Environmental Review

Kaheawa Wind 1 is subject to an environmental review at both state and federal levels in accordance with the Hawai‘i Environmental Policy Act (HEPA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The facility is located on state lands within a conservation district and is subject to the Hawai‘i Revised Statutes (HRS) Chapter 343 with the Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) serving as the approving agency. Additionally, a federal environmental review through the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) is necessary to review the federal  action of issuing an Incidental Take Permit.

A Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) the Kaheawa Wind 1 Continued Use Project (Project) has been accepted in accordance with the State of Hawai’i’s EIS law (HRS, Chapter 343) and the State of Hawai’i’s EIS rules, Hawai‘i Administrative Rules (HAR) Title 11, Chapter 200.1. The FEIS was published in the State of Hawai’i Environmental Review Program’s December 23, 2025 edition of The Environmental Notice. The document is accessible through the link below:

In January 2026, DLNR DOFAW approved the updated State Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) and issued a new ITL covering the Project’s extended operational period.  The covered species includes the following:

• ʻŌpe‘ape‘a or Hawaiian hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus semotus);
• Nēnē or Hawaiian goose (Branta sandvicensis);
• ‘A‘o or Newell’s shearwater (Puffinus newelli);
• ʻUaʻu or Hawaiian petrel (Pterodroma sandwichensis);
• ʻAkēʻakē or Band-rumped storm petrel (Oceanodroma castro)
• Nalo Meli Maoli or Yellow-faced bee (Hylaeus assimulans)

Kaheawa Wind 1 is also coordinating with the USFWS on the federal HCP and associated ITP to support continued operations.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is required to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for the federal action of issuance of an Incidental Take Permit under Section 10(a)(1)(B) of the federal Endangered Species Act.  This review will occur once the Habitat Conservation Plan has been drafted.