We asked contributors from the FLUX Power issue: What’s a recent read that empowered you lately?

The Hawaiian Islands are foraged by fire. Recent events at Kīlauea bring this understanding to the surface with breathtaking intensity.

O‘ahu’s female lifeguards are some of the most elite and respected waterwomen in the world. Every day, these fearless first responders test their power to save lives against the formidable Pacific Ocean.

More than a decade ago, Hawai‘i became the first state in the nation to give mothers the right to take home their placentas after childbirth. This has helped revitalize indigenous birthing rights and traditions and enabled holistic maternity practices on the islands.

Activists residing in Wailuanui and Ke‘anae are continuing to untangle the complex politics of East Maui water diversion to reinstate this natural resource. Their efforts are part of decades-long litigation and the largest water rights case in the state.