SHUT DOWN RED HILL! with Mikey and Aedyn of the O’ahu Water Protectors (& the Cloud Forest Cocktail)

This week, I speak with Mikey Inouye and Aedyn-Rhys King -- two community organizers who have been fighting to shut down the Navy’s massive Red Hill fuel storage facility next to Pearl Harbor. This facility leaked thousands of gallons of toxic fuel into O’ahu’s sole source aquifer, poisoning Aedyn, his family, and thousands of others who have relied on the aquifer.  Recognizing the severity of the threat to all life on the island, Mikey and Aedyn joined a coalition of organizers from Sierra Club, Hawaii Peace and Justice, and other concerned community members to form the O’ahu Water Protectors. Through their sustained efforts, they've succeeded in pressuring the Navy to agree to shut down the Red Hill facility on March 7th -- two days before our recording. While we take a moment to celebrate this huge win, Mikey and Aedyn know that the fight is far from over. 

Mikey Inouye is an independent filmmaker, writer, producer, and community organizer who has been working tirelessly to raise public awareness about this crisis. He's collaborated with Abby Martin of the Empire Files to produce powerful documentary films about Red Hill. In addition to organizing with the O’ahu Water Protectors, Mikey has been deeply involved in the Shut Down Red Hill Mutual Aid Collective, along with his friend and fellow organizer Aedyn. 

Aedyn-Rhys King is a kanaka maoli trans veteran whose life has been upended by the Red Hill fuel leaks. While living in the Kapilina Beach Homes, he witnessed firsthand the poisoning of his family and other community members who followed the Navy’s advice and continued to drink and bathe in the water in their homes. Like Mikey, Aedyn has thrown himself into community organizing and mutual aid efforts to help the victims of the Navy’s dangerous negligence. You can support their efforts here.

For a clear timeline of events, check out this great resource from Hawaii Public Radio.