fund their parks and schools etc. etc. a system that prioritized their people, proposing to use available land for housing and installing rooftop solar on every home. This aggregated power could then support the broader community. Their vision brilliantly reflected the community’s values and priorities, showcasing the intersection of needs.

Summer Highlight: Presenting to the Public Utilities Commission
Pua Kaiāulu’s program had a capstone project for each pathway to come up with a policy recommendation based on all their learnings over the summer. Since the Public Utilities Commission has an open docket to investigate energy equity and conduct community engagement, we felt it was the perfect space for the Waiʻanae youth to share their policy vision. Witnessing their confidence and eloquence was inspiring. They began and ended with an ʻoli to ground the space, and PUC staff, including Commissioner Kuwaye, were eager to listen. Commissioner Kuwaye shared her vision of a resilient grid where every community or moku is self-sufficient, especially in the face of inevitable natural disasters.

The PUC staff also hosted a mini-workshop where the youth articulated their vision for a fully self-reliant energy system that is community-owned and supports local jobs and the economy. They discussed existing programs like the microgrid tariff, wheeling, and Community-Based Renewable Energy, emphasizing the importance of community benefits beyond the current Community Benefits Package.

Lessons from Youth Voices
Participating in the Pua Kaiāulu summer program and witnessing the youth's vision for energy sovereignty built a lot of hope in this work. Although we were there to provide information and “educate” the youth on energy justice, we learned a lot by listening to their voices. These voices are a powerful reflection of the values of the Waiʻanae community, emphasizing the importance of putting the well-being of people and ʻāina first. It was such an affirming moment because it is completely aligned with our advocacy for a distributed energy system that has been going on for the past couple years. From youth to community to energy equity advocates, there is a resounding call for a grid design that equitably shares benefits and burdens among communities. This is how we secure a just energy future. The youth's leadership and insights are a testament to the potential for positive change when community-driven, culturally mindful approaches are prioritized in energy.