Featured chapter: CCL Hawaii

CCL Hawaii has chapters spread all across the islands — but they’re more connected than ever! Hawaii State Coordinators Ron Reilly, Noel Morin, Ashley Boggs and Paul Bernstein coordinate a monthly meeting for all Hawaii chapters. The State Coordinators maintain a website for CCL Hawaii and send a monthly email to all the Hawaii group leaders, who pass it on to their members.

Ron says, “It is great to work across the Hawaiian Islands with CCL’s optimistic and politely persistent chapter members. They inspire us!”

That optimism and persistence has been on display in the state for more than seven years. University of Hawaii student Zoe Whitney originally started the Hawaii Island chapter back in 2017, and Mark White started the Maui chapter in 2018. Tamara Staton, Nick Davis, Chip Cox, Sarah Moore and Virginia Tincher re-energized the Honolulu chapter in 2018. And in 2020, Helen Cox and her husband started the Kauai chapter.

CCL Hawaii has a particularly strong media presence. Since 2024, members have had at least 13 letters and 16 op-eds published. An op-ed in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser last December urged more support for clean energy permitting reform, and an op-ed in the Honolulu Civil Beat argued for carbon cashback policy. Canary Media highlighted that op-ed in their newsletter, showing that CCL Hawaii’s reach goes far beyond their own state.

Members have also presented at the Lahaina Sunset Rotary Club on Maui, ThinkTech Hawaii media station, Kauai Climate Action Forum, Oahu Climate Reality Project, Maui Faith Action and Hawaii Public Radio.

As we head into Earth Month, CCLers Paul Bernstein and Noel Morin say, “You can find us tabling for climate solutions on all the islands.” Great work, CCL Hawaii!