Join us as we safeguard our waters and take on the climate crisis

Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi Summer Fund Appeal Letter | July 2023

Aloha,

There’s so much happening in the fight to protect Hawaiʻi’s environment, but our biggest priorities are clear: We have to defuel and permanently shut down the Red Hill fuel storage facility, and to work together to meet the challenges of the climate crisis. 

With the help of members, supporters and funders like you, I’m full of hope that we can make crucial progress over the next six months. Especially during these summer months, the seasonal changes are often a bit more noticeable with heat, dryness, and our more concerted focus for water. Following the wet season of Lono, we are now in the season of Kū. Kū, literally meaning to stand upright, is known to be one of the four major Hawaiian gods, and is associated with governance, building, farming, and fishing, in addition to its most commonly known association with war. Let us come together, take a stand, and embody these same qualities of governance and building to continue to make progress. Thank you for your commitment to this work. 

Starting with our work to defuel and decommission Red Hill, here’s what’s ahead. There will be opportunities to help the families who still face hardships caused by the fuel leak, to learn about the interconnectedness of water issues - as water is the primary medium, according to the United Nations, in which we will feel the impacts of climate change - through panels and workshops, and to continue to build the movement. We know there will be challenges ahead, and while the fight for clean water is far from over, we are standing our ground. We must! We will harness our media savvy, large membership base and lobbying expertise to ask for the Navy’s transparency and accountability. 

Clean water is vital, especially as we face the climate crisis. Turning to our climate work, the opportunities are clear as day. We will continue pushing for not just the transition to clean energy, but for community consultation, ownership, and benefits. We will keep advocating for our ʻāina, demanding that those in positions of power work to protect our precious people and resources. And we will not stop there - we will harness the youth and give them the tools to protect their futures, through outreach, hands-on trainings, stream monitoring and community building, storytelling, and media. 

Members and supporters like you have a tremendous impact. Right now, your gift of any size would be vital to our grassroots work. With over 20,000 members and supporters and five decades of experience, we know what it takes to win these fights.

If you’ve given to the Hawaiʻi Chapter recently, thank you! We’ve already made good progress this year. For example, we’ve advocated on dozens of environmental and social justice bills, hosted virtual and in-person panels, outings, and service projects, participated in several outreach events, and gave away hundreds of native plants to local families and residents. 

But there’s much more to be done, and I know we can do it together with your support and contribution. Your donation will be put to work immediately on our top priorities.

Mahalo nui,

Sharde Mersberg Freitas
Chapter Organizer

P.S. Over the next six months our top priorities are shutting down Red Hill and mobilizing for the climate crisis. The more we raise from our local members, the greater our collective impact. 100 percent of your giving stays here in Hawaiʻi. Mahalo!