Mauna Kea Issues in Hawaiʻi Legislation
We understand that keeping track of what’s going on in Hawaiʻi Legislation can be overwhelming. The Legislative session lasts for months and it’s incredibly important to keep track of the constant changes and decisions being made around bills that could become laws. Since the process is ongoing through to April, there are multiple opportunities for your voice to be heard. Here’s a good place to start.
Step 1: Head to capitol.hawaii.org
Use the search bar and enter key words of Hawaiʻi causes and issues to find relevant bills, i.e. Mauna Kea, Geothermal, Pōhakuloa. Filter your search results to just include bills by clicking “Measures” in the filter by options.
STEP 2: Take a look through bill summaries
The results page will show general descriptions of bills and their current status in legislative process before possibly being made into law.
Step 3: Click any bill for more details
You can read through the entire bill, see new versions with amendments, find out when future hearings are coming up, and submit testimony. You do need to register for an account on the website before you can submit testimony.
Step 4: Remain hopeful.
Stay vigilant, listen to and join in the conversation around different issues in and around your communities, and know this is a kākou thing.
Here are a few bills concerning Mauna Kea:
Other Resources
Legislative Reference Bureau’s Anatomy of a Bill
Legislative Reference Bureau’s What Does it Take for a Bill to Become a Law in Hawaiʻi
Public Access Room (PAR) Advocate’s Guide
Public Access Room Instagram (@publicaccessroom)
The information provided is for educational purposes only and does not constitute professional or legal counsel. Mauna Kea Education and Awareness (MKEA) and Seventh Generation Fund (SGF) are not liable for actions taken based on these instructions.
