Temperatures in Hawaiʻi have risen by about 2 degrees since 1950 and are expected to rise almost 6 degrees more by the end of the century.
Higher temperatures can impact day-to-day life in a variety of ways, like making it harder to get around the islands or increasing the risk of heat illness for keiki and kūpuna. With 47% of households living without air conditioning, residents are feeling the heat.
However, the heat doesn’t affect everyone equally: Hawaiʻi’s microclimates mean the leeward side of the islands shoulder a higher temperature burden because heat and humidity are not countered as easily by wind there. It is also clear that economic status and location can play big roles in an individual’s ability to adapt to the changing climate. One simple example: If you have air conditioning, or can afford to turn it on, you can keep cool…