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 (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:
