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One year after a historic victory, transformation is in full motion!

Dear John,

One year ago, thirteen young people in Hawai‘i made history. Through their lawsuit, Navahine v. Hawai‘i Department of Transportation ([link removed]) (HDOT), they became the first youth plaintiffs in the world to secure a constitutional climate settlement requiring the full decarbonization of a state’s transportation system.

And that was just the beginning.

Today, the work they sparked is reshaping Hawai‘i’s future—from infrastructure planning to youth leadership in public policy. What started in the courtroom is now transforming communities, with climate justice, cultural stewardship, and systems-level change at its core.

The Case That Changed Hawai‘i & What’s Happening Now

In June 2024, the youth plaintiffs in Navahine v. HDOT reached a first-of-its-kind settlement with the state of Hawai‘i. The agreement requires HDOT to achieve zero emissions from ground, sea, and interisland air transportation by 2045.

Already, these commitments are becoming reality:
* A youth-led advisory body—the Hawai‘i Youth Transportation Council—is actively shaping decisions on the ground

* HDOT has created a dedicated climate leadership team

* A new scoring system prioritizes walkable, multimodal, low-emission projects

* A five-year plan will deliver a connected statewide network of pedestrian, bicycle, and transit infrastructure

* HDOT recently released ([link removed]) the Hawai‘i Energy Security and Waste Reduction Plan

YOUTH-POWERED FUTURE ([link removed])

In our latest blog post, Navahine plaintiff Rylee Brooke shares how her deep connection to the ‘āina led her to climate advocacy and why the fight didn’t end with the legal victory. As a founding member of the Youth Transportation Council, she’s helping design a system that’s safer, cleaner, and more just.

Read Rylee’s Interview ([link removed])
PEOPLE-POWERED JUSTICE ([link removed])

In a companion blog post, Joanna Ziegler, attorney for the plaintiffs, reflects on the far-reaching changes the settlement has set in motion and what it reveals about the power of strategic litigation, persistent advocacy, and youth leadership.

From new transportation emissions tools and policy shifts to a clear path toward statewide decarbonization, this legal agreement is delivering on its promise.

Read: One Year Later—Hawai‘i’s Climate Settlement Delivers Transformative Progress ([link removed])

Thank you for standing with the young people of Hawai‘i—and all across the country—who are leading the fight for climate justice.

In solidarity,
The Team at Our Children’s Trust
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Copyright © 2025 Our Children's Trust. All rights reserved.
OCT is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. EIN # 27-3094382
P.O. Box 5181 Eugene, OR 97405

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