Climate Change

For the first time in more than 50 years, Honolulu didn’t get any measurable rainfall in the month of August. HPR’s Savannah Harriman-Pote looks at whether these parched summers are the new normal.

The Honolulu Resilience Office is looking for public comments on its climate action plan. HPR’s Savannah Harriman-Pote shares some highlights.

A lawsuit challenges Hawaiʻi's new tourist tax on cruise ship passengers, claiming it is unconstitutional. Gov. Josh Green signed the legislation in May. It boosts taxes to address climate change issues like eroding shorelines and wildfires. Starting next year, an 11% tax will be levied on cruise ship bills.

The Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation is finalizing a climate roadmap to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Electrifying vehicles is a key strategy.

Shifts in federal policy towards clean energy are expected to raise electricity bills. A new initiative from the Hawaiian Council is designed to help residents reduce energy costs in their homes. HPR's Savannah Harriman-Pote speaks to the program's lead.

Acidification was thought to be worst at the ocean's surface. A new study shows that some deeper waters may be acidifying more quickly than shallow waters.

Bishop Museum's newest exhibit, “Explore ExCORE: The Art of Underwater Science,” features deep-sea underwater footage that highlights the coral reefs and biodiversity in the Indo-Pacific region.

A first draft of a new climate action roadmap lays out ambitious plans, but falls short of getting the state off fossil fuels by 2045. HPR's Savannah Harriman-Pote has more.

Hawaiʻi is expecting to collect $100 million a year from the new "Green Fee" tax on hotels and cruise ships that starts next year. The 0.75 percentage point increase to the state’s visitor tax — bringing it to 11% — will be spent on climate resilience. But what types of projects need the funding most? Care for ʻĀina Now, a group that advocated for the Green Fee, wants community input.

The Trump administration has proposed budget cuts to NOAA that could close a research station on Maunaloa. That site has been a key source of information on climate change for decades. HPR's Savannah Harriman-Pote spoke to researchers with ties to the station.