Conservation Council for Hawaii

A Hawaii judge halted the redevelopment of a Ritz-Carlton resort on Oahu’s North Shore due to outdated environmental reviews, specifically citing the increased presence of endangered Hawaiian yellow-faced bees near the project site. The court ordered further environmental studies to assess potential harm to the area, including critical habitats for native species like the bees, Laysan albatross, and Hawaiian monk seals.

A federal judge has ruled that a lawsuit against Maui County over claims that streetlights disorient and kill endangered seabirds must proceed to trial. Conservation groups allege the county's streetlights violate the Endangered Species Act by harming three protected species, while the county disputes the causal link between its lighting and bird deaths.