Public Policy

Kahea lists 2008’s environmental policy achievements

Kahea, a nonprofit Hawaii environmental alliance dedicated to revitalization and protection of Hawaii's unique natural and cultural resources, sent an email to supporters in December describing environmental successes that took place during 2008 – “a look back at ten things that YOU made happen:”

  1. 40,000 signatures defending our right for free public access to public trust resources – mauka to makai, mountains to the ocean. Hundreds rally across Hawaii for their right to reach the beach!
  2. 7,000 demand state legislators defend the sanctity and free right-to-grow taro from genetic modification and patenting.
  3. GMO-taro and coffee banned on Hawaii Island! 1,200 people ask the Hawaii County Council to protect their communities from the harms and dangers of genetic modification and patenting. The Council listened and acted!
  4. Over two-hundred write in support of protecting more critical habitat for the planet's remaining 1,200 Hawaiian monk seals.
  5. Hawaii County Council calls for a halt to live-fire exercises at DU-contaminated Pohakuloa Training Area! 300 people write in support!
  6. In a historic decision, a court-appointed hearing officer affirms KAHEA's standing to participate in first-ever enforcement action for irresponsible coral disease research violations in the pristine and fragile Northwestern Hawaiian Island. Thanks to KAHEA intervention, the enforcement action is upheld!
  7. Over 1,000 demand the Navy follow Hawaii's environmental laws and protect our unique ocean resources!
  8. Hundreds write to demand the restoration of water to the streams of East Maui! In a historic decision, the Water Commission requires a portion of the water be returned.
  9. Unique tropical alpine ecosystem of Mauna Kea protected from uncontrolled telescope development by the University of Hawaii. Over 550 write to demand the land-giveway on Mauna Kea be stopped! 3 court cases won, construction of 2 telescopes halted.
  10. Full conservation of one of the last intact, large-scale coral reef ecosysytems on the planet! 5.6 million people represented in the call for a true pu'uhonua (sanctuary) in the remote and fragile Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.