Spotlight Now: Scientists warn federal funding cuts pose danger to Hawaii

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) — A stark warning from climate scientists in this episode of Spotlight Now as experts explain how federal cuts to science funding pose a danger to Hawaii.

“Climate change is worse than you’re being told, and it’s coming faster than you’re being told,” said Dr. Chip Fletcher, dean of the University of Hawaii at Manoa’s School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST).

Fletcher says UH Manoa has lost tens of millions of dollars in research funding, and could lose millions more in next year’s federal budget. He says the loss of those funds could be catastrophic.

“It’s easy for folks to think that the government is too big. ‘It’s too bloated. It’s good that we’re reducing the expense of government, the size of government.’ That’s all great until a flood wipes out your community. That’s all great until a hurricane runs aground in downtown Honolulu, like Hurricane Lane almost did,” Fletcher said.

“We actually need to keep these systems of people and research and prediction moving forward, well funded, doing the latest and best work that they can. Otherwise it’s going to cost human lives,” he said.

In addition to existing cuts, the Trump administration has also proposed slashing the National Science Foundation’s budget by 55% and NASA’s science budget by 55%.

Dr. Doug Simons, director of the University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy, says that would have a devastating impact on astronomy in Hawaii.

“Two hundred million dollars worth of economic impact annually in the state, $110 million on Hawaii Island, so it’s starting to get comparable to forestry and agriculture,” Simons said.

“You pull the plug on Hawaii Island astronomy, I’m fairly certain that in Waimea, astronomy is the number-one employer between CFHT (Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope) and Keck, so it’s a big deal and you will know that when it’s gone,” he said.

Simons says astronomy supports roughly 1,400 jobs across the islands, and is working with Hawaii’s congressional delegation to save as many as possible.

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