Hawaii embodies conservation goals

Mr. President, visiting environmentalists, Hawaii residents: Welcome to the perfect storm.

Today is a day of rare convergence for Hawaii: The prestigious World Conservation Congress (WCC), held once every four years to discuss myriad environmental issues, opens this morning in a historic summit — the first in its 68-year history to be hosted in the United States. U.S. President Barack Obama returns to his Honolulu hometown in a two-day stopover to formally announce creation of the world’s largest marine sanctuary in the expanded Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument. And, of course, the twin storms of Madeline, then Lester, are roiling Hawaii and the Pacific.

By itself, the WCC is, and would’ve been, enough to generate a plethora of excitement. For the next 10 days, the summit brings together over 8,500 environmental policy-makers and researchers to discuss aspects of “Planet at the Crossroads.” Vital information is sure to be shared, leading to crucial conservation strategies expected in the future.

This is the ideal setting. Hawaii aspires to be in the forefront on many globally relevant “green” issues, from our landmark law setting the goal of 100 percent renewable-sourced energy by the year 2045; to bans on shark-fin harvesting and ivory-trade trafficking; to saving from extinction’s brink the nene goose, alala (Hawaiian crow) and silversword.

But Hawaii also holds dubious distinction as the nation’s endangered species capital, and our battle against invasive species is constant. The tree-killing fungus that causes rapid ohia death, for instance, currently threatens Hawaii’s tropical forests and delicate ecosystems, which in turn could jeopardize local water supplies. It’s imperative that the bell on such imminent dangers are rung early and loudly, to spur efforts and funds to combat spread. In this case, aid is coming: $497,000 in additional federal funding against the ohia fungus was just announced by the U.S. Department of the Interior.

Protection of ecosystems is crucial, in Hawaii and out, now and for the future. So it’s fitting that Obama has significantly expanded Papaha- naumokuakea, making its 582,578 square miles the world’s largest marine preserve that will be fishable only via permit after review. It seeks to protect over 7,000 marine species so that future generations will know and have the bountiful resources that exist today.

The conservation summit calls attention to a wide range of environmental-action imperatives — from biodiversity, to ecotourism, to protecting watershed and native forests, to sustainability, to rising sea change. To highlight but a few issues on Hawaii’s environmental radar:

>> As an island state, shoreline erosion is a real and increasing threat. A slew of sessions offer various strategies for adaptation and building resilience and resilient communities, for coastal erosion management, and sharing of experiences for the protection of vulnerable people and spaces.

>> There can be a conflict of causes when it comes to renewable energy and preserving wildlife, such as dangers posed by wind turbines to birds and bats, or by undersea cables or offshore windfarms to marine life. One panel, for example, will focus on renewable energy infrastructure as a common threat to many species of wildlife across the globe.

>> Constant pressure from commercial and residential developments make it a struggle to manage biodiversity in the built environment. One session, for instance, will explore systemic threats such as long-term water shortages as well as the accommodation of innovations, such as “green” buildings, amid concerns of urban sustainability.

>> The hurricanes Madeline and Lester call to mind the damage done in recent years by storm-tossed albizia trees, a thriving invasive species here that downed power lines on Hawaii island, causing substantial damage and inconvenience.

Today and through the week, it’s all about nature. Madeline and Lester remind us that living in the middle of the Pacific Ocean means living at the whims of climate and the dictates of geography. But once the storms and the WCC world spotlight fade, it will be left to Hawaii’s citizens to caretake this special place we call home. Change is inevitable, but it’s on us to make smart decisions and policies that remain true to the state’s motto, more prescient today than it ever was: Ua mau ke ea o ka aina i ka pono — the life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness.