For many, Hawaiʻi means a vacation filled with relaxation, pristine warm beaches, and an escape from the stress of our daily lives; a time to enjoy all the beauty the islands have to offer. But for those who live in Hawaiʻi, there is no denying the realities of how climate change is affecting the islands and changing the environmental landscape. These changes motivated thirteen youth from across the Hawaiian Islands to act and hold their government accountable for actively contributing to the climate crisis. With strong constitutional and statutory provisions, as well as their desire to protect their lives and the islands that they love, the youth plaintiffs were set up for success in the courts. 

As many in our community anticipate the challenges of the months and years ahead, we are grateful that we have impact litigation as a tool to push back against injustice and seek accountability for harmful practices. Our newest grantees are doing amazing work on behalf of incarcerated people, immigrant detainees, agricultural workers, rural communities, and people of color. In our fall grantmaking cycle, we granted $150,000 to support seven impact lawsuits challenging injustice across the country. We are excited to share their inspiring stories. 

You might wonder what litigation has to do with democracy.   In her brilliant book, In Praise of Litigation, Professor Alexandra Lahav explains exactly that.  She persuasively argues that litigation advances important democratic values and facilitates self-government. Put simply, litigation allows an ordinary person—regardless of social status—to bring a multi-national corporation to court to account for breaking the law and causing injury.  Ordinary citizens, acting as jurors, in turn hold the power to weigh the evidence and determine whether the law has been broken. In this way, Lahav observes, litigation both reinforces social equality and ensures that no person in our democracy is above the law.