Help Shape the Future of Transportation in Hawaiʻi — Submit Comments Today
By Kirsten Kagimoto, Chapter Deputy Director | Reading time: 3 minutes
Hawaiʻi is taking a bold step toward protecting our climate — and our rights. The state recently released its draft Energy Security & Waste Reduction Plan, the first-of-its-kind roadmap developed under the landmark Navahine v. Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation settlement. This plan outlines how Hawaiʻi will achieve zero emissions across ground, sea, and interisland air transportation by 2045 — a critical step in securing a livable future for today’s youth and generations to come.
Right now, the state is seeking public input on this draft before it’s finalized — and your voice matters. Please take a moment to learn about the plan and submit your comments by July 27. The Department of Transportation will also be hosting public meetings, and groups like Our Children’s Trust and Earthjustice will be holding informational webinars to help you better understand the plan and how to weigh in. Stay tuned for those dates!
Why This Plan Matters
This plan is more than a technical document — it’s a historic milestone. It marks the first major action to come out of Navahine v. HDOT, the first constitutional climate case in the world to secure the decarbonization of an entire state transportation system. At its core, this plan is about ensuring Hawaiʻi lives up to its constitutional duty to protect the right of our keiki to a life-sustaining climate.
The draft includes strategies like electrifying vehicles, expanding clean public transit, and rethinking how we move around our islands. These ideas have the power to reshape transportation into something that supports climate resilience, public health, equity, and community well-being — but only if the people most affected help shape how they’re carried out.
Progress Is Already Happening
This plan builds on real momentum. Since the settlement was finalized last year, HDOT has begun taking concrete steps toward decarbonization. A new leadership team, led by Laura Kaʻakua, is steering the state’s clean transportation efforts. HDOT has launched a Youth Transportation Council, ensuring young people have a say in the policies that will shape their future. It has also begun assessing the climate impact of its projects to support more sustainable and forward-thinking planning.
Systemic change is already underway — and this plan will be a cornerstone of what comes next.
Your Voice Matters
To be truly effective, this plan must reflect the voices and needs of the communities it will impact the most — especially those on the frontlines of climate change and environmental injustice. This is our opportunity to call for:
Clear short-term benchmarks so that real action begins now—not decades from now.
Equity and transparency in decision-making, especially for frontline communities.
Community-driven solutions that reflect lived experience, not just agency priorities.
A transportation system that is safer, cleaner, and more affordable for everyone.
What You Can Do
Read the Plan: You can find the draft Energy Security & Waste Reduction Plan on HDOT’s website here.
Learn More: Keep an eye out for upcoming webinars from Our Children’s Trust and Earthjustice, who will break down what’s in the plan and how to submit effective comments.
Submit Your Comments: Share your support, suggestions, and concerns by July 27.
Attend a Public Meeting: HDOT will be holding public sessions (dates TBD) where you can learn more and give feedback.
Spread the Word: Share this opportunity with your networks, especially youth and community groups.
A Generational Opportunity
This plan is our chance to reimagine what transportation in Hawaiʻi can look like and help ensure it supports our communities and our climate. Let’s make sure this plan is as strong, just, and effective as it needs to be — for our keiki, our ʻāina, and our shared future.