History

More than 35 Years of Making a Difference

"Follow the Law"

Hawaii’s Thousand Friends has been at the forefront of environmental litigation since its inception in 1980, successfully fighting legal cases focusing on land use planning, the Public Trust Doctrine, and land and water rights.

1980

The 1,000 Friends concept was introduced to the islands by JoAnn Yukimura and Marilyn Bornhorst after attending a conference in Washington state. Initial meetings begin to create Hawaii’s Thousand Friends (HTF).

1981

January 7, first official meeting of “1,000 Friends of O’ahu.”
By-laws and Incorporation papers created.
Involvement in issues, outreach, and education about HTF begin.

1982

HIGHLIGHTS

January – first office opened on Fort Street Mall.
April – first newsletter published.
May – first Annual Pa’ina in Kahala catered by Waianae Hawaiian Civic club.
November – first Annual Membership Dinner at the Cannon Club. Speaker was Henry Richmond, Executive Director of 1,000 Friends of Oregon.
Ratification of By-laws.
Meeting with Robert Redford’s assistant to explain mission and goals of HTF.

ISSUES

New eight Development Plans; changes to O’ahu Comprehensive Zoning Code; Barbers Point deep draft harbor.
Formation of State Water Advisory Commission (now State Commission on Water Resources).
Kawainui Marsh – took leadership role in researching and presenting threats to Marsh by City’s sewer project projected to go through Marsh. Army Corp. of Engineers denied City permit.
Queen’s Beach – joined forces opposing resort development.

LEGAL

Participated in preparation of winning brief for Nukoli’i, Kauai lawsuit.
Kawainui Marsh – filed suit alleging that the Special Management Area Permit (SMAP) was invalid because the City Council did not enact authorizing ordinance in conformity with Coastal Zone Management Act and Hawai’i Administrative Procedures Act when approving SMAP for development of 153 homes along the periphery of the Marsh in 1981.

1983

HIGHLIGHTS

Henry Richmond, Executive Director of 1,000 Friends of Oregon, keynote speaker at Annual Dinner.
HTF, League of Women Voters and Department of Land Utilization give presentation on proposed changes to the O’ahu Zoning Code at the Marks Estate in Nuuanu.
Second Annual Luau at Hawai’i Loa College.
Greek fundraiser dinner hosted by Muriel and Bill Seto.

ISSUES

Responded to first annual review of Development Plans.
Opposed creation of “geothermal resource subzones” and designation of Queen’s Beach as resort in O’ahu General Plan.
Supported keeping Fort DeRussey in military hands to retain open space.
Fought against ineffective implementation and non-enforcement of existing land use regulations.
Assisted Mokuleia community concerned about denial of public access over private land to state hiking trails.
Monitored State Water Advisory Commission meetings, process and progress and responded to Draft Water Code.
Set five land use priorities: destruction/depletion of Hawai’i's natural resources; inappropriate physical development and urban design; relationship of land policy to housing; inefficient and ineffective enforcement of existing land use regulations.

LEGAL

Provided legal assistance to Luluku banana farmers being displaced and relocated by H-3.
Nukoli’i – Supreme Court halted construction of resort and provided clarification of use of referendum, vested rights and “takings” issues.

1984

HIGHLIGHTS

HTF and League of Women Voters prepared citizen’s handbook on the O’ahu Development Plans: A Citizen’s Guide to O’ahu’s Development Plans.
HTF and eight other conservation organizations met with the Environmental Protection Agency to discuss drinking water contamination in Waipahu and Mililani.
Third Annual Luau prepared by the Waianae Hawaiian Civic Club.
Former Chief Justice Richardson attends Italian dinner given by HTF board members.
Betty Gordon and Connie Sofio to share his views on water issues.
HTF co-sponsors The Peoples Water Conference #1 with the American Association of University Women.

ISSUES

Mililani water contamination and water management.
Legislative: opposed elimination of State Plan, Functional Plans, Land Use Commission (LUC) and stricter requirements for referendums on zoning.
Date/Laau Initiative: HTF joined residents – Save Date/Laau Coalition for Controlled Growth- in opposing City Council’s proposed zoning changes from low-rise apartments to high density.
Kahauale’a Conservation District – opposed Campbell Estate development of 5 geothermal power plants in Kahauale’a, an endemic rain forest and habitat for at least 7 endangered or threatened species.
Urban impacts on Waianae coast from development of West Beach.
Eviction of Hawaiian community on Maui by State to make way for sewage system.

LEGAL

Honolulu Development Plans (DP) – HTF filed amicus curiae (friends of the court) briefs in support of the DPs and in some of the approximately 10 lawsuits challenging recently completed Annual Review.
Kawainui Marsh – Judge Moon rules Special Management Area Permit granted by the City Council for development of 153 houses around the Marsh is invalid in part because underlying ordinance was not enacted in “conformity” with state statutes, and that City Council violated the Coastal Zone Management Act when it refused to hold a “contested case hearing.” Public’s right to contest was vindicated.
Assisted Kauai Concerned Citizens of Anini in presenting “findings of fact” as intervenors before Land Use Commission.

1985

HIGHLIGHTS

HTF receives first of four $125,000 grants from the U.S. Library Services through Alu Like to begin 5-year Hawaiian Cultural Sites Database Project, a bibliographical inventory of cultural places.
Received grants from Office of Hawaiian Affairs to do archeological survey of Kaniakapupu and complimentary map survey of O’ahu sites of significance.
Breakfast Speaker Series: Jay Hair – Executive VP of the National Wildlife Federation; John Hirten, Honolulu Department of Transportation Services.
Duane Preble, charter member and artist, creates new/current letterhead.
HTF co-sponsors The Peoples Water Conference #2.
Muriel Seto goes to the Northwest Hawaiian Islands at invitation of City Council Planning Committee Chair, Leigh-Wai Doo.
HTF field surveys at Kapena Falls State Park led by Buddy Neller, State archeologist.
HTF offered advanced rights of sales to members of book Land and Power in Hawai’i by George Cooper and Gavin Daws.
Thanks to a grant from Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation, Dept. Of Urban and Regional Planning masters candidate Helen Nei Lin Wong chosen as HTF’s water researcher.

ISSUES

Supported public access to Kawela Bay and preservation of Northwest Hawaiian Islands.
Opposed transfer of water from Windward streams to accommodate growth in Leeward O’ahu.
Attended meetings and discussions on planning the “second city” on the Ewa plain and health and environmental impacts from sugar cane burning.
Opposed development of geothermal on the Big Island because there is no demonstrated need, impact on cultural integrity of the area and impacts on human health and the environment.

1986

HIGHLIGHTS

HTF co-sponsors Peoples Water Conference #3.
Executive Director Muriel Seto receives award from Alu Like for her commitment to the Hawaiian people.
After years of hard work led by board member Clarence Ching, Kaniakapupu (King Kamehameha III summer place in Nuuanu) is listed in the State Register of Historic Places.
Held successful “Malama Kaniakapupu” fundraiser at the Waikiki Shell.
HTF and American Association of University Women co-sponsor “An Analysis of the Water Code” conference.
HTF hosts Family Sunday at the Bishop Museum and co-sponsors Maui Air Quality public forum on impacts from cane burning.
Breakfast Speaker Series: Senator Mary-Jane McMurdo spoke on Fort Derussey as potential convention center site, Chris Kraft spoke on impact of greenhouse warming on coastal areas.
Boardmember Dennis Callan represents HTF on Land Use Planning Conference – The Interrelationship of Land Use and Transportation Committee.
HTF and the Kane’ohe Historical Society send Society president Keala Brunke to Washington D.C. to explain the importance of retaining, not destroying the unevaluated Luluku archeological complex lying in the path of H-3.
HTF sponsors an Aloha Week event to celebrate the 150th birthday of the Royal Hawaiian Band. Proceeds to support programs planned for Kaniakapupu.

ISSUES

Opposed: resort development at Hapuna Beach on the Big Island; proposed golf course in Maunawili Valley, O’ahu; West Beach development on Leeward coast, O’ahu; drilling of wells and threatened transfer of Windward O’ahu water to Leeward side of island; private home encroachment onto public property at the Old Government Road at Diamond Head beach, and City sewer line project in Kawainui Marsh.

LEGAL

Waiola lawsuit against City and County of Honolulu, filed by attorney Martin Wolff. Mayor Fasi’s administration misused $125,000 from the City housing fund to advertise the proposed 5,000 unit Waiola Estates Gap Group housing project on prime agriculture land in Central O’ahu, circumventing Development Plans, the General Plan, the required environmental review and going to the Land Use Commission to obtain the correct designation – urban.
HTF files lawsuit against Kaiser Development Co. for violations of numerous state and federal laws over two years by dumping 50 million gallons of unprocessed sewage into Maunalua Bay.
Kaiser Development takes HTF standing issue before Circuit Court.

1987

HIGHLIGHTS

Co-sponsor Peoples Water Conference #4.
Hawaiian Sites Cultural Database Project Phase II Big Island and Phase III Maui begin.
Ian McHarg, prestigious landscape architect and author of Design With Nature, met with Board to discuss his concepts of “Ethno-ecology” planning.
Retiring board members/officers receive gifts from noted Pacific artist Sune, resident artist to the Queen of Tonga.

ISSUES

Responded to voluminous H-3 Environmental Impact Statement.
Supported Windward O’ahu farmer water rights.
Placement of sewage treatment plant on Lanai.
Opposed proposed Kaiser development of 211 homes across from Sandy Beach.
Participated in discussions on use of Land Evaluation and Site Assessment methodology to determine viable agriculture land.
Need for and route of Honolulu light rail/rapid transit system.

LEGAL

Circuit Court rules HTF has standing to sue Kaiser Development.
Land Use Commission rules that land for proposed Waiola development will remain in agriculture designation.

1988

HIGHLIGHTS

Co-sponsor of People’s Conference #5.
HTF Waiola attorney Martin Wolff, recognized by Star Bulletin as “one who had made a difference.” Reporter Peter Wagner said, “Martin Wolff is as conspicuous as they come in a town where business is done as usual.”

ISSUES

Opposed Koolau Agriculture Corp. realignment of Punaluu Stream in Windward O’ahu.
Supported requiring sewage treatment plants to meet minimum secondary treatment and not be granted waivers by the Department of Health (DOH) and EPA.
Sandy Beach – HTF supported right to zone by initiative, preservation of scenic shoreline park and opposed redesignation of Kaiser’s mauka land from preservation to residential for housing development.
Supported designation of Windward O’ahu as sole source for drinking water.
Types and location of future housing, mixed use and housing outside urban core.
Support same instream flow standards for Kauai/East Maui established for Windward O’ahu.
Opposed increase in farmers water rates by Honolulu Board of Water Supply.

LEGAL

Waiola – Circuit Court rules in HTF’s favor. City appeals decision to Hawai’i Supreme Court.
HTF joins Sierra Club Hawai’i Chapter in opposing a waiver to water quality standards for the Sand Island Wastewater Treatment Plant.

1989

HIGHLIGHTS

HTF and national environmental groups opposed Senator Dan Inouye’s efforts to get a Clean Water Act exemption for Hamakua sugar mills. Efforts were successful.
Executive Director Steve Holmes attended first National Growth Management Leadership Project (NGMLP) Conference started by HTF mentor and 1,000 Friends of Oregon founder Henry Richmond in Portland Oregon. The Project, now called the Growth Management Leadership Alliance, consisting of growth management advocacy organizations from 25 states, meets semi-annually to advance growth management at state and national levels.

ISSUES

Opposed geothermal development on the Big Island.
Opposed attempt to remove population density controls from General Plan and disperse population and development throughout O’ahu. Measure defeated.
Continued request that all sewage treatment plants not be granted waivers from treating sewage at secondary level.

LEGAL

Honouliuli Wastewater Treatment Plant Clean Water Act lawsuit. On behalf of HTF and other plaintiffs Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund files a 60-day Notice of Violation against City and County of Honolulu. Violation fines in excess of $40 million were levied on DOH.
Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund argues for HTF that Department of Health should deny City’s request for a waiver from treating sewage at secondary level for Sand Island Wastewater Treatment Plant because plant has been running over capacity for years.
Kaiser/Hawai’i Kai Wastewater Treatment Plant Clean Water Act lawsuit resulted in out-of-court financial settlement.
Waiola – Supreme Court rules HTF is not the proper organization to bring the case because HTF is not a taxpayer organization even though lower courts approved HTF as a qualified party. Nonetheless, federal funding for the project was not forthcoming.

1990

HIGHLIGHTS

Executive Director Donna Wong and board member Mikilani Ho presented papers on the Hawaiian Cultural Sites Database Project at the American Cartographic Information Society 10th Annual Meeting Conference in Orlando Florida.
HTF co-sponsors Peoples Water Conference #6.
Executive Director Donna Wong attended National Growth Management Leadership Project Conference in Washington, D.C.
HTF assists Barry Nakamura, Bishop Museum cultural historian, who blows the whistle on Museum secrecy over significant new site information in the path of H-3 in Halawa Valley.

ISSUES

Irrigation water for Hawaiian Homesteads and golf courses.
Need for and route of proposed Honolulu rapid transit.
Opposed Aloha Motors as site for Convention Center and inappropriate uses for Keehi Lagoon.
Supported transfer of Kawainui Marsh to State and protection of Mt. Olomana.

LEGAL

HTF, represented by Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund, is co-plaintiff with Hui Malama Aina O Laie against BYUH and Zions Securities for violations to the Clean Water Act. Out-of-court settlement resulted in an award of $2.25 million to plaintiffs to be administered by newly created Hawai’i La’ieikawai Association.
Enchanted Lake Kaelepulu Stream/Sewer Pumping Station Clean Water Act lawsuit. Attorney Fred Benco files a 60-day Notice of Violation against the City and County. Settlement resulted in improvements to pumping station to prevent leaching and direct discharging of sewage into Kaelepulu stream.

1991

HIGHLIGHTS

Co-sponsor Open Forum (meeting on issues) and Peoples Water Conference #7.
HTF established statewide 15 organization networking entity, Hawai’i Land Defense Coalition.
Executive Director Donna Wong is appointed a member of Office of State Planning steering committee planning a conference on golf courses.
Richard Klein, author of Everyone Wins-A Citizens Guide to Development from Maryland, gave a workshop on community involvement.

ISSUES

Responded to Environmental Impact Statements for Kawainui Marsh Flood Control and Camp Kailua.
Opposed development of Ewa Marina and expansion of Federal Aviation Association facilities in Diamond Head crater.
Changes to O’ahu City Charter.

LEGAL

Aikahi Wastewater Treatment Plant Clean Water Act lawsuit. Represented by Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund a 60-day Notice of Violation was filed against City and County of Honolulu. Out-of-court settlement resulted in improving the plant and $3 million to create a community based volunteer organization – Kailua Bay Advisory Council (KBAC).
Camp Kailua – Attorneys Tom Grande and Cynthia Thielen, filed suit in Circuit Court against the City. They argued that the City must abide by the federal Coastal Zone Management Act and obtain a Special Management Area Permit and prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) before proceeding with any action proposed within the Kailua Beach Park Master Plan. City agrees to do an EA.
Camp Kailua – Attorneys Tom Grande and Cynthia Thielen filed suit against the City in Circuit Court, again, because of violations to agreement. Court ruled in HTF’s favor that City must do an EA and obtain a Special Management Area Permit before work can begin.

1992

HIGHLIGHTS

Hawai’i Land Defense Coalition – 6 Coalition organizations qualified to receive a $4,000+ computer package plus training. Organizations receiving the packages were: Friends of Heeia, Hoa ‘Aina O Makaha, Maui Tomorrow, Native Hawaiian Advisory Council, Native Hawaiian Legal Corp. and Pele Defense Fund.
Governor Cayetano appoints former HTF president Mike Wilson State Director of the Department of Land and Natural Resources. One of the first things Mike does is put Nene on Kauai where there are no mongoose.
Mikilani Ho, education chair, and Muriel Seto, cultural sites chair, attended the Hawaiian Archaeology Conference on Kauai.
Executive Director Donna Wong attended National Growth Management Leadership Project Conferences in Massachusetts and Charleston South Carolina, represented HTF at National Network Conference in Japan, took opponents of golf course development from Japan on tour of O’ahu and Kauai golf courses and participated in Office of State Planning’s review of the State Land Use Law.
Co-sponsored Peoples Water Conference #8.

ISSUES

Attended meetings initiated by Pearl Harbor Rear Admiral Retz on use of land and clean up of Dioxin contaminated soil to residential standard at Pearl City Junction. Navy agreed.
Worked with Hawaiian organizations to prevent destruction of heiau, environment and cultural sites in the path of H-3.
Continued support of Pai Ohana to remain on their ancestral lands within City of Refuge National Park on the Big Island.

LEGAL

Attorney’s Tom Grande and Cynthia Thielen take City back to court for failure to follow court orders and obtain a Special Management Area Permit. Court rules in HTF’s favor. City and County appeal Circuit Court decision to Hawai’i Supreme Court. HTF files in Supreme Court.

1993

HIGHLIGHTS

The U.S. Department of Justice Environmental and Natural Resources Division placed Hawai’i's Thousand Friends fifth in the nation in the amount of money recovered for the United States Treasury behind such national environmental giants as the Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund and Natural Resources Defense Council.
Muriel Seto, former executive director, received the National Environmental Woman of Action Award in Washington D.C..
Executive Director Donna Wong represented HTF on Legislature’s year long Energy and Environment Summit, attended Toxic Substances & Disease Registry Conference in San Diego as a guest of the U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services, attended NGMLP Conference in Seaside Florida and was guest of the Environmental Protection Agency at Federal Facilities Environmental Resources Dialogue Committee meeting in Seattle.
First HTF Unsung Hero Award is presented to Carl Honig.
Konia Freitas represented HTF in Japan at the International Youth Conference on Environment & Development and International Youth Speakers Tour on the Environment.

ISSUES

HTF President Michelle Matson led opposition to proposed residential encroachment onto Kaniakapupu complex.
HTF participated in discussions on impacts of sewage disposal on marine ecosystems.
Worked with Federal Airlines Association to ensure quieter skies over natural reserves, parklands, and high-density residential areas.
Opposed Acoustic Thermometry of Ocean Climate Project, emission of sub-surface ultra sound waves from Kauai to California coast.
Opposed blasting of 4.3 million cubic yards of Ewa caprock for development of 1,100-acre Ewa Marina, a major component of the hotel, golf course and residential resort.
Opposed homeowners encroaching onto Old Government Road public property at Diamond Head.

LEGAL

HTF attorneys Cynthia Thielen and Tom Grande win landmark Hawai’i Supreme Court decision in the Camp Kailua Shoreline Management Area Permit case. The court ruled that segmenting Kailua Beach Park Master Plan project within the Shoreline Management Area is a violation of the Federal Coastal Zone Management Act and ordered the City to do an Environmental Assessment and obtain a Special Management Area Permit.
HTF is represented by Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund in 5 week Honouliuli Wastewater Treatment Plant trial against the City and County. Judge Fong fines the City $700,000 and orders City to pay $10,000,000 to the Mamala Bay Study Commission, created from this award, to examine effects on marine ecosystems of discharging primary treated sewage into the Bay – Diamond Head to Barbers Point.

1994

HIGHLIGHTS

Muriel Seto, past executive director, is appointed by Governor Cayetano to the State Environmental Quality Control Commission.
Board president Arthur Getz assisted the Volcano Community Association in organizing its community plan.
Executive Director Donna Wong is a guest of the Western Region Environmental Protection Agency at a National Roundtable meeting in San Francisco.
HTF representative attends regularly scheduled Water Commission Stream Protection and Management meetings organized by Deputy Director Rae Loui.
Assisted in organizing the People’s Water Conference #9.
Muriel Seto represented HTF at the 1994 Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act conference and the Society for Hawaiian Archaeology Conference.

ISSUES

Worked on military site cleanup, toxic waste/chemical storage and disposal.
Monitored cumulative impact on Windward O’ahu water by Board of Water Supply’s present and proposed development of water wells.
Opposed use of agricultural land at North Shore O’ahu Lihi Lani development for non-agriculture related residential development.
Networked and provided information to local organizations on mainland Wise Use movement.
Opposed Central and Ewa O’ahu Development plans primarily because they allowed development beyond population projected in General Plan.

LEGAL

Board president Fred Madlener represented HTF at Waiahole Ditch Water Contested Case hearings before the State Commission on Water Resources.
HTF granted standing in Waiahole Ditch Water Contested Case hearing. HTF will be represented by attorney Jim Paul of Paul, Johnson, Park and Niles. He will argue the PUBLIC TRUST DOCTRINE.
HTF denied standing by the Board of Land and Natural Resources in the Ewa Marina contested case hearing.
Request for the Department of Health and Environmental Protection Agency to deny City waiver for Sand Island Wastewater Treatment Plant dropped.

1995

HIGHLIGHTS

Executive Director Donna Wong attended the National Growth Membership Leadership Project Conference in St. Paul Minneapolis.
HTF co-sponsored Land Use Tools: Land Trusts and Other Cooperative Approaches for Land Development and Stewardship Conference.
Muriel Seto represented HTF at the Society for Hawaiian Archaeology Conference.

ISSUES

Responded to proposed changes to Department of Land and Natural Resources Conservation District rules.
Executive Director Donna Wong represented HTF at workshops on streamlining O’ahu’s Land Use Ordinance.
Opposed proposed housing at former Kailua Drive-In site on O’ahu.
Worked with Rear Admiral Retz and the Navy on ways to improve communication between the Navy and outside community.

LEGAL

HTF is “amicus curiae” in the Pai ‘Ohana case on the Big Island to keep family on ancestral land.

1996

HIGHLIGHTS

A generous donation from Ethel Webster, in the name of her husband Lyle, allowed HTF to hire a graduate student to research the State Land Use Law for a future book on the law.
Board member Howard Criss represented HTF on the Pearl Harbor federally mandated Restoration Advisory Board. RAB participants advise on base pollution clean up.
Hosted a meeting with Berdt Ekholm, a member of the Swedish parliament and member of Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and political advisor to Minister of Environment.
Board president Fred Madlener represents HTF on the Kailua Bay Advisory Council.
Executive Director Donna Wong attended the National Growth Management Leadership Project Conference in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

LEGAL

Executive Director Donna Wong, board members Steve Kubota and Fred Madlener faithfully attended the 6-month Monday through Friday Waiahole Contested Case hearings.

ISSUES

Opposed Universal Synergetices Inc. of Hawai’i (Unisyn) food waste processing operation on agriculture land in Waimanalo.
Opposed Oceanside 1250 proposed golf course, housing and resort development on agriculture land in Kona on the Big Island.
Responded to the massive Environmental Impact Statement in opposition to placement of Hawaiian Electric Kaimoku-Pukele Transmission lines along Manoa Valley ridges.
After obtaining the Supreme Court mandated Special Management Area Permit, the City Council voted to demolish Camp Kailua.

1997

HIGHLIGHTS

Helped formulate Ko’olaupoko Community Development Plan Coalition to create a community planning process to promote broader public participation, encourage more citizen planning, and better monitoring coordination for compliance after the Development Plan is adopted.
Executive Director Donna Wong attended the National Growth Management Leadership Project Conference in Denver Colorado.
Participated in the efforts of the State Office of Planning to make changes to State Land Use Law
HTF’s Hawai’i Community Foundation funded Kalihi Valley Stream Project involved youth in steam cleanups, removal of alien fish, picking up litter and painting over graffiti.

ISSUES

Support the Ka Iwi Action Council in opposition to development along O’ahu’s Haunama Bay to Makapuu coastline.
Opposed the development of a home on Conservation Designated land in Kailua.
Opposed Kane’ohe Marine Base proposed housing on culturally significant Pu’u Hawai’i Loa.

LEGAL

Attorney Jim Paul presented closing arguments in the Waiahole Contested Case hearings.
State Commission on Water Resources issues their Proposed Findings of Fact Conclusions of Land and Decision and Order. The decision supported HTF’s PUBLIC TRUST DOCTRINE argument that stream water and the flora and fauna it sustains are public trust resources that the state has a trust responsibility to protect.

1998

HIGHLIGHTS

The State House of Representatives recognizes HTF and Donna Wong for “protecting and advocating for responsible land use, planning and management of Hawai’i's ‘aina.”
Executive Director Donna Wong served on the State Dept. of Transportation Freeway Management System Advisory Committee to improve the efficiency of O’ahu’s existing freeway system without building more freeways.
HTF, The Outdoor Circle and ‘Ilio’ulaokalani co-founded the Hawaiian Environmental Coalition to encourage statewide networking on legislative issues.
Executive Director Donna Wong attended NGMLP Conferences in New Mexico and San Francisco.
EPA funded Kalihi Community Resource Improvement Stream Project (K-CRISP Phase I) begins. This two year community-based effort is designed to help transform Kalihi Valley natural streams into community assets and sources of community pride through direct community involvement, stream cleanup, education, water quality monitoring and riparian and watershed awareness.
EPA funded O’ahu Environmental Justice Project is a one year project to assist three communities – Waimanalo, Ewa, Waianae – in improving collaboration and communication between mainstream environmental groups, Native Hawaiians, government agencies and decision-makers, with respect to environmental issues.

ISSUES

Support legislation to change the State Condominium Property Regime Law to prevent development of more residential units than allowed by county zoning.
Opposed Pua’ena Eco-Camp in Haleiwa. Developer proposes to build semi-permanent tents for tourists in an area county zoned ag and not identified for resort in the General Plan or Development Plan.
Provided comments on the extensive revision of O’ahu Land Use Ordinance.
Provided information on impacts to community, existing small businesses and traffic to those fighting development of Big Box stores.

LEGAL

Attorney Jim Paul presented closing arguments in the Waiahole Contested Case hearings.
HTF appeals State Commission on Water Resource Management decision to the Hawai’i Supreme Court.

1999

HIGHLIGHTS

Board member Chuck Prentiss is appointed to the Environmental Council by Governor Cayetano.
HTF assists Wailea Village on the Big Island in creating a community Land Trust for the town.
For the third year HTF co-sponsors the Partners for Smart Growth Conference organized by the California Local Government Commission.

ISSUES

HTF provided comments and suggestions to proposed changes to Land Use Commission rules.
HTF joined others fighting to preserve and enhance Kawainui Marsh by creation of an education center, opening lo’i for taro planting and watershed protection. The project did not go through.

2000

HIGHLIGHTS

After four years of fighting to pass legislation the legislature passes a Condominium Property Regime Law clarifying that the law can not be used to develop more units than county zoning allows.
For the tenth year HTF appeared before the legislature to oppose: weakening the State Land Use Law; elimination of the Land Use Commission and the Office of Planning; proliferation of non-agriculture uses on ag land; conversion of over 1 million acres of ag land to other land designations.
HTF supported passage of legislation requiring that Cultural Impact Statements must be part of Environmental Impact Statement process. The bill passed this year.
EPA and Hawai’i Community Foundation funded Kalihi Community Resource Improvement Stream Project (K-CRISP Phase II) begins. This two-year project will produce a professional-quality, multilingual educational video which will serve as an environmental, educational tool and conduct stream restoration, cleanup and outdoor educational activities along Kalihi steam.
HTF’s Small Farmers Survival Project begins. The Project seeks to ensure the continuation, growth and viability of subsistence and small farming activities in the state by identifying farming activities and advocating for available land.
HTF has been a part of the Ko’olaupoko Community Development Plan Coalition since its creation three years ago. This year the City Council passed the Plan into law.
Executive Director Donna Wong attended the NGMLP now called Growth Management Leadership Alliance Conference in Portland Oregon and is a member of the Department of Health’s Environmental Management Advisory Group.

ISSUES

HTF joined others in encouraging Mayor Harris to fill positions on the O’ahu Historic Preservation Commission. Issue is still pending.
HTF participates in a discussion group on what type of development is appropriate for makai side of Kakaako.
HTF has joined North Shore residents and organizations in advocating alternative uses and vision for Waimea Valley on O’ahu’s North Shore.
Responded to Environmental Impact Statement for Keopuka-housing, golf course, “members hale” for overnight guests development on agriculture designated land in Kona on the Big Island next to Captain Cook Marine Sanctuary.

LEGAL

The Hawai’i Supreme Court issues LANDMARK decision in support of HTF’s PUBLIC TRUST DOCTRINE arguments in the Waiahole Ditch Contested Case. The court concluded that the doctrine “applies to all water resources” in Hawai’i, above and below the surface of the ground, and that under the doctrine “the state has both the authority and duty to preserve the rights of present and future generations in waters of the state.”

2001 - 2021

Under construction - history highlights from 2001 on coming soon.

Annual reports from 2015 - 2021 are available on the About page.

The Present

For current projects and priorities, please check the Issues pages.