“It’s pretty intense,” says state toxicologist Dr. Diana Felton. With rising seas and more frequent severe storms expected as a result of the climate crisis, she and Department of Health colleague Dr. Iris van der Zander warn of the increased … Continued
As Environment Hawai‘i reported in April, sea level rise threatens to draw sewage from cesspools and other on-site disposal systems into coastal waters. And as we report in this month’s cover story, rising seas may also leach hazardous chemical contaminants into the ocean and foster the … Continued
On July 9, Maui’s Kai Nishiki and Kaua‘i’s Caren Diamond — both well-known advocates for public beach access — requested a contested case hearing on the state Board of Land and Natural Resources’ approval of an amended version of the Department … Continued
(This article has been amended to correct the spelling of Lainie Berry’s last name.) “It is a very dire situation. We have some strategies, and we’re pursuing them as fast as possible on parallel tracks, but it’s a lot of … Continued
In April 2017, the state Commission on Water Resource Management voted to adopt the terms of a mediated agreement intended to end the years-long conflicts over the diversion and waste of stream water via the Kokeʻe and Kekaha ditch systems … Continued
The Hawai‘i Supreme Court has issued a ruling that makes clear what it thinks of the Public Utilities Commission’s effort to push the companies it regulates to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. And that is: Not much. In a decision issued … Continued
Last month, Environment Hawai‘i reported on a new draft bat guidance document aimed at helping the state Endangered Species Recovery Committee (ESRC) make decisions regarding the Habitat Conservation Plans and Incidental Take Licenses that are required for wind farms to incidentally harm … Continued
Several million dollars have been spent over the past few years on research, habitat restoration, and land acquisition to mitigate the unexpectedly high number of endangered Hawaiian hoary bats being killed by wind farms across the state. Last month at … Continued
Where on O‘ahu are endangered Hawaiian hoary bats most active? According to an acoustic monitoring study launched in 2017, “by far and way, the bulk of activity is on northern part of the island,” said Joel Thompson of the Oregon-based … Continued
Temperatures are rising. And as they soar, so, too, do the mosquitoes that carry the parasite that causes avian malaria, fatal to so many of the native Hawaiian forest birds. For years, scientists and biologists concerned with the health of … Continued