Kamakakūokalani Center for Hawaiian Studies, the Environmental Law Program, Ka Huli Ao Center for Excellence in Native Hawaiian Law, and Center for Island Climate Adaptation and Policy kicked off Earth Week on April 19, 2010 by hosting a panel discussion on community perception of climate change and its current and future impacts on Hawaiʻi and Native Hawaiians.
Carlos Andrade, Director of the Center for Hawaiian Studies, joined guest panelist Eric Enos, Program Director and Founder of Kaʻala Farms Inc., and Chip Fletcher, Professor of Geology and Geophysics at University of Hawaiʻi to discuss future Climate Change impacts.
Mr. Fletcher presented scientific updates on both global and local Climate Change impacts. Climate Change impacts include changes to Hawaiʻi’s environment; Mr. Fletcher presented coastal transformative predictions to areas of Oʻahu’s coastline. Mr. Enos talked about the importance of self-sufficiency in Hawaiʻi including the need to move away from food shipping reliance. Panelist and community members engaged in dialogue on different ways to improve Hawaiʻi’s sustainability. To watch this panel discussion online go to http://uhm-nativehawaiianlaw.blogspot.com/.