America’s upcoming political transition has many waiting for the policy implications of a sharply different presidential perspective. Delegates at November’s United Nations climate talks in Marrakesh and last month’s Biodiversity Conference in Mexico expressed concern that the U.S. will pull out of the global climate treaty, potentially rolling back eight years invested by the Obama administration in public and private sector engagement and high-level multilateral policy on climate and clean energy, backed up by aggressive federal action.
Fortunately, the people of Hawaii have not depended upon offshore direction when it comes to understanding the trends and risks to an environment that we cherish. Instead, we have drawn on ancestral wisdom and independent analysis of scientific data to assess risks, set priorities and invest in the health of the aina that will sustain us and future generations.
Thanks to such values, Hawaii has:
>> Launched partnerships across the state to steward water resources.
>> Accepted responsibility to heal the bomb-ridden island of Kahoolawe.
>> Committed to end fossil fuel imports and produce 100 percent of our electricity from renewable sources.
>> Restored ecosystem services in our forests, riparian ways, field systems, fishponds and coastal environments.
>> Increased production of locally grown food.
>> Convened business, environmental, cultural and educational leadership to establish the six interconnected Aloha+ Challenge sustainability targets.
>> Supported Hokule‘a’s worldwide voyage to carry the message of Malama Honua around the globe.
It is not local style to make loud, attention-getting claims of leadership. We prefer to let our actions speak for themselves and share our aloha aina with residents and visitors. We did just that last September when we hosted 10,000 guests who participated in the IUCN World Conservation Congress. They spoke enthusiastically about our initiatives and placed Hawaii at the cutting edge of the sustainability movement.
As a result, our state and counties were invited to join the Global Island Partnership, a network of island leaders committed to a more sustainable future. Hawaii also signed agreements with Jeju and Okinawa, island communities connected to the major economies of Korea and Japan. And Gov. David Ige backed this with local action, announcing several initiatives to advance the Aloha+ Challenge, Hawaii’s statewide 2030 sustainability goals.
In addition, Honolulu recently joined the Rockefeller Foundation’s 100 Resilience Cities initiative, connecting the county to other cities around the world that are serious about addressing climate-related risks. Mayor Kirk Caldwell attended the West Coast Mayors Summit in December, joining other leaders in signing a letter to President-elect Donald Trump calling for increased investment in resilient infrastructure to mitigate the threat of natural disasters.
Hawaii has been asked to share its story in forums such as the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the National Governors Association. Many more opportunities to engage loom on the horizon, such as the Pacific Coast Collaborative and the C40 and global Climate Vulnerable Forum.
Hawaii not only has a place at the table at high-level global policy platforms, but the IUCN showed that we are now in a position to invite others to take a seat at our table. And in doing so, we can drive the change needed to secure a more sustainable future for the planet.
The Malama Honua Worldwide Voyage and the Aloha+ Challenge together form Hawaii’s Sail Plan, inspiring collective action on sustainability for generations to come.
While Hawaii may not have all of the answers, our collective efforts show promise and present a long-term course for action. To quote Nainoa Thompson, Hokule‘a navigator and president of the Polynesian Voyaging Society, “Hawaii is moving toward the balance. And when Hawaii achieves it, it becomes that starlight for the rest of the world to see and know that it can be done; that’s the gift.” Time to shine, Hawaii!
