Climate Conversations

This page shares social media campaigns, films, art and other youth projects related to climate change. Most projects were produced by students in our leadership, filmmaking and climate literacy programs. We share these projects to amplify youth voices and perspectives on climate change, and to help inspire personal and global climate action.

Student Projects Investigating Climate Change Solutions

The goal of our Huliau Climate Literacy Project is to build climate literacy in our community by supporting teachers in teaching about climate change and encouraging an inclusive conversation about climate change solutions. During the 2021-2022 school year, 535 students from 5 different schools participated in the program. After investigating the causes and impacts of climate change, students researched solutions. They explored Project Drawdown’s climate change solutions focusing on reducing greenhouse gases by avoiding emissions and/or by sequestering carbon dioxide already in the atmosphere. In addition to the solution they researched, they used the UN’s Sustainable Development goals to identify how their solution related to these goals in creating a more just and sustainable world for all. Here are some of the innovative solutions students researched and presented as their final project.

Reduced Food Waste

Project by 8th grade ʻĪao Intermediate students

Indigenous Peoples' Forest Tenure

Project by 11th grade students at King Kekaulike High School

Bamboo Production

Project by 9th grade Kīhei Charter HS students

 

Waste to Energy in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi

Project by 11th grade Kula Kaiapuni ‘o Lahainaluna students

 

LED Lighting

Project by 11th grade Kīhei Charter HS students 

 

Electric Trains

Project by 10th grade Kīhei Charter HS students 

 

Geothermal Energy

Project by 8th grade ʻĪao Intermediate students

 

Ocean Power

Project by 9th grade Kīhei Charter HS students

 

Sustainable Roofs

Project by 11th grade King Kekaulike HS students 

 

Public Transportation

Project by 7th grade Kīhei Charter students

 

Instagram Posters for COP26

Our Huliau Leadership Council students created the Instagram posters and caption below as part of #EyesonCOP26 social-media campaign encouraging world leaders at the COP26 climate change conference in Glasgow to take meaningful action on climate change. These posters are being shared on Maui Huliau Foundation’s Instagram and Facebook accounts during the conference November 1st-12th. You can see their posters in the slider below. You can also make your own poster with the #EyesonCOP26 hashtag and tag @mauihuliau and @COP26uk on Instagram or Facebook to add your voice to the global call for action on climate change.

#EyesonCOP26

This is the promo video for Connect4Climate’s #EyesonCOP26 Campaign.

#DontChooseExtinction

This video was produced by the UN leading up to COP26.

Julia, 11th grade, Kekaulike High School

As a citizen of a coastal community, I am calling on world leaders @Cop26uk to take purposeful action in order to prevent imminent sea level rise  because often those who contribute the least are impacted the most. In many global coastal communities, and often ones who contribute very little to climate change, sea levels are rising. Whole communities are sinking into the ocean. It is the inherent responsibility of those in charge to take accountability and take action to prevent  more innocent lives from being impacted. Leaders have the power and resources to make a difference, and I am begging you to do so before more people lose their livelihood.

Naomi, 10th grade, Hawaiʻi Technology Academy

As a young girl, I am calling on world leaders @Cop26uk to help stop climate change! Take meaningful action to limit warming to 1.5°C, because to protect the earth from wildfires, keeps the trees, plants, and forests safe, which keeps the earth clean and beautiful and the air breathable. We need to take action to keep the earth clean, beautiful, and a safe place to live, for future generations and other species. We only have ONE EARTH!!! There’s no backup.

Jaston, 12th grade, Kamehameha Schools Maui

As a member of the next generation…I am challenging the leaders of the world @Cop26uk to enforce reforms throughout energy, trash, and overall reduce global warming. When I was younger, we were able to spend time outside, but now the heat prevents what was once activities that everyone could enjoy. Please help not just us, but the generations that come after, what you decide now affects those in the future. Please make the right choice.

Keanu, 11th Grade, Haleakalā Waldorf

Being born into a world where climate problems won’t be fully observed by the people who created them is something that young people like me must accept, however unfair it is. I still plead to world leaders @cop26uk to act on solutions that will keep global warming below 1.5 celsius. Our coral reefs, oceans overall, forests, wildlife, and our own homes must be protected and the power is held by you.

Gizelle, 10th grade, Kekaulike High School

Being born into a world where climate problems won’t be fully observed by the people who created them is something that young people like me must accept, however unfair it is. I still plead to world leaders @cop26uk to act on solutions that will keep global warming below 1.5 celsius. Our coral reefs, oceans overall, forests, wildlife, and our own homes must be protected and the power is held by you.

Elisa, 12th grade, Kīhei Charter School

As a young person who cares about her future, I am calling on world leaders @COP26uk to help dedicate the youth to protect the only planet that we have. Dedicating the youth can open their eyes to the dangerous changes the planet is facing and motivate them to make a  positive outcome. Change begins with one act that leads to more.  The youth of this world are underestimated about the power that we hold in our hands. We can persuade the people around us to start caring and take action. 

Emma, 9th grade, Kamehameha Schools Maui

As a young girl, I am calling on leaders @Cop26uk to take meaningful action to limit warming to 1.5 C to protect our earth. It will lead to our sea levels rising, heatwaves, water shortages, and droughts. We need to take action before our home canʻt be our home anymore.

Jasyah, 12th grade, Kamehameha Schools Maui

As a member of the next generation of humans…I challenge @Cop26uk to make our planet run on 50 % renewable energy in the next 20-25 years. Renewable energy is one of the ways to not only decrease the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere, but gives plants and other organisms a chance to clear up the CO2 to cool down the planet naturally. I no longer want the planet to be hot enough to burn wildlife from the sun and heat alone. Please help the planet stay under 1.5 degrees Celsius so we are not suffering from the summer heats in the mid-winter months. 

Aotea, 10th grade, West River Academy (home school)

This is my invitation to all world leaders at @Cop26uk to unite in defending and rejuvenating our ecosystems, strengthen our defenses against natural disasters, and replenish our livelihood. I am young and I wish to grow up on a restored and prospering planet that all mankind can enjoy now. I hope to help defend those in other countries who struggle with the upsetting effects of climate change and privation. I believe that coming together and securing our aina will foster a happy home life for everybody.

Cienna, 10th grade, Kamehameha Schools Maui

As a keiki o ka ʻāina, I am calling on world leaders @Cop26uk to take meaningful action to limit warming to 1.5°C because we need to make a change now before things get worse. We can’t go back to a 100% clean world but we can do things to prevent our earth from being completely destroyed. I think if even a few people have that desire to help out the environment it can plant seeds to start the idea in the brains of others to also help them be conscious too. One person can make a HUGE impact. It starts with you.

Magnolia, 9th grade, Kekaulike High School

Did you know ocean habitats that include sea greasses, mangroves and reefs can sequester 4X more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than that of a forest? I am calling on global leaders at @Cop26uk to protect at least 30% of our ocean by 2030. Saving our oceans and the communities of plants and animals that live in it, can help save our planet and offset our harmful human practices that are damaging our world.

Jojo, 11th grade, Kekaulike High School

As a future beneficiary of our Earth, I am calling on world leaders @Cop26uk to take meaningful action to limit our global CO2 emissions that directly contribute to the extreme weather patterns our world is already experiencing due to climate change. Here on Maui, both extreme flooding and fires are huge concerns to the community, and in addition to reducing our carbon footprint as a whole, threat mitigation is also an essential part of combating these issues. This can include better infrastructure specifically for climate change effects: for example, changing the way our storm drains work so excess water from surges and excessive rainfall doesn’t flood inland communities. While threat mitigation is essential, I’m calling on you to reduce our burning of fossil fuels most greatly impacts these extreme weather patterns, and immediate action must be taken.

Student Projects on Climate Change

The projects below were created by our Leadership students during spring of 2021.

Sea Level Rise Adaptation Film

This short film covers some of the impacts that sea level rise will have on Maui’s coastlines and four adaptation strategies that can be used to mitigate some of these impacts. It was created by four of our Huliau Leadership Council students with guidance from Tara Owens, Coastal Processes and Hazards Specialist from University of Hawaiʻi’s Sea Grant College Program. You can learn more about our leadership program for Maui students in grades 9-12 at mauihuliaufoundation.org/leadership

Low “Foodprint” Recipes

This Prezi video and series of TikTok videos were produced by four of our leadership students and feature four low “foodprint” recipes. Students researched each ingredient’s carbon footprint, and generally focused their recipes on plant-based local ingredients. You can watch all the videos in the playlist below and download their written recipes here.

Climate Resilent Native Plants

Survey on Renewable Energy

Some of the student art and program activities featured above were funded in partnership with Krause Family Foundation: ʻAlana Ke Aloha by a grant from the Hawai‘i Council for the Humanities, through support from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed on this webpagedo not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Our Climate Literacy Project is funded in part by the Makana Aloha Foundation and the Cooke Foundation. 

Our Leadership Council is funded in part by a grant from the Johnson ʻOhana Foundation, founded by Kim and Jack Johnson to support environmental, art, and music education.