Light pollution in Hawaii

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Light pollution country versus city. Light pollution country versus city.png
Light pollution country versus city.

Light pollution is the presence of unwanted artificial light that brightens the night sky. Improperly shielded lights are the source of many of the issues regarding the light pollution in Hawai'i. [1] Urban centers in the cities are often so bathed in light that over a hundred kilometers from the city's edge, the light pollution resulting from the glow is present. [2] Fabio Falchi is quoted as stating that “light pollution is one of the most pervasive forms of environmental alteration” due to its destructive nature in both un- and protected areas such as national parks. [3] Dark night skies are an important natural, cultural, scientific, educational, and economic resource for Hawai‘i. [4]

Contents

One of the major cultural importance of the night sky is its use as a guide for Polynesians who first travelled to the islands, allowing tourists and native residents to connect with their history. [5]   Light pollution may also affect the cultural celebration of Makahiki – the start of the Hawaiian New Year – which relies on the movement of the stars. [6]

Effects

Effects on the economy

The night sky has a significant economic impact on the islands of Hawai’i. The University of Hawai’i notes that 1,313 residents were employed in the astronomy sector, and $221 billion in total revenue was generated in 2019. [7] This sector, however, is not directly linked to the tourist industry. While this sector is noted as sustainable, the necessary infrastructure and research techniques employed are opposed to by many native Hawaiians. The Mauna Kea Observatory is located on sacred land protected by the Historical Preservation Act, [8] and it's night sky – noted by some to be one of the clearest on the island – has become notably disrupted by the light pollution found in primarily urban and economic sectors.

Efforts to minimise the effects of light pollution within the state in order to protect the night sky have been ongoing. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs established a dark skies protection committee in 2017 in order to mediate the amount of light pollution present, primarily surrounding Maui and Honolulu. [9] In 2022, Maui released a bill detailing increased regulation and energy conservation regarding light pollution on the island. [10] Prior to this bill, the island had been noted as having lax lighting regulations and enforcement. [9] Despite these legal actions, Richard F. Green notes that efforts worldwide towards light pollution “concentrate[] on individual fixtures or at most, individual parcels of land, rather than the summed regional impact on observatories for which the effect of mitigation attempts is most relevant.” [11] This, alongside his concern about efforts focusing on minimising impact without considering what is acceptable, may influence future perspectives on the issue.

Effects on the population

Light pollution has many effects on the local population. Of these, one of the most notable is the connection between major contributions to light pollution and the historical and current oppression faced by native Hawaiian communities. The organised efforts against infrastructure such as the Mauna Kea and other observatories highlights a trend of hostile takeover of land for use in cities or tourist centres. [12] As Haunani-Kay Trask notes, “Th[e] diminution of Federal oversight meant that Hawaiians had no judicial recourse to prevent abuse of their trust lands by the State.” [12] Through this support of the state over local populations, the centres most responsible for the current light pollution crisis were developed and disputes ignored.

Light pollution also has linked health complications, such as being unable to sleep due to ‘light trespass’. [1] Excessive light in sleeping environments has recently been linked to increased rates of breast cancer in women. [13] It also affects circadian rhythm, which controls many physiologic processes such as hormone production, cell regulation, and brainwave patterns. A disruption of the circadian rhythm is linked to health issues such as depression, insomnia, cardiovascular disease and cancers. [14] Retinal degeneration and accelerated genetic retinal disease are also speculated to be linked to increased exposure to excess illumination. [15] Studies show that these effects are most prevalent in large cities due to the volume of artificial lighting present. Sterling Hega states that due to this, “homeless people living on the streets are among those most affected by light pollution.” [16] While noting that no conclusive studies have been done on homeless populations ‘due to logistical and ethical concerns’, testing from lab settings under similar conditions faced by individuals were shown to exhibit negative responses (such as insomnia) after just a few hours of exposure to high blue-content LED lighting. [16]

Effects on astronomy

The dark night sky has a scientific importance for astronomy research and viewing. [1]

Urban sky glow is taking away the view of the stars and night sky that was so common to the ancestors of the land. In the city of Honolulu, only about 20 stars can be seen on the nightly, and in places with a dark night sky, up to 2,000 stars can be seen nightly. Hawai'i has two major astronomical observatories and the dark sky is immensely important for the telescopes to be able to see faint objects in space. [4] The dark night sky over the island of Hawai'i, is a known tourist attraction with over 100,000 visitors every year. The visitors come to watch the night sky and participate in the stargazing program at the Mauna Kea Observatory. [17] Mauna Kea's sky is one of the darkest in the world. [4]

Disruption of the ecosystem

Artificial light is about two hundred times more bright than natural illumination experienced in the raw environment. [2] In the United States, it is estimated that around one-third of all lighting is wasted. [18] This, alongside replacing incandescent lighting with brighter LEDs, causes significant harm to flora and fauna around the islands of Hawai’i. It can alter behaviors and breeding cycles in animals living throughout the island. [19] In Hawai'i, there are some sea turtle and marine bird species that are on the endangered lists and artificial light exceptionally affects them by disorienting them. [4]

The Newell’s shearwater – a critically endangered seabird endemic to Hawai’i – and other native seabirds are greatly affected; disorientation from lights was found to be the third top driver for seabird mortality in a 2011 study. [20] Julie Leialoha, the interim executive director of the Conservation Council for Hawai’i, stated that “the Hawaiian petrel is critically endangered, with bright lights one of the biggest culprits in its decline.” [21] Shearwaters are primarily affected because they are nocturnal and nest in coastal cliff sides, where they travel from to the ocean to feed. [22] When chicks fledge, they become disoriented from these coastal lights, which causes them to fall to the ground from exhaustion or collide with nearby buildings and other man-made structures – known as fallout. [23] Once on the ground, they are unable to take off, causing thousands to die from car collisions, predation from species such as dogs and cats, exhaustion, or dehydration. [22] Due to this, the Center for Biological Diversity estimates the Newell’s shearwater population “has been declining at rates far exceeding 50 percent over the species’ last three generations.”. [24]

Alongside seabirds, local sea turtle populations have been affected by artificial light pollution. Both species commonly seen along Hawaiian shorelines – the Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle and Hawksbill Sea Turtle – are considered endangered, with Hawksbills being critically endangered. [25] [26] These species take decades to reach sexual maturity, where the females return to nest at the location of their birth. [25]   Artificial lighting, especially those with high blue-light content, can discourage females from nesting; abandoned nesting attempts – known as ‘false crawls’ – can be directly linked to excess light. [27] The Sea Turtle Conservatory states “if a female fails to nest after multiple false crawls, she will resort to less-than-optimal nesting spots or deposit her eggs in the ocean”, leading to a decrease in survival for vital hatchlings. [18]   Lights can also disorient adults, leaving them stranded upon the beaches or wandering towards man-made structures or roads. Hatchlings, which some marine biologists theorise follow moonlight to the ocean, become confused as artificial light emeulates or outshines natural moonlight. [16] As a result, they travel towards structures rather than the safety of the ocean, causing them to die by cars, dehydration, predation, and exhaustion. [14] David Henkin notes that “one bright, unfiltered street light can wipe out hundreds of turtle hatchlings.” [23] Since hawksbill population numbers are so few, the effects of light pollution are far greater; Hannah Bernard states that ‘we cannot afford’ having unregulated lighting surrounding their habitat due to their rarity. [28] Coastal communities worldwide have implemented ‘lights-out’ initiatives for turtles and other marine species in order to reduce casualty numbers, but these are often not enforced nor address larger light pollution centres and issues, such as large cities. [18]

In 2019, the population of these birds and other native wildlife was further threatened through a development project headed by the Maui County Department of Public Works. Officials planned to replace 4800 streetlights with newer LED fixtures, and ignored both wildlife experts and community member’s concerns on the blue-light content of their bulbs. [23] The proposed lights had a high content of blue light (approximately 20 percent), while low content LEDs (less than 2 percent) were available and used throughout the main Hawaiian islands. [29] Rather than addressing backlash from the local communities, the Department launched their project in secret, without an environmental review as required by the Hawai’i Environmental Policy Act. [28] They also put forth an exemption stating the review was not required for the project after starting it. [28] Formal court complaints note that this exception declaration “lacks any statements or analysis regarding whether “the cumulative impact of planned successive actions…is significant…or whether [the project], even if “normally insignificant in it’s impact on the environment may be significant in a particularly sensitive environment”. [29] Thereby, they are not considered eligible and not exempt from environmental review as claimed. A civil suit was filed in response by the Hawai’i Wildlife Fund. In February of 2020, the County Department was found guilty of violating state law by starting the project without proper review. [30]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Light pollution</span> Excess artificial light in an environment

Light pollution is the presence of unwanted, inappropriate, or excessive artificial lighting. In a descriptive sense, the term light pollution refers to the effects of any poorly implemented lighting, during the day or night. Light pollution can be understood not only as a phenomenon resulting from a specific source or kind of pollution, but also as a contributor to the wider, collective impact of various sources of pollution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hawaii (island)</span> Largest of the Hawaiian islands

Hawaii is the largest island in the United States, located in the state of Hawaii. It is the southeasternmost of the Hawaiian Islands, a chain of volcanic islands in the North Pacific Ocean. With an area of 4,028 square miles (10,430 km2), it has 63% of the Hawaiian archipelago's combined landmass. However, it has only 13% of the archipelago's population. The island of Hawaiʻi is the third largest island in Polynesia, behind the north and south islands of New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mauna Kea</span> Hawaiian volcano

Mauna Kea is an inactive volcano on the island of Hawaiʻi. Its peak is 4,207.3 m (13,803 ft) above sea level, making it the highest point in the state of Hawaii and second-highest peak of an island on Earth. The peak is about 38 m (125 ft) higher than Mauna Loa, its more massive neighbor. Mauna Kea is unusually topographically prominent for its height: its wet prominence is fifteenth in the world among mountains, at 4,205 m (13,796 ft); its dry prominence is 9,330 m (30,610 ft). This dry prominence is greater than Mount Everest's height above sea level of 8,848.86 m (29,032 ft), and some authorities have labeled Mauna Kea the tallest mountain in the world, from its underwater base. Mauna Kea is ranked 8th by topographic isolation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mauna Kea Observatories</span> Astronomical observatories in Hawaii

The Mauna Kea Observatories (MKO) are a group of independent astronomical research facilities and large telescope observatories that are located at the summit of Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi, United States. The facilities are located in a 525-acre (212 ha) special land use zone known as the "Astronomy Precinct", which is located within the 11,228-acre (4,544 ha) Mauna Kea Science Reserve. The Astronomy Precinct was established in 1967 and is located on land protected by the Historical Preservation Act for its significance to Hawaiian culture. The presence and continued construction of telescopes is highly controversial due to Mauna Kea's centrality in native Hawaiian religion and culture, as well as for a variety of environmental reasons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Haleakalā</span> Massive shield volcano in Hawaii

Haleakalā, or the East Maui Volcano, is a massive, active shield volcano that forms more than 75% of the Hawaiian Island of Maui. The western 25% of the island is formed by another volcano, Mauna Kahalawai, also referred to as the West Maui Mountains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skyglow</span> Diffuse luminance of the night sky

Skyglow is the diffuse luminance of the night sky, apart from discrete light sources such as the Moon and visible individual stars. It is a commonly noticed aspect of light pollution. While usually referring to luminance arising from artificial lighting, skyglow may also involve any scattered light seen at night, including natural ones like starlight, zodiacal light, and airglow.

The following is an alphabetical list of articles related to the U.S. state of Hawaii:

The dark-sky movement is a campaign to reduce light pollution. The advantages of reducing light pollution include an increased number of stars visible at night, reducing the effects of electric lighting on the environment, improving the well-being, health and safety of both people and wildlife, and cutting down on energy usage. Earth Hour and National Dark-Sky Week are two examples of such efforts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Haleakalā Observatory</span> Astronomical observatory on Maui Island, Hawaii, USA

The Haleakalā Observatory, also known as the Haleakalā High Altitude Observatory Site, is Hawaii's first astronomical research observatory. It is located on the island of Maui and is owned by the Institute for Astronomy of the University of Hawaiʻi, which operates some of the facilities on the site and leases portions to other organizations. Tenants include the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and the Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network (LCOGTN). At over 3,050 meters (10,010 ft) in altitude, the summit of Haleakalā is above one third of the Earths's troposphere and has excellent astronomical seeing conditions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">International Dark Sky Week</span>

International Dark Sky Week is held during the week of the new moon in April, when people worldwide may turn off their lights to observe the beauty of the night sky without light pollution. This event was founded in 2003 by high school student Jennifer Barlow of Midlothian, Virginia. It has been endorsed by the International Dark-Sky Association, the American Astronomical Society, the Astronomical League, and Sky & Telescope.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hamakua</span>

Hāmākua is a district on the northeast coast of Hawaiʻi's Big Island, administered by the County of Hawaiʻi in the state of Hawaiʻi. It is also the name given for the coastline in the region, the "Hāmākua Coast".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge</span> Seabird nesting site on Kauaʻi Island, Hawaiʻi, U.S.

Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge is a National Wildlife Refuge on the northwest coast of the island of Kauaʻi in Hawaiʻi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thirty Meter Telescope</span> Future observatory in the United States

The Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) is a planned extremely large telescope (ELT) that has become controversial due to its location on Mauna Kea, on the island of Hawaiʻi. The TMT would become the largest visible-light telescope on Mauna Kea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dark-sky preserve</span> Area that restricts artificial light pollution

A dark-sky preserve (DSP) is an area, usually surrounding a park or observatory, that restricts artificial light pollution. The purpose of the dark-sky movement is generally to promote astronomy. However, astronomy is not the only objective of conserving a dark sky. A dark night sky is associated with many facets of history, philosophy, religion, societal development, poetry, song, mathematics, and science. Different terms have been used to describe the areas as national organizations have worked independently to create their programs. The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) uses International Dark Sky Reserve (IDSR) and International Dark Sky Park (IDSP). A third designation, International Dark Sky Sanctuary, was introduced in 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hutton's shearwater</span> Species of bird

Hutton's shearwater is a medium-sized ocean-going seabird in the family Procellariidae. Its range is Australian and New Zealand waters, but it breeds only in mainland New Zealand. Its conservation status is Endangered, because there are just two remaining breeding colonies, located in the Seaward Kaikōura Range. Six other shearwater colonies have been wiped out by introduced pigs. Hutton's shearwater is the only seabird in the world that is known to breed in alpine areas. Conservation measures for the bird include community initiatives to rescue birds that crash-land at night on streets in Kaikōura, and the establishment of a protected area on the Kaikōura Peninsula including a predator-proof fence, man-made burrows, and translocating fledglings from the remaining colonies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LED street light</span> LED street light

An LED street light or road light is an integrated light-emitting diode (LED) light fixture that is used for street lighting.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lava-flow hazard zones</span>

Lava Flow Hazard Zones are areas designated by the United States Geological Survey for the Island of Hawaiʻi and Maui in the United States. First prepared in 1974 by Donal Mullineaux and Donald Peterson of the USGS and revised in 1992 for the Island of Hawaiʻi, the maps outline the qualitative hazard posed by lava flows based on the history of lava flow activity on each of the five volcanoes that form the Island of Hawaiʻi and Haleakalā volcano on the island of Maui. Zone 1 represents the areas that are most hazardous and Zone 9 the least hazardous.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ecological light pollution</span>

Ecological light pollution is the effect of artificial light on individual organisms and on the structure of ecosystems as a whole.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thirty Meter Telescope protests</span> Series of demonstrations that began on the Island of Hawaii

The Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) protests are a series of protests and demonstrations that began on the Island of Hawaii over the choosing of Mauna Kea for the site location of the Thirty Meter Telescope. Mauna Kea is the most sacred dormant volcano of Native Hawaiian religion and culture, and was known to natives as the home to Wākea, the sky god. Protests began locally within the state of Hawaii on October 7, 2014 but went global within weeks of the April 2, 2015 arrest of 31 people who had blockaded the roadway to keep construction crews off the summit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Opposition to the Mauna Kea Observatories</span> Opposition to the Mauna Kea Observatories

Opposition to the Mauna Kea Observatories has existed since the first telescope was built in the late 1960s. Originally part of research begun by Gerard Kuiper of the University of Arizona, the site has expanded into the world's largest observatory for infrared and submillimeter telescopes. Opposition to the telescope from residents in the city of Hilo, Hawaii were concerned about the visual appearance of the mountain and Native Hawaiians voiced concerns over the site being sacred to the Hawaiian religion as the home of several deities. Environmental groups and activists have been expressing concern over endangered species habitat.

References

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  2. 1 2 Falchi, Fabio; Cinzano, Pierantonio; Elvidge, Christopher D.; Keith, David M.; Haim, Abraham (October 2011). "Limiting the impact of light pollution on human health, environment and stellar visibility". Journal of Environmental Management. 92 (10): 2714–2722. arXiv: 2007.02063 . doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2011.06.029. PMID   21745709. S2CID   18988450.
  3. ↑ Falchi, Fabio; Cinzano, Pierantonio; Duriscoe, Dan; Kyba, Christopher C. M.; Elvidge, Christopher D.; Baugh, Kimberly; Portnov, Boris A.; Rybnikova, Nataliya A.; Furgoni, Riccardo (2016-06-10). "The new world atlas of artificial night sky brightness". Science Advances. 2 (6): e1600377. arXiv: 1609.01041 . Bibcode:2016SciA....2E0377F. doi:10.1126/sciadv.1600377. PMC   4928945 . PMID   27386582.
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  5. ↑ "Voices of Science: Night Skies in Hawai'i Volcanoes (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2023-12-15.
  6. ↑ "Makahiki: The Rise of Makali'i Marks a Hawaiian New Year - Kaʻiwakīloumoku - Hawaiian Cultural Center". kaiwakiloumoku.ksbe.edu. Retrieved 2023-12-15.
  7. ↑ News, U. H. (2022-01-30). "UHERO: Astronomy continues to significantly impact Hawaiʻi economy | University of Hawaiʻi System News" . Retrieved 2023-12-15.{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
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  9. 1 2 Case, Suzanne D. (15 February 2017). "Relating to Dark Night Skies Protection" (PDF). State of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  10. ↑ Kaohu, Kathy L. (29 September 2022). "BILL NO.21. CP2. FD2". Maui County Legistar. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  11. ↑ Green, Richard F.; Luginbuhl, Christian B.; Wainscoat, Richard J.; Duriscoe, Dan (December 2022). "The growing threat of light pollution to ground-based observatories". The Astronomy and Astrophysics Review. 30 (1). Bibcode:2022A&ARv..30....1G. doi: 10.1007/s00159-021-00138-3 .
  12. 1 2 Trask, Haunani-Kay (December 2000). "Native social capital: The case of Hawaiian sovereignty and Ka Lahui Hawaii". Policy Sciences. 33 (3): 375–385. doi:10.1023/A:1004870517612. S2CID   152872242. ProQuest   221328917.
  13. ↑ Urbano, Teresa; Vinceti, Marco; Wise, Lauren A.; Filippini, Tommaso (December 2021). "Light at night and risk of breast cancer: a systematic review and dose–response meta-analysis". International Journal of Health Geographics. 20 (1): 44. doi: 10.1186/s12942-021-00297-7 . PMC   8520294 . PMID   34656111.
  14. 1 2 Chepesiuk, Ron (January 2009). "Missing the Dark: Health Effects of Light Pollution". Environmental Health Perspectives. 117 (1): A20-7. doi:10.1289/ehp.117-a20. PMC   2627884 . PMID   19165374.
  15. ↑ Contín, M A; Benedetto, M M; Quinteros-Quintana, M L; Guido, M E (February 2016). "Light pollution: the possible consequences of excessive illumination on retina". Eye. 30 (2): 255–263. doi:10.1038/eye.2015.221. PMC   4763120 . PMID   26541085.
  16. 1 2 3 Fujii-Oride, Noelle (2021-03-03). "How Hawaiʻi's Light Pollution Affects Wildlife and Humans". Hawaii Business Magazine. Retrieved 2023-12-15.
  17. ↑ "No. 21 - 2006: Light Pollution in Hawaii". www2.ifa.hawaii.edu. Retrieved 2020-11-12.
  18. 1 2 3 "Information About Sea Turtles: Threats from Artificial Lighting – Sea Turtle Conservancy" . Retrieved 2023-12-15.
  19. ↑ Chepesiuk, Ron (2009). "Missing the Dark: Health Effects of Light Pollution". Environmental Health Perspectives. 117 (1): A20-7. doi:10.1289/ehp.117-a20. PMC   2627884 . PMID   19165374.
  20. ↑ Friswold, Brooke; Idle, Jessica L.; Learned, Jennifer; Penniman, Jay; Bolosan, Tiana; Cotin, Javier; Young, Lindsay; Price, Melissa R. (September 2023). "From colony to fallout: Artificial lights pose risk to seabird fledglings far from their natal colonies". Conservation Science and Practice. 5 (9). Bibcode:2023ConSP...5E3000F. doi: 10.1111/csp2.13000 .
  21. ↑ Cruz, Kylie W.; Bernard, Hannah; Leialoha, Julie (13 February 2019). "Citizens sue to block installation of LED streetlights that would kill seabirds and sea turtles" (PDF). Wildhawaii.org. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  22. 1 2 "ʻAʻo". Division of Forestry and Wildlife: Wildlife Program. 2021-08-22. Retrieved 2023-12-15.
  23. 1 2 3 Keitt, David Henkin, Brad (2020-08-18). "Fixing Hawai'i's Power Lines and Street Lights to Save Seabirds and Sea Turtles". Earthjustice. Retrieved 2023-12-15.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  24. ↑ "Newell's shearwater". www.biologicaldiversity.org. Retrieved 2023-12-15.
  25. 1 2 "Species Spotlight: Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle (Honu) | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service". www.fws.gov. 2023-04-04. Retrieved 2023-12-15.
  26. ↑ "Hawksbill Turtle". World Wildlife Fund. 13 December 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  27. ↑ "Leave Only Footprints for Sea Turtles | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service". www.fws.gov. 2021-07-21. Retrieved 2023-12-15.
  28. 1 2 3 "Citizens Sue To Block Installation Of LED Streetlights That Would Kill Seabirds And Sea Turtles". Earthjustice. Retrieved 2023-12-15.
  29. 1 2 Henkin, David L.; Wager Cruz, Kylie W. (12 February 2023). "Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief" (PDF). Earthjustice.org. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  30. ↑ "Maui County Illegally Circumvented Environmental Review for LED Streetlights Project". Earthjustice. Retrieved 2023-12-15.
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