In a legal push for avian safety, environmental advocates have taken Maui County and Hawaiian Electric to federal court, seeking a change in street lighting protocol that currently impairs the nocturnal navigation of endangered birds. The lawsuit, which was filed in the U.S. District Court in Honolulu, targets the bright lights of Maui's streets, alleging they cause disorientation among the 'Ua'u (Hawaiian petrel), 'Akē'akē (Hawaii's band-rumped storm-petrel), and the 'A'o (Newell’s shearwater), according to The Maui News. These species depend on the moon and stars to guide them, and confusion from the artificial glow can lead to their fatal plummeting to the ground.
Representing the environmental faction, Earthjustice attorney David Henkin has emphasized the county's obligation to introduce protective measures for these birds, yet effective programs have not materialized as per the lawsuit. As they fall prey to predators once grounded, Henkin argues that proactive steps must be taken. In response, officials from Hawaiian Electric have indicated a commitment to address the issue, pointing to a recent agreement aimed at reinforcing efforts to decrease potential threats to these feathered residents, as reported by KITV.
The Conservation Council for Hawaii is pushing for practical solutions such as the reduction of the blue-light spectrum emitted by streetlights—a method that has seen success in Hawaii County. "Maui should follow suit," urged Jonee Peters, the Conservation Council's executive director, as noted by The Maui News. These changes could mitigate the ongoing threats that the streetlights pose to the survival and recovery of these seabirds.
As conservation efforts continue, Mahesh Cleveland, another Earthjustice attorney, echoed the urgency of these measures in a statement obtained by KITV, insisting this litigation is part of an "ongoing movement to try to protect these birds for future generations." The plight of these seabirds is critical, facing numerous hazards, with Cleveland urging for expedient and cooperative resolutions akin to recent gains made with the Grand Wailea Resort and Hawaiian Electric relating to other light- and powerline-related threats.
Currently, the County of Maui has restrained from commenting on the matter due to the pending litigation, while Hawaiian Electric reaffirms their participation in the discussion. "We are also committed to working with the conservation groups and Maui County to reach a timely and effective resolution of this matter," Hawaiian Electric officials said in their statement, as per the KITV report. Conservationists remain hopeful that this legal action will lead to a brighter future—ironically, by way of dimmer lights—for Maui's native seabirds, embarking on their nocturnal journeys guided by the celestial lights above, free from the disorientation of humankind's terrestrial luminescence.
