Hawaii People’s Congress 2019

The theme of the 2019 Hawaiʻi People’s Congress, held at the UH Richardson School of Law, was “Towards a Just Transition and the Green New Deal.” 

As we witness the acceleration of the crisis of inequity as well as the crisis of climate, we are required to envision and act in creative ways, like never before. To address the magnitude of the challenges, we designed the 2019 People’s Congress to build intersectional alliances across groups and issues that are typically siloed. Among strategies to advance a “just transition” toward a circular, decarbonized economy with good jobs, justice and equity, and zero waste is the “Green New Deal.” The People’s Congress held several panels that examined what a Green New Deal for Hawaiʻi would look like. We also discussed entirely new models.

From left to right, Ruth Aloua, Yvonne Mahelona, and Maile Naehu enjoy themselves on the panel entitled “G3ND: Gender, Globalization and the Green New Deal.”

From left to right, Ruth Aloua, Yvonne Mahelona, and Maile Naehu enjoy themselves on the panel entitled “G3ND: Gender, Globalization and the Green New Deal.”

The topics of the panels were:

  • Opening Protocol & Plenary Panel: Toward a Just Transition

  • Aina-based Jobs & Indigenous Economies

  • Climate Justice for Hawaii

  • Smarter Cities, Stronger Islands

  • Lunch Plenary Panel: Movement Ecologies

  • G3ND: Gender, Globalization and the Green New Deal

  • Transforming our Food Systems

  • Energy for a Green New Deal

The plenary panel “Inside/Outside 2.0/Movement Ecosystems” featured speakers (L. to R.) Keani Rawlins-Fernandez, Vicky Holt Takamine, Kaniela Ing, Ana Nawahine Kahoopii and Andre Perez.

The plenary panel “Inside/Outside 2.0/Movement Ecosystems” featured speakers (L. to R.) Keani Rawlins-Fernandez, Vicky Holt Takamine, Kaniela Ing, Ana Nawahine Kahoopii and Andre Perez.