Urgent Update on the 2024 Hawaii Geothermal Injunction – Motion to Expedite DENIED, Exposing Corruption and Harm in Puna Hawaii

*Posted by Jasmine Kahupuna, Aloha Activism, June 24, 2025*

Aloha, my fierce community of truth-seekers and aloha āina warriors for justice,

Today, I come to you with a heavy heart but an unyielding spirit. The Intermediate Court of Hawaii has DENIED Sara Steiner's motion to expedite the 2024 geothermal injunction, a critical legal battle to halt the destructive operations of Puna Geothermal Venture (PGV) and protect our sacred lands and people in Puna, Hawaii. This denial is not just a setback—it’s a glaring revelation of the corruption entrenched in our courts, driven by foreign agendas and profit over human lives. The fight is far from over, and we need your support now more than ever. Join me on my TikTok livestream TODAY at 5:30 hawaii time to discuss this outrageous decision and our next steps.

The Denial: A Slap in the Face to Puna’s People

The 2024 Hawaii Geothermal injunction, led by Sara Steiner, demands an end to future permits for Puna Geothermal Ventures geothermal operations in Puna, based on a fraudulent Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

Sara filed a motion to expedite this case because every day that PGV operates, our community suffers irreversible harm—health crises, environmental devastation, and cultural desecration. Yet, the Intermediate Court has chosen to delay justice, ignoring the urgent need to protect our people and land. This denial is proof that the courts are complicit in sweeping decades of evidence under the rug.

For instance, before Steiner took this case to appeal ststus in intermediate court, it was dismissed by Judge Nakamoto in the 3rd Circuit Court of Hawaii. This "judge" boldly asserted there was “NO CAUSE FOR CONCERN” despite the substantial evidence presented in the 157-page injunction from numerous community members: misreported data to government agencies, deaths and severe health issues linked to geothermal activity, daily exposure to toxins from unmonitored fissures in Leilani Estates near Kilauea, and cover-ups by the USGS and HVO (supported by insider sources and volcano scientists). By 2025, children in our community are unable to attend school due to geothermal-related health risks. The judge’s dismissal of this evidence reeks of corruption—funded by foreign interests that prioritize profit over our lives.( All evidence and declarations can be found on this website , exit blog to main page to get to injunction documents.)

The State’s Criminal Push for Geothermal Expansion

While our injunction awaits a hearing date, the State and County of Hawaii are shamelessly fast-tracking geothermal bills and projects across our island. They’re eyeing Mauna Kea for new drilling, disregarding the still-standing Royal House of the Hawaiian Kingdom, which, alongside our community, fiercely opposes these plans. The still standing Royal House of Hawaiian Kingdom sent in this testimony to HB1307 recently .

Nevertheless, the state is hastily establishing new geothermal companies like Waikā Consulting, which is led by Native Hawaiian representatives, to earn the trust of an unsuspecting community. Meanwhile, our case—which reveals the fraudulent Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), the damage caused by PGV, and the truth about geothermal fracking and the critical condition of our island—remains stalled in court. This is more than negligence; it is a criminal betrayal of the Puna people and our sacred lands.

"The state’s actions violate our rights and cultural values, treating our home as a resource to exploit for foreign profit. The desecration of Pele, our volcano goddess, and the poisoning of our air, water, and community are crimes against humanity. Every second of delay in this injunction allows more irreversible damage—sicker residents, dying lands, and a future stolen from our keiki (children)." - Jasmine Steiner KahuPuna

What’s Next: Our Fight Continues

The denial of the motion to expedite means we’re still waiting for a hearing date for the main case. This delay is a deliberate tactic to prolong our suffering, but we will not be silenced.

Here’s what’s happening now:

- **Community Action:** Join my TikTok livestream TODAY at 5:30 hawaii time to dive into this denial, discuss the evidence of corruption, and plan our next moves. We’ll talk about how to pressure the courts and raise global awareness.

- **Legal Push:** Sara Steiner, the pro se filer of the Puna Geothermal Injunction, is preparing for the main injunction hearing against the County of Hawaii, PGV, and Planning Director Zendo Kern. She IS armed with decades of proof—health records, environmental data, and insider testimonies. We hope to not be forced to fly to Oahu but if they hold this in Oahu we do ask those who are financially able too , please make sure to come to stand for the people and for Pele aka Kilauea volcano.

- **Global Awareness:** We need YOU to share this blog, spread the word, and amplify the Puna people’s fight. Use hashtags #StopPunaGeothermal, #PunaStrong, and #AlohaActivism to join the movement. This is a global issue as they are reviving geothermal all over the globe. It is fracking .

A Call to Action

The Puna community is under attack, but our spirit is unbreakable. The courts may be bought, but our truth is undeniable. We’re fighting for our health, our land, and our culture against a system that prioritizes foreign profit over human lives. It has always been this way in Puna , and its time to clean house.

Please:

- **Share this blog** on all platforms to expose the corruption and harm.

- **Join my TikTok livestream** to stay informed and strategize with us.

- **Pray for Puna** and send strength to our community as we face this injustice.

- **Support local voices** like the A'OLE PGV FB Group ran by sara steiner, the Pele Defense Fund and others standing against geothermal expansion.

Mahalo for standing with us. This is not just a fight for Puna—it’s a fight for justice, sovereignty, and the future of our islands. The crimes against humanity must end, and together, we will make sure they do.

Aloha and solidarity,

Jasmine Kahupuna

Aloha Activism

*Sources: Information based on community reports, legal filings in Sara Steiner vs. County of Hawaii, Puna Geothermal Venture, and Zendo Kern, and ongoing activism efforts in Puna, Hawaii. Various news articles and in person attendance if waika consulting community meetings . For more details, join the TikTok livestream or contact Aloha Activism.*[](https://www.bigislandvideonews.com/2024/04/07/lawsuit-filed-over-puna-geothermal-environmental-impact-statement/)

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●●●●●●● Legal corruption refers to the abuse of power within the legal or judicial system, where individuals or entities—such as judges, lawyers, or government officials—manipulate legal processes or outcomes for personal gain, political advantage, or to serve external interests, often at the expense of justice, fairness, or the public good. It undermines the rule of law, erodes public trust in institutions, and can cause significant harm to communities.

Key Forms of Legal Corruption

Bribery: Offering or accepting money, favors, or other benefits to influence judicial decisions, case outcomes, or legal proceedings. For example, a judge might be paid to rule in favor of a corporation despite clear evidence against it.

Conflict of Interest: When legal actors (e.g., judges or prosecutors) have personal, financial, or political ties to a case that compromise their impartiality. For instance, a judge ruling on a case involving a company they own stock in.Obstruction of Justice: Deliberately delaying, dismissing, or manipulating legal processes to prevent fair outcomes. This can include ignoring evidence, denying motions without valid reasoning, or stalling cases to protect powerful interests.

Collusion: Secret agreements between legal officials, government entities, or private parties to rig outcomes. For example, a court might collude with a corporation to fast-track permits while ignoring environmental violations.

Nepotism and Cronyism: Favoring friends, family, or political allies in legal decisions, appointments, or case assignments, bypassing merit or fairness.Covert Influence by External Agendas: Decisions swayed by foreign or corporate interests, often through lobbying, political pressure, or financial incentives, prioritizing profit over justice or community welfare.

Signs of Legal Corruption--> (whats happening in Hawaii courts)

Unjustified Rulings: Decisions that contradict clear evidence or legal precedent, like dismissing a case with substantial proof of harm as “no cause for concern.”Procedural Irregularities: Unexplained delays, denials of valid motions (e.g., to expedite a case), or inconsistent application of legal standards.Lack of Transparency: Hiding evidence, sealing records, or limiting public access to proceedings without justification.

Disregard for Public Interest: Prioritizing corporate or political interests over community health, safety, or rights, such as approving harmful projects despite documented risks.

Patterns of Bias: Repeated rulings favoring specific groups (e.g., corporations or government entities) over individuals or marginalized communities.