Kylie Wager Cruz

Senior Attorney

Mid-Pacific Office

Kylie Wager Cruz is a senior attorney with the Mid-Pacific regional office in Honolulu, HI.

Bar Admissions

HI

Kylie Wager Cruz

Senior Attorney Mid-Pacific Office

Miranda Fox
Public Affairs and Communications Strategist
mfox@earthjustice.org

Kylie Wager Cruz is a senior attorney with the Mid-Pacific regional office in Honolulu, HI.

Kylie has had the privilege of representing community groups in proceedings to promote clean energy and clean water, end the use of fossil fuels, protect Native Hawaiian communities disproportionately burdened by pesticide exposure, safeguard Hawai‘i’s native and threatened wildlife, and restore streamflows.

Prior to joining Earthjustice, Kylie served as a law clerk for the Honorable Mark E. Recktenwald, Chief Justice of the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court. She was also a legal fellow at the Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources — Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement and legal intern at the Hawaiʻi Public Utilities Commission. During law school, Kylie worked as a summer law clerk for the Earthjustice Mid-Pacific regional office and as an extern for the Honorable Richard R. Clifton, circuit judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. She has held several research positions focusing on renewable energy, energy efficiency, and climate adaptation law and policy.

Kylie is a proud graduate of the William S. Richardson School of Law and received undergraduate degrees in English and Journalism from Boston University.

Expert Posts & Articles

Mount Waiʻaleʻale is a place of paramount sacredness in Hawaiian culture.
June 24, 2026

The Hawaiʻi Constitution: Rooted in Culture and ‘Āina (Land)

With extensive protections for the environment, the Hawaiʻi Constitution is a model for other states’ green amendments and public trust provisions.
An aquarium collector takes fish from a reef in Hawai`i.
October 10, 2024

The Latest on Commercial Aquarium Collection in Hawai‘i

We’ve been working with reef advocates and Native Hawaiian cultural practitioners for 13 years to challenge commercial aquarium collection in court and before the state. We’ll keep at it until Hawai‘i’s reef ecosystems can thrive for generations to come.
School bus in Molokai
September 27, 2016

Regulators’ Failures Expose Hawaiians to Toxic Pesticides, Violating their Civil Rights

Earthjustice attorney Kylie Wager reveals a history of injustice around pesticide spraying in West Kauai and on the island of Molokai.
Earthjustice Managing Attorney Isaac Moriwake surveys rooftop solar
July 28, 2016

Hawai‘i Rejects a Billion-Dollar Power Play

Hawai‘i’s Public Utilities Commission recently rejected the $4.3 billion sale of the state’s main utility company to out-of-state profiteers.

Miranda Fox
Public Affairs and Communications Strategist
mfox@earthjustice.org

Bar Admissions

HI

Quoted in the News

January 2, 2024

E&E News

Climate in the Courts: Lawyers to watch in 2024

Climate lawyers are gearing up for another monumental year in 2024.
August 7, 2023

Grist

Hawaii’s youth-led climate change lawsuit is going to trial next summer

“We have an opportunity with this case to transform Hawaiʻi’s transportation system to benefit all of Hawaiʻi’s people.”
October 25, 2021

Canary Media

Hawaii has a one-year deadline to ditch coal. Can it keep the lights on?

“HECO had a long time to begin planning for what the transition would look like.”
August 17, 2021

Canary Media

Hawaii vs. fossil fuels

"We strongly supported shutting down the coal plant. That facility needed to go. What we do with that loss of capacity is the key question."
May 12, 2021

Utility Dive

HECO appeals PUC decision on Kapolei battery project, warns of 'chilling message' to developers

"HECO should take responsibility for the crisis it's caused and focus on ensuring [the project] realizes its full potential to maximize renewable energy on the grid and minimize Hawai'i's dependence on fossil fuels. Instead, HECO's threatening to pull the plug on the project, put all the risk on ratepayers and the grid, and make us pay for all of it either way."

Latest Press Statements

September 18, 2024

Community Groups Demand Landfill Options Outside of West Kauaʻi

Proposed new county landfill poses environmental hazards and injustice for west side residents
Swimmers and surfers ride the waves at Kekaha Beach in West Kauaʻi.
January 31, 2024

West Kauaʻi to Address Water Pollution at Kīkīaola Small Boat Harbor in Settlement with Community Groups

The groups reached a settlement with the County of Kauaʻi and Department of Health after filing a lawsuit in 2022 to enforce the Clean Water Act, capping a series of suits to protect West Kaua‘i coastal waters
February 9, 2022

Citizens Threaten Lawsuit to Clean Up Pollution at Kīkīaola Harbor

State health department defies court order mandating federal permit