HAPA’s Impact In 2024 and Onward!
As we round out 2024, we at the Hawaiʻi Alliance for Progressive Action (HAPA) would like to wish a happy holiday and a happy new year to you and your ʻohana. Thanks to supporters like you, HAPA has grown into an organization that is moving the needle towards a more just Hawaiʻi.
Please consider supporting HAPA’s work in your end of year giving!
HAPA has four program areas working in parallel, toward accomplishing our mission: empowering communities and building systemic change towards a society that values ‘āina and people ahead of corporate profits.
Here are some highlights of what we’ve been able to accomplish together over the past year and where we are going.
FAIR & SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS
Generated more than 30 action alerts for food systems transformation bills, mobilizing 62% of the testimony in support.
Three partner-led, HAPA-supported food & ag bills passed in 2024!
Supported food systems leaders with training in community organizing with Hawaiʻi Appleseed.
Growing an active base of close to 20k subscribers for our alerts
Won our appeal in a lawsuit to hold Syngenta accountable for their lack of environmental review of the impacts of their activities in a sensitive coastal area in West Kauaʻi.
Processed two years’ worth of data on restricted use pesticide (RUP) usage in Hawaiʻi to provide transparency and accessible information for impacted communities. Data to be released in 2025.
Partnered with UH School of Public Health to study pesticide impacts in frontline communities.
Launched our quarterly Food Systems Digest to highlight compelling media coverage of food systems issues and news related to our campaigns.
Launched our Pesticides & Public Health Pop-Ed Series.
Provided regular educational events, panels, and webinars on food systems policy and HAPA’s food systems campaigns.
RECLAIMING DEMOCRACY
Kuleana Academy: HAPA’s political leadership accelerator program
Hosted two in-person alumni gatherings to build pilina with our alumni network.
17 Kuleana Academy alumni ran for county council, state house, and state senate in 2024. 11 Kuleana Academy alumni are currently elected and serving in public office.*
Ongoing storytelling about our alumni network and their impact.
Preparing the launch of Kuleana Academy’s 8th cohort in early 2025.
*HAPA is not implying support for any candidate and did not participate in any political campaigns. As a 501c3 we are non-partisan, and do not support candidates or political campaigns.
Good Governance Campaign
Launched a petition and sign-on letter in support of good governance rule changes at the state legislature and collected over 1600 signatures in support.
Presented and won support for a resolution in support of good governance reforms at nine neighborhood boards, with another three neighborhood boards in the process of voting on our resolution.
COMMUNITY BASED RESOURCES STEWARDSHIP
Sent 13 alerts to mobilize engagement for protection of ʻāina, wai and kai including:
Increasing our support for de-militarization efforts.
Continuing to watchdog and mobilize engagement around ADC lands (NPDES permits).
Mobilizing support for a bill to address undue political influence at the Water Commission.
Ongoing support for streamflow restoration efforts across the pae ʻāina.
Mobilizing support for lokoʻia (fishpond) restoration bills at the legislature.
SOCIAL & ECONOMIC JUSTICE
Mobilized support for nine partner campaigns and actions, including worker rights, labor struggles, the Gaza ceasefire resolution, de-militarization efforts, criminal justice reform, paid family leave, tax fairness, and support for equitable housing solutions for communities impacted by the Lāhainā fires, generating 24 action alerts for these campaigns.
Supported 22 actions, rallies, and marches for the campaigns and coalitions mentioned above.
Provided communications amplification and support for Kapiʻolani Nurses during their strike for better working conditions.
