In The Age Of Misinformation, Climate Literacy Matters More Than Ever
Authored byBy Mele Kānealiʻi, Lehua Norris
Publishedon the Honolulu Civil Beat on March 27, 2026.
In a world where misinformation spreads faster than understanding, building climate and information literacy is how we begin to protect Hawai‘i’s future.
Hawaiʻi’s students are already living the reality of climate change. From stronger storms to increased wildfire and drought risk, our youth can no longer afford purely symbolic gestures of change. Yet in many classrooms, climate education remains inconsistent, optional, and disconnected from the realities they face every day.
This legislative session, a bill has once again been introduced that would require climate literacy education in Hawaiʻi Department of Education schools. House Bill 1925 has now crossed over to the Senate, signaling growing recognition that preparing young people for the future means ensuring we have the knowledge and tools to understand the environmental and civic systems shaping our lives.
However, in the current political climate and among digital environments where social media often becomes a primary source of news for young people, climate literacy is also about understanding how misinformation spreads.
When disasters occur or policies are debated online, misleading or incomplete information can spread quickly, shaping how communities understand risk, response, and responsibility. Building climate literacy among young people must entail the ability to identify reliable sources, question narratives, and understand how decisions affecting our communities are made.
At the same time, House Bill 2218 highlights the importance of connecting youth to both the land and the communities that care for it. By giving the Department of Land and Natural Resources clearer authority to enter into co-management agreements with community groups, the bill creates opportunities for youth to engage in hands-on stewardship, place-based learning, and ʻāina-centered education, teaching us about sustainability, resilience, and community responsibility in ways that classroom learning alone cannot.
This is especially important as climate change is not the sole driver of these challenges, but can intensify them alongside historical and contemporary land and water management practices across both public and private systems that have diverted water resources and reshaped how ecosystems absorb and respond to environmental stress. These measures also empower us to participate meaningfully in shaping the future of the places we love.
As youth commissioners, we are working to bring these conversations into the open. Across Hawaiʻi, young people are already stepping into civic spaces by testifying at county councils and the Legislature, organizing community discussions and partnering with local organizations to strengthen community resilience.
Two bills pending before the Hawaiʻi Legislature would help empower students to participate meaningfully in shaping the future of the islands. (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2025)
To support these efforts, the Hawaiʻi State Youth Commission is hosting two upcoming webinars in April designed to connect youth with policymakers, community organizations, and advocates across Hawaiʻi.
The first, Climate Literacy Webinar on April 11, will feature speakers including Hawaiʻi State Rep. Tina Nakada Grandinetti, one of the climate literacy bill’s 18 introducers, along with community organizations such as the Maui Huliau Foundation and the Climate Future Forum, who will discuss what climate literacy means and how young people can take action in their communities.
The second, Disaster Preparedness & Information Literacy Webinar on April 18, will feature PONO Legal Services, Kaheāwai Media, Nā Leo o Papakōlea Firewise, and the Honolulu Youth Commission, who will focus on disaster preparedness, information literacy, and youth- and community-led resilience efforts.
These webinars are just one step, but we hope they can help connect youth with ongoing movements and community efforts. We believe it’s our responsibility to learn from those who have dedicated their lives to caring for Hawaiʻi and to continue their work.
By understanding climate issues, recognizing misinformation and engaging with the systems shaping our communities, we can start making meaningful contributions toward becoming more informed stewards of our home.
Click here to learn more and RSVP to attend (open to students, educators, and community members).
