Hawaiian Electric has reached a three-year settlement with American Bird Conservancy (ABC) and the Conservation Council for Hawaii, represented by Earthjustice, to implement additional protective measures for endangered Hawaiian seabirds in Maui County. This agreement adds to Hawaiian Electric’s ongoing efforts to reduce seabird collisions with powerlines and will provide both immediate and long-term conservation benefits as the utility works with federal and state wildlife agencies on broader strategies.
The settlement targets two native seabird species—the endangered ‘Ua‘u (Hawaiian Petrel) and the threatened ‘A‘o (Newell’s Shearwater)—which are unique to Hawaii. These seabirds often encounter powerlines during their nighttime flights, sometimes resulting in collisions. To mitigate these risks, Hawaiian Electric will, over 2024 and 2025:
- Install line diverters in key flyway areas on Maui and Lāna‘i, enhancing line visibility for seabirds;
- Accelerate efforts to lower powerlines near the Haleakalā summit, adjacent to a significant ‘Ua‘u breeding colony;
- Contribute over $480,000 annually toward projects aimed at monitoring and restoring ‘Ua‘u habitats within Maui’s Nākula Natural Area Reserve and Kahikinui Forest Reserve;
- Continue studies on seabird interactions with powerlines to inform future protective measures.
As part of the settlement, Hawaiian Electric will maintain its commitment to obtaining necessary permits from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Hawaii Division of Forestry and Wildlife, in line with the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and state regulations. The company is also advancing a habitat conservation plan (HCP) first pledged in 2022 to mitigate seabird impacts associated with powerline operations.
Earlier this year, the conservation groups had notified Hawaiian Electric and Maui County of their intent to address seabird collisions with powerlines and concerns about seabird attraction to streetlights managed by the utility on behalf of Maui County. The agreement defers a decision on whether Hawaiian Electric needs an ESA permit for its Lāna‘i powerlines, and discussions around streetlight impacts on seabirds will proceed through either continued negotiation or litigation involving Maui County. Hawaiian Electric expects the federal court to approve the settlement, after which the case would be dismissed.
Earthjustice Attorney David Henkin, representing the conservation groups, expressed appreciation for Hawaiian Electric’s cooperation, calling for similar action from Maui County to address streetlight-related impacts on these seabird populations.
