This Is My Lane: A Voice from Puna on Geothermal, Unity, and Protecting Pele

By Jasmine Steiner

Puna, Hawaiʻi • March 2026

In case there is any doubt, let me be perfectly clear: This is my lane.

Puna. Puna Geothermal Venture (PGV). This is not theory or distant activism for me — it is my life. Born and raised in Puna, I have lived these lands, breathed this air, and witnessed the impacts firsthand for 37 years. Few from outside our region (beyond Lower Puna) can claim the same depth of lived experience and intimate knowledge of what geothermal development truly means here.

That said, it has become increasingly disheartening to watch individuals and groups extend support only when it directly serves their own interests or platforms.

If we, as a Lahui, are truly united in our stand against unchecked geothermal expansion in Hawaiʻi, then we must move beyond performative solidarity. We need to support one another — especially in the critical legal battles that shape our future. Court cases and rulemaking petitions are not abstract; they are the frontline where real change is fought for our ʻāina, our health, and our cultural survival.

The Cases Spearheaded by My Mother: A Pro Se Warrior Fighting for Pele While Battling Cancer

These efforts are not coming from large organizations or outside funders. They were initiated and are being courageously carried forward by my mother — a dedicated kamaʻāina of Puna who is acting pro se (representing herself in court without legal counsel). She has filed and is actively litigating the Hawaiʻi Geothermal Injunction Case and the Rulemaking Petition that seek to halt further geothermal operations and enforce stricter protections for our sacred lands and communities.

While doing this vital work for the Lahui, my mother is simultaneously in the middle of aggressive immunotherapy treatment for invasive urethral melanoma — a rare and fast-moving form of cancer. She continues to show up in court, file motions, and push for justice even as she fights for her own life. This is not just activism; it is a profound act of aloha and sacrifice for Pele, for Puna, and for all of Hawaiʻi.

Why the reluctance to amplify these Puna voices?

Is it so threatening when grassroots voices from Puna — led by a mother battling cancer — rise to protect Hawaiʻi? Why do some hesitate to share these vital, active legal efforts that urgently need broad Hawaiian support?

If there is genuine care and reverence for Tūtū Pele, how can we witness these efforts unfolding and choose silence instead of amplification? Does the fact that these initiatives originated from within Puna — from a single family’s unyielding determination — make them less worthy? Are we still allowing old divisions and gatekeeping to weaken our collective strength?

I have lost respect for a few groups I once felt aligned with — organizations that refused even to share essential court dates affecting the Lahui. This experience has prompted deep reflection: a careful reassessment of who and what I once viewed as truly pono.

We Are All Hawaiʻi

At the end of the day, we are one Lahui. We all carry responsibility for these islands.

Let us return to the core values of aloha and pono. True aloha is not selective — it is generous, courageous, and inclusive.

Help Pele. Support the fight my mother is leading for the Puna community and environment.

If you care about our sacred lands and the protection of Hawaiʻi from further industrial intrusion, please share these calls to action on your pages and platforms. Let the broader Lahui participate in this work of redemption and justice. Share the court dates. Share the Rulemaking Petition. Share the Injunction Case updates. Every repost, every story, every conversation brings more eyes, more support, and more strength to the frontline.

The future of Puna — and the integrity of our relationship with Pele — depends on collective awareness and unified action.

Share widely. Stand together. Protect what we love.

NEXT IN PERSON CALL TO ACTION , WE NEED ALL THE HUMAN BODYS PRESENT THAT WE CAN GET FOR MĀDAME PELE : APRIL 15TH 2026 930 AM HILO ENVIRONMENTAL COURT , 3RD FLOOR . PLEASE WEAR RED 🙏 ⚠️⚖️🌋❤️‍🔥

❤️‍🔥🙏🌋⚖️ MAHALO NUI LOA

Jasmine Steiner

KahuPuna

Aloha Activism

LERZ Puna News Weekly

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Call to Actions :

♡Share this post with your networks and help amplify the cases

♡Follow We Are Puna for direct updates from the ground in Puna

♡Learn more about the Hawaiʻi Geothermal Injunction Case & Rulemaking Petition (see previous blog article)

♡Send aloha and support to my mother as she fights both cancer and for our ʻāina