The state may not have money to burn. But we do have eucalyptus. The fast growing, flowering tree was introduced to Hawaii nearly 150 years ago and is now being tested for use as an alternative energy source. Just last week, the state’s sole coal-fired power plant, AES Hawaii, Inc. began adding eucalyptus chips to … [Read more…]
Through its Hawaiian Legacy Reforestation Initiative, Hawaiian Legacy Hardwoods (HLH) is donating 1,000 acres of its 2,700 acre sustainable koa project to reforestation. Located on the slopes of Mauna Kea, this historic site was once a majestic koa forest and the personal property of King Kamehameha I. Sadly the land was cleared nearly a century … [Read more…]
While many cultural communities around the globe are being divided by developers and swallowed up by the tides of globalization, one community right here in Hawaii is offering hope – and a real life vision – of what sustainable cultural communities can look like. Just last month the Kaupuni Village dream became a reality, as … [Read more…]
Lanikai Beach is often described as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. The Big Island’s Kamilo Beach holds a far less complimentary title: Hawaii’s dirtiest beach. It didn’t earn that name on its own and residents fear it will be a long time before Kamilo Beach can ever shake the lousy label. … [Read more…]
Earth Day is a chance to come together with your community, celebrate the earth, exchange conservation ideas, and commit to living a more environmentally friendly lifestyle. This week there are ample, island-wide opportunities to do all of that and more. Here are just a few: If you’re on the Big Island… Saturday, April 23, 2011 … [Read more…]
“Sustainability” and “buying local” are more than just buzzwords here in Hawaii. They are the key to a healthy, environmentally friendly future in which we can become less dependent on imports and better stewards of our ‘aina. But choosing sustainable, local options is not always easy, particularly when it comes to seafood. Competing facts, studies … [Read more…]
In an effort to reach the goals set by the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative, it can be expected that sacrifices must be made by all residents to reduce our energy consumption. We must do our part to change our habits and become energy aware. Turning off the AC, carpooling, and replacing incandescent light bulbs with … [Read more…]
Three years after receiving a petition from non-profit KAHEA and the Center for Biological Diversity, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries Service is proposing 16 “critical habitats” in an effort to increase the protection of endangered monk seals and the areas they inhabit. Under the Endangered Species Act, the federal government is required … [Read more…]
The old debate is back with a twist: Paper or Plastic or The Planet If you go to the grocery store on Maui or Kauai, don’t be surprised if the clerk doesn’t offer you a plastic bag at checkout. He’s not being lazy or discourteous. He’s following the law and saving the planet. The “plastic … [Read more…]
Thousands of vacationers visit the Hawaiian islands every year. The damage they do is remarkable. A large number of people visiting beaches, mountains, parks, trails, campgrounds, and other Hawaiian destinations leave litter, seeds of invasive species, soil damage, and pollution. Thankfully, Hawaiians have a way to deal with the damage caused by tourism: Voluntourism–as described … [Read more…]