A recent Public Utilities Commission (PUC) ruling threw a big wrench in Hawaiian Electric Company’s (HECO) Big Wind plans, forcing HECO to consider alternative energy proposals. According to the ruling, proposals must be for 200 megawatts of renewable energy, but need not be focused on wind. So while HECO has been forced to pause and [...]
“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 [...]
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 [...]
No energy, no fuel, no problem: Can the “eneloop” bike get you where you want to go? If you despise traffic, prefer the scenic route, love the earth and like to get a little exercise, you might be happy to learn that SANYO’s award-winning “eneloop” bike has arrived in the Aloha State. You might be [...]
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 [...]
Of course we all know about the argument to maintaining a more sustainable lifestyle and the benefits for the earth. But certain businesses see their future riding on a cleaner planet. Tour operators that offer Maui scuba diving, scenic tours on Oahu, Kauai helicopter tours and the like have a vested interest in conservation in [...]
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 [...]
When I think of conservation, it generally has to do with the preservation of mother nature. However, another form of conservation can also be perpetuating the things that make our Hawaii culture so unique. Of course, everything green, but also our local businesses, local people, and local way of life. Really Hawaiian is a website [...]
If you are a business owner in the Hawaiian Islands you should consider becoming part of the Hawai‘i Green Business Program. The Green Business Program assists and recognizes businesses that operate in an environmentally responsible way. The Hawai‘i Green Business Program is a partnership between the Departments of Health; Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; and [...]
The LOHAS Journal keeps tabs on the green economic trends and finds that roughly thirty percent of U.S. adults — more than 63 million consumers — now purchase goods and services with consideration to the products’ health, environmental, social justice and sustainability value. This sector, worth $227 billion a year, is expanding rapidly and is [...]