2019 People's Congress

NOVEMBER 23rd, 2019

Locations

Conference: UH William S. Richardson School of Law (8:30AM-4:00PM)

2515 Dole Street
Honolulu, HI 96822

Reception: Ka Waiwai (4:00-9:00PM)

1110 University Avenue #100 Honolulu, HI 96826
in the historic Varsity Building
– Ka Mōʻiliʻili –

8:30 - 9:00am Breakfast + Registration

9:00 - 10:30am  Opening Protocol & Plenary Panel: Towards a Just Transition (Classroom 2)

Panelists will discuss the theme of this 2019 People's Congress: Towards a "Just Transition” - According to the recent IPCC report we have approximately ten years to decarbonize our economy and cut carbon emissions in half. The Green New Deal provides one policy framework for equitably transitioning our economy. What are Hawaiʻi’s homegrown solutions to addressing our interconnected climate and inequality crises? How are these solutions informed by Aloha ʻĀina, and the centering of indigenous wisdom.

Panelists:

Maxine Burket, Professor of Law - William S. Richardson School of Law (Climate Change Law and Policy, Torts, Ocean and Coastal Law, and International Law).

Malia Hulleman, Aloha ʻĀina activist and water protector who previously lived at the Standing Rock camp.

Dr. Jamaica Heolimeleikalani Osorio, poet, activist, scholar, Aloha ʻĀina, Assistant Professor of Indigenous and Native Hawaiian Politics - University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.

Josh Stanbro, Chief Resilience Officer & Executive Director - City & County of Honolulu Office of Climate Change, Sustainability & Resiliency.

Walter Ritte, Executive Director - ʻĀina Momona; Aloha ʻĀina activist.

Ikaika Hussey (moderator), Organizer - Unite Here! Local 5.

10:45am - 12:00pm: MORNING BREAKOUT SESSIONS

1) ʻĀina-based Jobs & Indigenous Economies (Classroom 2): Exploring how maoli communities are adapting their practices for a modern context. These "indigenous economies" provide a roadmap for how Hawaiʻi is uniquely positioned to create homegrown solutions to our climate crisis rooted in ancestral practices and values. How might these models be brought to scale while also responding to the uniqueness of place?

Panelists:

Shaelene Kamakaʻala - Board Member, Hoaka ʻĀina Kupono, Kahana Valley

Nick Reppun, Farm Manager - Kākoʻo ʻŌiwi

Charlie Young, Board Member - KUPA-Friends of the Hoʻokena Beach Park 

Kamuela Enos, Social Enterprise Director - MAʻO Organic Farms (moderator)

2) Cost of Climate (Classroom 3): Hawaiʻi made headlines with its commitment to clean energy and a decarbonized economy. Now comes the hard part. How do we achieve these goals in ways that do not further exacerbate issues of inequality in our society and also do not break the bank? This panel will grapple with the issues of equity and expediency, resiliency and limited resources that underpin every climate policy being considered. We aim to identify key elements of a decision-making framework that ensures a truly just transition to a carbon-free future.

Scott Glenn, CEO - Hawaiʻi State Energy Office

Senator Jarrett Keohokalole, Chair of the Senate Committee on Technology, represents Windward Oʻahu.

Nicole Woo, Senior Policy Analyst - Hawaiʻi Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice

Laurien “Lala” Nuss, Resilience & Equity Manager - City & County of Honolulu Office of Climate Change, Sustainability & Resiliency

Marti Townsend (moderator), Director - Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi

3) Smarter Cities, Stronger Islands (Classroom 1): According the State’s Sea Level Rise and Vulnerability and Adaptation Report, within the next 50 years our coastal towns, roads and infrastructure will be under water as sea level is anticipated to rise 3-6 feet. This panel will examine how we equitably and sustainably adapt our in the face of these climate impacts.

Panelists:

John Whalen, Chairperson - Hawaii Community Development Authority

Peter Savio, Developer - Savio Development Corp.

Wookie Kim, Staff Attorney - ACLU

Ikaika Hussey (moderator), Organizer - Unite Here! Local 5

12:00 - 12:30pm Break & Grab Lunch

12:30 - 2:00pm Lunch Plenary Panel: Movement Ecologies (classroom 2):

What are the various mechanisms for creating change and how might we understand them as part of a larger movement ecology? These panelists discuss how they are utilizing a variety of approaches: electoral politics, advocacy, grassroots organizing and non-violent direct action to effective change.

Panelists:

Keani Rawlins Fernandez, Maui County Council

Ana Nawahine Kahoopii, Aloha ʻĀina Party

Kaniela Ing - former State House Representative, District 11

Andre Perez - HULI

Vicky Holt Takamine - Executive Director, Paʻi Foundation

2:15 - 3:30pm AFTERNOON BREAKOUT SESSIONS

1) G3ND: Gender, Globalization and the Green New Deal (Classroom 2): This panel will examine how interconnected systems of colonialism, patriarchy and capitalism have led us to the brink, and how the solutions to these crises must emerge from indigenous frontline communities. This panel will more specifically bring a feminist lens to addressing our interrelated climate and inequality crises.

Panelists:

Ruth Aloua - Mahiʻai; Kiaʻi loko; Aloha ‘Āina; Poet

Yvonne Mahelona, Coordinator - AFI3RM; Kiaʻi

Maile Naehu, Director - Moloka'inuiahina Project; Aloha ‘Āina; Artist; Performer, Educator & Community Organizer

Khara Jabola-Carolus, Executive Director - Hawaiʻi Commission on the Status of Women

2) Transforming Hawaii’s Food System to Achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 (Classroom 3): To advance and sustain, through agri-food system change in Hawaii, the following goals: 1.) ecological sustainability; 2.) social equity; 3.) human health and nutrition; 4.) biocultural restoration of Hawaii land and seascapes; 5.) climate change adaptation and mitigation; 6.) security/disaster preparedness; and 7.) sustainable economic development.

1. What would an Integrated policy agenda look like for food system transformation to achieve such a vision?

2. What are the appropriate organizational vehicle(s) and political strategies needed to develop an integrated policy agenda and action plan to realize the vision?

Kamuela Enos, Social Enterprise Director - MAʻO Organic Farms

Anne Frederick, Executive Director - HAPA

Daniela Kittinger, Hunger Coalition Director - Hawaiʻi Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice

Albie Miles, Assistant Professor, Sustainable Community Food Systems - University of Hawai'i, West O'ahu (moderator)

3) Energy for a Green New Deal (Classroom 1): What do we mean when we say “renewable”? Are we considering social justice? Scale? Carbon emissions? How can we equitably meet Hawaii’s renewable energy goals? What is truly "renewable"?

Nicole Chatterson - Zero Waste Oʻahu

Henry Curtis, Director - Life of the Land

Kent Fonoimoana, Kahuku resident and Kia'i

Richard Wallsgrove, Assistant Professor - UH William S. Richardson School of Law

Koohan Paik, Founder - Pacific Earth Institute (moderator)

4:00 - 9:00pm  RECEPTION AT WAIWAI COLLECTIVE

Music, Mahalos, Food & Networking