The fight for clean water is a struggle that many communities can relate to. This basic human right and sacred, essential life source has become inaccessible to communities across the globe.

Sadly, this fight has now reached the shores of Hawaiʻi. The primary water supply for  Oʻahu remains under an existential and unprecedented threat due to the U.S. Navy Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility. Within this facility, over 100 million gallons of fuel sit a mere 100 feet above Oʻahu’s main aquifer. Over the years, the aging tanks have leaked 180,000 gallons of fuel and petroleum chemicals into Oʻahu’s natural resources. In November 2021, an estimated 19,000 gallons of jet fuel leaked from the aging tanks –– poisoning nearly 100,000 people with contaminated water. 

While the Pentagon has conceded that this facility must be shut down, the Navy’s contractors have indicated that it may take up to two years or more to remove the fuel due to the facility’s dilapidated state.

However, we believe that there is power in numbers. In partnership with Hawaiʻi Alliance for Progressive Action, we are thrilled to announce Water Protectors Rising, a two-part virtual panel series exploring the interconnected fight of water protectors everywhere.

From Red Hill to Flint to Vieques, we know what our communities need to keep us safe. Join us as we learn from organizers, advocates, and experts as they share their experiences, victories, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. By linking arms with these communities and sharing knowledge with one another, we aim to build a stronger, more unified water justice movement.