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With elections now behind us, the work begins to address the pressing climate shocks we are experiencing including wildfires, flooding, hurricanes, and severe coastal erosion. We can’t stop the shocks from coming entirely, but by putting our aina and our people first, Hawaii can lessen the impacts.

We all want the Hawaii we know and love to be there for our children and grandchildren and want to ensure the safety of our people, the land and our economy. Recent public opinion polls show that 97% of Hawaii residents believe it is their responsibility to protect our oceans and lands. Nothing short of immediate action will be enough and it is up to our leaders in Hawaii to safeguard our future. 

The most important environmental action that will come before the Legislature this year is the opportunity to implement a climate resilience fee, paid by visitors, establishing a dedicated funding source for climate adaptation, community safety from fires, high winds, floods, rising seas and extreme weather threats, and needed investments in our natural resources to prevent future disasters.   

The Legislature can and must act in 2025.  Nature is the bedrock of our economy, culture, and health and well-being. Our native forests, coral reefs, beaches and streams provide hundreds of millions of dollars in “ecosystem services” every year.   

Despite all the benefits that nature provides, we have underinvested in nature, resulting in an over $300 million annual gap in funding needed to responsibly manage our resources and support our communities. With the threat of climate change, the funding gap will only grow.   

What would the climate resilience fee support?  It could fund watershed and native forest restoration in east Molokai to secure freshwater, prevent flooding, and safeguard reefs and fisheries.  It could follow the example of the Waipā Foundation on Kaui’s north shore that has spent decades investing in and restoring forests, streams, and loʿi kalo, making the ahupuaa more resilient to rain bombs and flooding disasters.

Maui’s coral reefs could be restored to protect highways from sea level rise. Beaches which Hawaii’s tourism depends on could be revitalized. There are dozens of projects ready to be undertaken in communities across our state, but no resources to fund them.   

Join us in urging our elected officials to care for aina now (CAN) when the Legislature opens.  Together, we CAN achieve our vision of a thriving aina in Hawaii.