Lawsuit Filed to Protect Wildlife on O'ahu's North Shore from New Ritz-Carlton Resort

Environmental and community groups challenge county's approval of luxury hotel development near sensitive ecological areas.

Feb. 3, 2026 at 4:07pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Environmental and community groups have filed a lawsuit challenging the city and county of Honolulu's approval of a new Ritz-Carlton resort at Kuilima on Oʻahu's North Shore. The lawsuit argues that the county unlawfully relied on an outdated environmental report that fails to account for newly listed endangered species, changed ecological conditions, and increased development pressures in the area.

Why it matters

The North Shore of Oʻahu is home to sensitive ecological areas and endangered species like the native Hawaiian yellow-faced bees and Laysan albatross. The groups argue that the county must fully assess the impacts of the new luxury hotel development on these vulnerable species and ecosystems before approving the project.

The details

The lawsuit was filed by Earthjustice on behalf of the Center for Biological Diversity, Conservation Council for Hawaiʻi, and community group Kūpa'a Kuilima. It challenges the county's decision to rely on a supplemental environmental impact statement issued 13 years ago in 2013 to approve construction of the new Ritz-Carlton resort. Since then, new endangered species have been documented in the area, including the native Hawaiian yellow-faced bees and growing numbers of endangered Hawaiian monk seals. The groups argue the county must complete a new environmental review to account for these changes.

  • The supplemental environmental impact statement used to approve the project was issued in 2013.
  • The native Hawaiian yellow-faced bees were placed on the federal endangered species list in 2016.
  • An active and growing breeding colony of Mōlī (Laysan albatross) has established itself nearby at Kahuku Point since 2018.
  • Since 2013, growing numbers of endangered Hawaiian monk seals have been using beaches fronting the development area, including for birthing and rearing pups.

The players

Center for Biological Diversity

An environmental organization that filed the lawsuit along with other groups.

Conservation Council for Hawaiʻi

An environmental organization that filed the lawsuit along with other groups.

Kūpa'a Kuilima

A community group that filed the lawsuit along with other organizations.

Earthjustice

A non-profit environmental law organization that is representing the groups in the lawsuit.

Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting

The county agency that approved the new Ritz-Carlton resort development.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“It's unacceptable for the county to greenlight this damaging development using an outdated environmental review that never considered endangered Nalo Meli Maoli, which are irreplaceable native Hawaiian yellow-faced bees.”

— Maxx Phillips, Hawai'i and Pacific Islands director and senior attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity

“Hawai'i's environmental review laws are only as strong as the government's willingness to enforce them. When an agency ignores major new information and waves through a massive luxury development, the public is left without the meaningful review that the law requires.”

— Dru Hara, Earthjustice attorney

“Hawai'i's environmental laws exist to protect our ʻāina and the native species that are inseparable from Native Hawaiian culture and identity. When agencies allow large-scale resort development to move forward without fully accounting for impacts to endangered species and culturally important ecosystems, they are failing both the law and their responsibility to future generations who depend on these places to survive and thrive.”

— Jonee Peters, Executive director of Conservation Council for Hawai'i

What’s next

The lawsuit asks the court to invalidate the county's approval of the Ritz-Carlton resort development and prevent further construction unless and until a new supplemental environmental impact statement is completed that fully addresses the impacts on endangered species and sensitive ecological areas.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing tension between development and environmental protection in Hawai'i, where luxury resorts and other large-scale projects often threaten vulnerable native species and culturally significant landscapes. It underscores the importance of robust environmental review processes that keep pace with changing ecological conditions.