Legislator Spotlight
Legislator Spotlight: Representative Lisa Marten, Hawaii
April 4, 2024
WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO GET INVOLVED WITH ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES?
My father is an ecologist and I was raised camping in nature. I became alarmed about the lack of action on climate change about a decade ago and wanted to do what I could to change that situation. I started a non-profit that touchers thousands of students each year with climate change education and community native forestry, and used to advocate with the Hawaii State legislature for renewable energy. That advocacy made me decide to run for office so there would always be one more vote for the environment.
WHAT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES ARE YOU MOST PASSIONATE ABOUT?
The environmental issue that keeps me up at night is how quickly we will wean ourselves from fossil fuels. My first year, I helped pass a House and Senate Resolution declaring a Climate Emergency. I also have tried to push forward our local transition to renewable energy through Bill introductions and my votes.
HOW HAS NCEL HELPED YOU IN YOUR WORK?
This year I introduced bills requiring new residential construction to be EV / PV ready and to install PV on new developments over 10 units. NCEL gave me information immediately upon request about what had been done or tried in other states. Sadly, the bills did not pass, but they elevated the conversation about renewable energy and new construction.
WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY SUCCESS STORY?
Hawaii is sometimes called the extinction capitol of the world, which is due to habitat loss and the introduction of invasive species. Invasive species are also a problem for non-native but valued crops. This session I wrote bills to increase state funding to fight two invasive species of particular concern to farmers in my district: Coconut Rhinoceros Beetles and Little Fire Ants. Both now have funding to stabilize our efforts and to compete for more Federal funding. This particular effort came from the bottom up with farmers in my district and collaboration with our Department of Agriculture and Invasive Species Council.