As a fellow retired U.S. Air Force meteorologist, I read the recent column, “Be practical about isle climate policy” (Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, Oct. 19), with deep disappointment. Not only do I strongly disagree with its conclusions, but the author disregards the values that guided our military service: integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all we do.
Integrity means facing uncomfortable truths, not bending them for convenience or ideology. Service before self means acting for the greater good, not personal or political expediency. And excellence means striving to lead, not settling for mediocrity. The arguments in that column failed on all three counts.
The commentary’s authors claimed Hawaii’s contribution to global carbon emissions is so small that what we do “won’t matter.” But if every community had that attitude, no one would change. Yes, Hawaii’s total emissions are modest on a global scale, but our per capita emissions are among the highest anywhere. We burn imported fossil fuels for nearly everything: electricity, transportation, even water pumping. That gives us both a moral and strategic obligation to act.
Hawaii has shown before how our actions can matter far beyond our size. When we became the first state in the nation to commit to 100% renewable electricity, critics called it symbolic. Yet within a few years, a dozen other states adopted similar goals. Leadership inspires imitation. Our choices have influence just as one person doing the right thing can inspire others to follow.
Renewable energy isn’t just the moral path; it’s the smart, practical one. Clean energy is now the cheapest, most reliable, and most secure form of power for island communities like ours. The proof is on Kauai, which now generates nearly 60% of its electricity from renewable sources — twice as much as Oahu. Over the past year, Kauai’s residents have paid lower rates than those on Oahu, and they’ve enjoyed better reliability, thanks to the island’s extensive battery storage. That’s what energy independence looks like.
By contrast, the push to import liquefied natural gas (LNG) is a costly distraction. LNG is still a fossil fuel and locks us into decades of volatile prices, supply insecurity, and unnecessary emissions. There’s a reason California has retired over 5 gigawatts of gas power plants and doubled down on renewables: the economics and the science both point in the same direction.
And speaking of science, climate change is not a political debate. It’s measurable, observable, and grounded in the same atmospheric data and physical principles we studied in meteorology. The Air Force taught us to trust science because it saves lives — from forecasting typhoons to planning flight routes. To dismiss that science now is not “practical.” It’s reckless.
Hawaii can’t change the entire planet’s trajectory on its own, but we can change the conversation and demonstrate solutions. We can lead with integrity, make decisions grounded in evidence, and serve as a model for others to follow. That’s what true service looks like.
At a time when our federal government is backsliding on climate action and clean energy commitments, Hawaii’s leadership is more vital than ever. We can be the steady voice of integrity in a moment of doubt, the clear signal in a sea of political noise. We don’t need to wait for Washington to do the right thing. Our kuleana is to lead, to protect these islands, and to show the nation what service before self truly means.
https://www.staradvertiser.com/2025/10/26/editorial/island-voices/column-climate-change-real-isles-can-lead-on-green-energy/
