Protecting and Preserving Maui Nui’s Environment & Important Cultural Sites for Over 40 Years

HB 500 HD1 cuts DLNR funding – testify now to restore it

Dirty Dozen 2015 Imagine what would happen to Hawaii’s finite natural and cultural resources if DLNR’s funding is cut…. Well – that has happened. While all eyes were on the Senate, The House passed the budget HB 500 HD1 WITHOUT funding for DLNR 2016 programs. The Senate Ways and Means Committee (WAM) will hold a hearing on HB 500 HD1 on Wed. April 1. Hearing notice: <http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2015/hearingnotices/HEARING_WAM_04-01-15_.HTM Ask Senators to restore and increase funding to DLNR programs … Read more

Are Anaergia’s Waste-to-Energy Projects on Maui in Trouble?

Henry Curtis writes: Are Anaergia’s Waste-to-Energy Projects on Maui in Trouble? Posted: 21 Feb 2015 08:05 AM PST By Henry Curtis Over the past year I have blogged about Anaergia. The company is a global leader in the waste-to-energy sector. Maui County and Anaergia worked out a deal whereby Anaergia would allegedly increase recycling at the Central Maui Landfill. Existing companies such as Pacific Biodiesel could be negatively impacted. During the 2014 Legislative session Anaergia requested $150 million in Special Purpose … Read more

How to submit testimony to the Hawai’i legislature

CREATE AN ACCOUNT (one time thing) First you have to make an account.  Go to http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/login/register.aspx Fill in the form, check the box agreeing to terms and click Create User You will see a message that they have sent you an email to confirm your account. It might be entitled: “Please Confirm Subscription to Receive Hearing Notices” and it will be from mailinglist@capitol.hawaii.gov. Follow the instructions (click on the confirmation link) After you click the link you’ll … Read more

Trans Pacific Partnership Treaty – How you can help stop it

There is a very strong possibility that fast-track legislation will emerge this month or early next month. That means we are entering an all-hands-on-deck moment. Making sure your member of Congress is planning to oppose fast track is critical, as history has taught us; from a recent NYT article: “In 2002, the last time Congress approved such authority, the House passed it by a bare majority, 215 to 212.” That is to say, every member … Read more

Sierra Club + over 20 other organizations oppose DLNR nominee

HONOLULU, HAWAI’I (January 26, 2015) — Over a dozen environmental groups are asking the Governor to withdraw his nomination of Castle & Cooke lobbyist Carleton Ching to head the Department of Land and Natural Resources and to drop any plans to weaken or eliminate the Land Use Commission. In a joint statement, the groups said: We are extremely disappointed in Governor Ige’s openness to eliminating the State Land Use Commission. The Land Use Commission serves an essential role in … Read more

Panel on Hawaiian Bees

Join the Friends of Haleakala National Park on Thursday, January 29th to hear the latest buzz about Hylaeus, native Hawaiian bee species. Panelists Karl Magnacca and Raina Kaholoa’a will discuss the significance of Haleakala as a refuge for our endemic pollinators and the challenges posed by new invasive species. About the speakers: Karl Magnacca received his Ph.D. in insect systematics in 2005 from Cornell University, based on his study of the evolution of the Hawaiian … Read more

Sierra Club Annual Meeting

Sunday, February 8 Maui Group Annual Meeting – Kaunoa Center (Spreckelsville) Food, fellowship, short inspirational talks and Environmental Heroes Awards. FREE. 11 am to 3 pm. Kaunoa Senior Center. Main dish provided. Please bring side dishes for a great picnic lunch. Theme: “Maui Rising”- a dialogue about the great issues affecting Maui’s future. For email reminder about our annual meeting, go to www.mauisierraclub.org and click on “Join Our Email List” in left column of our … Read more