Making Climate Action Work for Hawai‘i
From clean energy financing to brave-space conversations, Climate Hawai‘i is helping businesses and communities see sustainability not as a sacrifice but as a strategy.
Natural Environment
A Deep Dive into Hawai‘i’s Shell Jewelry Industry
The journey of a seashell from the reef to a pendant on a gold chain is a fascinating tale made increasingly relevant as a burgeoning business takes shape. Three Hawai‘i artisans who make jewelry from shells talk about their craft as well as the ethics of shelling for commerce and for personal collections.
Why Waikōloa Village’s Wildfire Risk Rivals — and May Exceed — Lahaina’s
With one road in and out and no ocean escape, residents are pushing for a second route before the next fire season.
Rekindling Ancient Hawaiians' Sailing Skills Among Today's Youth
Pua Ka ‘Ilima's charter sailing trips off Hawai‘i island's Kohala coastline help support educational voyages for island youth, teaching them about reefs, marine habitat and Hawai‘i's voyaging history.
West Maui Advocates Seek to Make Water a Public Resource
As West Maui recovers from fires and storms, residents call for public control of water systems—aiming to restore stream flow, protect the island’s future and honor ancestral stewardship.
The Trash on Hawai‘i's Beaches Tells a Global Story
Tons of plastic trash wash up on Hawaiʻi beaches every day. Forensic scientists using chemical analysis and other means to trace the sources say 80% is abandoned fishing gear from global fleets in the Pacific. Here's what comes next.
Hawai‘i’s Water Crisis: How Graywater Could Buy the Islands Time
Hawaii Business Magazine and Hawai‘i Community Journal are launching a year-long series exploring the state’s water challenges. This first story examines how water scarcity is rattling the islands’ economy, environment and communities, and why graywater reuse could be a crucial part of the solution.
EXCLUSIVE: Over 50 High-Profile Hawaiʻi Companies Push for Affordable Energy with LNG
More than 50 of Hawaiʻi’s leading organizations have called for immediate action to lower energy costs by replacing petroleum with Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). The Coalition for Hawaiʻi’s Energy Future brings together Native Hawaiian leaders, healthcare providers, agricultural groups, tourism…
Column: Funding Stewardship at Scale
What Hawaiʻi’s Green Fee Is Teaching Us About Caring for Place
Why Waikōloa Village’s Wildfire Risk Rivals — and May Exceed — Lahaina’s
When Rob Lee learned about a consultant’s plan to survey community members on an emergency evacuation strategy for vulnerable Waikōloa Village on Hawaiʻi island, the state Department of Transportation project manager saw a public relations misstep in the making. Waikōloa Village,…
A Hawai‘i Island “Hot Spot” Aims to Be a Cesspool Model for the State
Kahalu‘u Bay on the Kona Coast of Hawai‘i island has a storied history as a former royal village with protected fish ponds inside a “menehune” breakwater, ancient heiaus nearby and petroglyphs carved into lava rock. Today it is a destination…
Kauaʻi Doctor Takes Aim at Health Risks from Roundup Chemical
US Supreme Court to consider Bayer petition to constrain states’ ability to require pesticide warnings
Kaua‘i Pediatrician Who Warned About One Toxic Pesticide Sees a Bigger Threat
Hawai‘i led the nation in outlawing chlorpyrifos, but Dr. Lee Evslin says pending legislation in the U.S. Congress might prevent EPA review of new scientific evidence, which opponents say could limit states’ roles in the future
Hawaiʻi Primed to Revive Agriculture
Conditions may finally be ripe for a rebound in diversified agriculture
Lahaina Is Rising, Slowly
Two years after the fire, its core historic and commercial center is still in ruins. But residents are rebuilding their businesses, homes and lives around the edges of town.
When Not Practicing Law, She Takes Viewers on Diving Adventures Around the World
Deputy Public Defender Merlinda Garma has hosted the TV show “Hawaii Skin Diver” since its debut in 2004.
The Tiny Oilseed That Could Help Power Hawai‘i’s Energy Future
Some of the state’s biggest companies are working to turn a cover crop into renewable fuel for utilities, vehicles and passenger planes.
This Maui Nonprofit Helps Protect Whales and Dolphins Worldwide
In its 45 years, Pacific Whale Foundation has grown into a major research, education and conservation organization.
Nonprofit Leader of the Year 2024: John Leong, CEO of Kupu
His extensive leadership experience and unwavering vision has built Kupu into a powerhouse environmental nonprofit.
Removing Ghost Nets from the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands
Papahānaumokuākea Marine Debris Project has collected 786,287 pounds of derelict fishing nets and other debris from the vast Hawaiian archipelago.
Restoration of He‘eia Fishpond Nears a Major Milestone
Paepae o He‘eia has spent decades removing mangroves and rebuilding the fishpond wall. The nonprofit is now gearing up to start sustainable fish production.
From Wastewater to Green Belt: An Ingenious Idea Takes Shape on Maui
A pilot project will use treated wastewater to create a green belt, protecting fire-prone Mā‘alaea and restoring coastal waters.
My Job Is Protecting Lāna‘i’s Wildlife
Pūlama Lāna‘i’s lead wildlife biologist Grazel Caceres helps protect the island’s endemic, and often endangered, animals and plants.