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In the News: The Guardian April 27, 2025

Trump order to loosen fishing regulations poses major risks, experts warn

David Henkin, Attorney, Mid-Pacific Office, Earthjustice: “When he is saying that fisher folks from Hawaii or American Samoa need to travel for days to go fish. Well, you need to travel for days to get to these remote Pacific islands. They’re some of the most remote places on Earth … and they’re certainly not right…

Press Release: Victory April 23, 2025

Senate Unanimously Confirms Hannah Springer for Water Commission’s Loea Seat

Her confirmation ends a year-long controversy over Governor Josh Green’s delays in the nomination process

Press Release April 17, 2025

Earthjustice Statement on Trump Administration Executive Order to Open Pacific Marine Monument to Commercial Fishing

This order threatens indigenous cultural heritage and critical species’ habitat within and around the monument

Press Release April 7, 2025

Hawaiʻi County Agrees to Improve Wastewater Management and Protect Honokōhau Harbor from Water Pollution

The settlement resolves a Clean Water Act lawsuit filed in 2023 by Earthjustice on behalf of community group Hui Mālama Honokōhau

document April 4, 2025

Hawai‘i County Kealakehe Settlement

This Remedy Phase Settlement Agreement resolves the Remedy Phase of the Hui Mālama Honokōhau complaint against the County of Hawai‘i alleging violations of the federal Clean Water Act.

Press Release March 26, 2025

Hannah Springer Nominated to Hawai‘i Water Commission

Hannah Springer nominated to the loea seat on the Commission for Water Resource Management.

In the News: Mongabay March 19, 2025

Rep from American Samoa calls for opening protected Pacific waters to tuna fishing

David Henkin, Attorney, Mid-Pacific Office: “In the Antiquities Act, Congress gave the President the authority to create national monuments, not to dismantle them.”

In the News: Honolulu Civil Beat March 12, 2025

Governor’s Pick Withdraws From Consideration For Hawai‘i Water Rights Board

Harley M. Broyles, Attorney, Mid-Pacific Office: “Rodrigues’s withdrawal is only the first step to correct the Green Administration’s legal missteps. Now the Governor needs to follow through and appoint one of the other nominees he’s already been given through the legally mandated process.”

Press Release: Victory February 18, 2025

Federal Court Green Lights CHamoru Lawsuit to Protect Ancestral Lands, Guam Beach from Air Force’s Open Detonation of Bombs

The Ninth Circuit reversed Guam District Court’s decision, which insulated the Air Force from accountability for violating its duty to consider environmental impacts, alternatives to blowing up hazardous waste explosives on Tarague Beach

In the News: Hawaii News Now January 28, 2025

Law firm sues Gov. Green over controversial appointment

Harley M. Broyles, Attorney, Mid-Pacific Office: “The law does not provide that the governor has that kind of discretion to completely, completely disregard and throw away the nominating committee’s list and start over to get a new one.”

Press Release January 27, 2025

Governor Green Faces Lawsuit Challenging Water Commission Appointment

Process for nominating interim commissioner in the loea seat draws legal fire and community backlash

document January 27, 2025

Hawaii Water Commission: Complaint and Summons

Plaintiff Hui Kānāwai ‘Oia‘i‘o seek a judicial declaration that Defendants Governor Josh Green and the Commission on Water Resource Management unlawfully and invalidly circumvented the process for nominating members of the commission.

The newly restored flows to Wailuku River in October 2014. (Kapua Sproat / Earthjustice)
From the Experts: Victory December 10, 2024

Hawaiʻi High Court Sides with Native Community Groups in Water Dispute

The decision bolsters Hawaiʻi’s public trust framework, a legal doctrine establishing that natural resources must be protected for public use

A Newell's shearwater (ʻaʻo) on Kaua`i. (Jim Denny)
Article November 20, 2024

One Small Seabird Egg Offers Hope for Hawai‘i’s Biodiversity

The endemic Newell’s shearwater has a chance at survival thanks to an innovative team of conservationists, researchers, and Earthjustice lawyers.

A Newell's shearwater (ʻaʻo) on Kaua`i. (Jim Denny)
Press Release November 19, 2024

Conservation Groups File Lawsuit to Protect Maui’s Endangered and Threatened Seabirds from Hazards Posed by County Streetlights

Maui County pushed to comply with the Endangered Species Act

document November 19, 2024

Complaint: Maui HECO Streetlights

Plaintiffs Conservation Council for Hawai‘i and American Bird Conservancy hereby complain of the actions of Defendants Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. and Maui Electric Company, Ltd and County of Maui to defend three critically imperiled seabirds from streetlights that are native to Hawai‘i and protected under the federal Endangered Species Act. Filed Nov. 19, 2024.

The Newell’s shearwater is a threatened species. (Brenda Zaun / U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service)
Press Release November 12, 2024

Hawaiian Electric and Conservation Groups Reach Settlement to Protect Imperiled Seabirds

Hawaiʻi’s largest public utility makes additional commitments to address potential threats to seabirds from power lines on Maui and Lāna‘i, while pursuing permits under the federal Endangered Species Act and state law

document October 30, 2024

HECO Power Lines Settlement

Settlement agreement between Conservation Council for Hawaiʻi and American Bird Conservation Council for Hawaiʻi and defendants Hawaiian Electric Company Inc. and Maui Electric Company Ltd. re Endangered Species Act — listed seabird take from power lines on Maui and Lana‘i.