What’s at Stake for Hawaiʻi in 2026

Originally published in the January 2026 Mālama Monthly.

Next Wednesday, January 21, the Hawaiʻi State Legislature will reconvene to consider laws and policies with the potential to shape our island home for generations to come. With 2026 being an election year, legislators may be particularly responsive to community engagement, including on several key issues that are set to take center stage—bringing opportunities for transformative action and a more resilient future for Hawaiʻi:

Water Resources

After decades of political interference undermining the Water Commission’s work, including in the wake of the Lahaina tragedy, proposals were finally put forward to reduce its vulnerability to political pressure from the Governor’s office. As the Commission is soon anticipated to tackle hot-button issues including its issuance of water use permits for West Maui, revisiting its permitting decisions in Nā Wai ʻEhā as ordered by the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court, the proposed designation of Waiʻanae as a water management area, and stream flow restoration decisions across the islands, the need for greater political insulation is even more critical. 

In addition, recent developments reflecting the Navy’s continued denial, misdirection, and gaslighting in responding to the Red Hill catastrophe call for measures to increase the transparency and accountability of supposed watchdog entities like the Fuel Tank Advisory Committee.

Invasive Species and Biosecurity

Hawaiʻi’s invasive pest crisis continues to worsen. Coconut rhinoceros beetles have begun spreading out of West Hawaiʻi, have munched their way across Oʻahu, and are now well established on Kauaʻi—where conditions increasingly mirror those on Oʻahu. Meanwhile, little fire ants continue to infiltrate new communities on Oʻahu, Maui, and Kauaʻi; octocorals continue to spread in Puʻuloa; and other pests like the queensland longhorn beetle threaten to deepen the crisis every day.

With the new Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity not living up to its name, accountability and interventions to break its pattern of long-standing delays and inaction may be absolutely critical for our ʻāina. Enhanced biosecurity measures, including support for the Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Council and the island invasive species committees, research and quarantine facilities, and investments in community-driven invasive species management and eradication efforts will also be critically needed in the absence of action by the Department.

Military Live-Fire Training

Despite community calls for the Army to comply with well-established legal processes in its quest to “retain” Hawaiian lands for the continued bombing, burning, and contamination of ʻāina, Governor Green has persisted in his pursuit of a fast-tracked, uninformed, and half-baked land deal at the request of Army Secretary Dan Driscoll. Whether and how the legislature responds to competing demands from both the Governor and the constituents they serve with regards to military live-fire training is unclear, but discussions around this issue are almost certain to take place. 

Housing, Development, and the Environment

We continue to stand in strong defense of the Hawaiʻi Land Use Commission, ensuring it retains the authority and expertise needed to navigate and balance the complex public interests affected by large-scale developments. We also will work to ensure the safety and resilience protections in our building code are not compromised in an effort to fast-track development for unaffordable housing. 

Climate Resiliency & Clean Energy

The impacts of climate destabilization are already being felt and will only intensify. Hawaiʻi must stay on course toward its clean energy goals by investing in energy sources that are truly clean, renewable, and safe. That means rejecting a return to dirty, expensive, and dangerous fossil fuels like liquefied natural gas, and refusing to gamble our livelihoods on high-risk technologies such as nuclear power.

Get Involved This Session

Our staff and volunteers are ready to sift through the thousands of bills to track measures in our priority areas once they are introduced in a couple of weeks. Want to join in the fun? Take a look at our Volunteer In-District Lobby Program here, sign up for our Hawaiʻi CapitolWatch email alerts here and bookmark our action alert page here. 

Also consider signing up for the Environmental Legislative Network, a network for activists, community leaders, students, professors, elected officials, and others to share news and calls to action regarding Hawaiʻi’s natural and cultural public trust resources - simply email us at hawaii.chapter@sierraclub.org to be added to the ELN email list.