Environmental Courts: The 2014 legislative session was not distinguished by passage of strong new environmental laws. Still, one of the last bills signed into law by Governor Neil Abercrombie merits some attention. Act 218 establishes a system of environmental courts within … Continued
The National Marine Fisheries Service says that a petition to delist the Hawai`i population of green sea turtles – removing its status as threatened under the Endangered Species Act – “may be warranted.” “We find that the petition viewed in … Continued
Alison Rieser. The Case of the Green Turtle: An Uncensored History of a Conservation Icon. Johns Hopkins University Press, 2012. 338 pages. $45.00 hardbound. The green turtle, Chelonia mydas, is much in the news in Hawai`i these days, what with … Continued
`Aina Le`a Appeal: The Hawai`i County Planning Department has approved the application for a planned unit development (PUD) consisting of 70 single-family residential lots on about 25 acres of land owned by `Aina Le`a, Inc. But on July 25, a … Continued
The losing streak continues for the state Commission on Water Resource Management. And the environmentalists, farmers, and native Hawaiian cultural practitioners seeking to restore stream flow in West Maui couldn’t be happier. On August 15, the Hawai`i Supreme Court vacated … Continued
At this year’s Hawai`i Conservation Conference, held once again at the Hawai`i Convention Center in Honolulu, scientists and natural resource managers recounted their successes in improving native ecosystems and protecting native species. They also expanded on their assessment of the … Continued
Our August story, “New Stock Assessment of Pelagic Population of False Killer Whales,” regrettably included several errors and failed to note several important points. The following is intended to correct and/or clarify misstatements and omissions in our piece. Our statement … Continued
Land Board to Decide Future Of Proposed O`ahu Energy Park Later this month, the state Board of Land and Natural Resources is expected to either terminate or amend a development agreement for a 20 megawatt (MW) renewable energy park in … Continued
A county charter amendment approved by Kaua`i voters in 2008 is being challenged in federal court. Kaua`i Beach Villas – Phase II, LLC (KBV), alleges that the amendment and an implementing ordinance, passed by the County Council in 2011, interfere … Continued
A Setback for Kihei Mega-Mall: The Land Use Commission has voted unanimously in favor of a finding that there is reasonable cause to believe that the plan of three companies to develop 88 acres of land in Kihei, Maui, into … Continued