In ISPI's analysis, corporations operating in island environments face risks that continental security and ESG frameworks underweight. After Lahaina, the State announced a proposed $4.037 billion global settlement of wildfire claims in August 2024.
Abstract
Provides the corporate governance framework for organizations with island operations covering island-specific ESG risk assessment, and emergency duty of care after the Lahaina wildfire. All ISPI research is free under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0.
Key Findings
The State announced a proposed $4.037 billion global settlement of Maui wildfire claims in August 2024; in ISPI's analysis, emergency preparedness is a core duty of care
About 98 percent of Hawaii's imported goods arrive through the commercial harbors (HDOT Harbors), so continuity plans should model extended port disruption
In ISPI's analysis, land acknowledgments alone are not ESG accountability in Native Hawaiian contexts
Summary of the paper
"Corporate Security and ESG Risk in Island Operations" identifies framework gaps for corporations operating in island environments and proposes island-specific security, continuity and ESG practice.
It draws on Hawaii harbor data, the Attorney General's independent Lahaina review, and the State's August 2024 announcement of a proposed $4.037 billion global settlement of wildfire claims.
What the paper finds
- Five underweighted risks, in ISPI's analysis: supply chain singularity, hospitality insider threat, emergency duty of care, indigenous community accountability and reputational exposure.
- Continuity planning. About 98 percent of Hawaii's imported goods arrive by commercial harbor, so plans should model extended port disruption.
- ESG accountability. In ISPI's analysis, land acknowledgments alone are not accountability in Native Hawaiian contexts.
What it recommends
- Commission an island-specific security and ESG risk assessment.
- Plan continuity for extended supply disruption.
- Adopt an insider threat program suited to hospitality workforces.
- Develop substantive ESG accountability with Native Hawaiian and Pacific Island communities.
Who it's for
Corporate security directors, risk and continuity managers, ESG officers, and hospitality executives.
Resort operators, mining companies, telecommunications firms, and utilities operating across Pacific, Caribbean, and Indian Ocean SIDS may face similar risks, in ISPI's analysis.
Cite as
Pulley, Warren (2026). Corporate Security and ESG Risk Policy for Island and Pacific Operations: What Corporations Operating in Hawaii and the Pacific Must Build — Not Just Disclose (ISPI WP-12). Island Security Policy Institute, Honolulu. https://ispiglobal.com/papers-landing/wp12-corporate-security-esg https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23449817
BibTeX
@techreport{ispiwp122026,
author = {Pulley, Warren},
title = {Corporate Security and ESG Risk Policy for Island and Pacific Operations: What Corporations Operating in Hawaii and the Pacific Must Build — Not Just Disclose},
institution = {Island Security Policy Institute},
address = {Honolulu, HI},
number = {ISPI WP-12},
year = {2026},
url = {https://ispiglobal.com/papers-landing/wp12-corporate-security-esg},
doi = {10.5281/zenodo.23449817}
}Related Research
CM-05 — Corporate Security ESG Island Operations →Island-Resilient Certification →Post-Lahaina Duty of Care →Related analysis
AnalysisWhy Corporations Operating on Islands Commission Independent Security Research →AnalysisDuty of Care for Island Resort Operators: What the Lahaina Litigation and Hurricane Lala Established →AnalysisWhat Is the Island Security Premium? Understanding ESG Risk in Pacific and Caribbean Island Operations →PaperWP-11 — AI Governance and Public Safety Technology in Island Communities →GuideIsland Supply Chain Security & Community Resilience: Research and FAQ →Pulley, Warren. "Corporate Security and ESG Risk Policy for Island Operations." Island Security Policy Institute, 2026. https://ispiglobal.com/papers-landing/wp12-corporate-security-esg
