Conservation Hawai‘i

Can We Protect Waikiki Beach From Further Development?

Think Waikiki is overdeveloped?  It’s about to undergo even more development, if Kyo-Ya Hotels and Resorts has its way.

The Waikiki hotel property giant has proposed a $1 billion development project that would demolish two small hotel buildings, add a tower to Princess Kaiulani hotel, and replace the eight-story Diamond Head Tower at their Moana Surfrider hotel with a 26-story resort and condo complex.  It’s bad enough they had the nerve to propose a project that is clearly in violation of the Waikiki Special District Design Guidelines set forth by the Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP).  Worse yet, the DPP has already granted the project partial approval.

The Waikiki Special District Design Guidelines were put in place to preserve the beach, the views, and the ocean for locals and visitors alike to enjoy.  And they were intended to prevent overpowering development projects exactly like the one Kyo-Ya is pushing for. 

New Hope for the Hawaiian Monk Seal?

Hawaii is home to a variety of unique flora and fauna.  It is also home to the most endangered seal species in America, the Hawaiian monk seal.

Beginning in the early nineteenth century, monk seals became easy targets, lying defenseless on the beach, their valuable oil and pelts sought by hunters looking for a quick profit.  Their population declined quickly, to the point where sealers ceased hunting them because there were not enough seals left to make the trip worthwhile.  The damage was done and the monk seal was greatly endangered.

In the early twentieth century, when the United States government declared the Hawaiian Bird Reservation of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands a protected area, the monk seals living in that area were indirectly granted some protection and finally began to reproduce and repopulate.

But the peace proved only temporary. 

Hawaii Students to Compete in Solar Decathalon

If there is one thing that Hawaii has plenty of, it’s sunshine.  So it seems only right that a group of University of Hawaii students has been chosen to compete in the 2011 Solar Decathalon sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Renewable Energy Lab.  Of course, the selection criteria required more than sufficient sunshine.  It required an innovative idea.  Thankfully, teamhawai’i has an innovative idea and then some.

teamhawai’i was one of only 20 university teams chosen from an international pool of applicants with hopes of competing in the 2011 Solar Decathalon.  Participating teams must design, construct, and operate a solar house to be judged in various contests at the Solar Decathalon in Washington D.C. this fall.  The contests include completion of household tasks, such as cooking and washing laundry, and maintenance of a comfortable indoor temperature.  The judges will also consider aesthetics and design inspiration.

In addition to the minimum requirements, teamhawai’i has taken the challenge of creating a functional, solar-powered house several steps further. 

Wind Farms Bring Hawaii One Step Closer to Clean Energy Goal

Oahu is often frowned upon for its costly fuel consumption and blamed for earning the state the title of most fossil fuel-dependent state in the nation.  But thanks to the First Wind Kahuku Wind Farm, the island may soon be helping Hawaii lose that title.

The farm, located on Oahu’s north shore, is made up of twelve giant wind turbines that harness the energy from the trade winds and convert it into energy for the island.  It is estimated to produce about two to five percent of the electricity consumed annually on Oahu – enough to power 7,700 homes, according to a report by KITV.

But we all know that the winds aren’t always blowing.  So what happens when they stop?

Legalize Pa’i ‘ai: The Movement to Preserve an Important Hawaiian Tradition

It is no secret that poi is an significant staple of Hawaiian cuisine and culture.  What remains a bit of a mystery – and understandably a point of contention – is why the sale of its hand-pounded byproduct, pa’i ‘ai, continues to be forbidden under current law.

The Department of Health (DOH) claims that the traditional process by which pa’i ‘ai is produced renders it unsafe for public consumption.  The law requires that food products intended for the public must follow specific preparation guidelines.  These guidelines include cleaning the implements – in the case of pa’i ‘ai, the lava rock pounders and wooden boards – with bleach and other disinfecting chemicals.  As the tools used to pound the pa’i ‘ai are designed and crafted with much care, they are of significant cultural value to the practitioners.  According to a recent article in Honolulu Weekly, bleaching the implements or cleaning them with strong chemicals is in direct conflict with their spiritual significance and the traditional belief that the dried poi left in the pounder is what keeps the pa’i ‘ai from spoiling.

The DOH also requires food made for public consumption to be produced in a certified kitchen or processing establishment.  Yet the law makes an exception for honey.  Why should pa’i ‘ai not be granted a similar exemption?

Greenprint: North Shore Community Continues to Keep the Country “Country”

With the help of the Trust for Public Land (TPL), the people of Oahu’s North Shore have found one more way to keep the country “country”.  TPL, a non-profit land conservation organization and the North Shore Community Land Trust (NSCLT) are working together with North Shore residents to develop a “greenprint” community action plan that will guide future conservation efforts on the North Shore.

The greenprinting process invites input through community outreach events.  “Land protection talk stories” have been held at outdoor markets such as the Waialua and Haleiwa Farmers’ Markets.  At these events, residents were asked questions such as

Electric Vehicles in Hawaii: An Escape From Escalating Gas Prices

As gas prices continue to rise, will the demand for electric cars follow?  Perhaps.  And Hawaii is already preparing to meet that demand.

A federal stimulus “EV Ready Grant” of $2.6 million will be used to build electric vehicle (EV) charging stations throughout the islands.  According to Pacific Business News, AeroVironment will partner with Hawaiian Electric Co. (HECO) to construct up to 320 public and semi-private charging stations at places such as hotels, rental car facilities, shopping centers, and high rise buildings.  Through these efforts, over the next year AeroVironment and others such as Better Place, will be creating one of the country’s first charging dock networks.  The accessibility of the charging docks should help to alleviate consumers’ hesitations about purchasing EVs out of fear that they will be stranded when they run out of power.  In an interview with Star Advertiser, the Hawaii manager of California-based Better Place, Brian Goldstein, said that to “help encourage adoption” of EVs, Better Place is going a step further and offering free charging at their stations for the first year.

But potential EV buyers are asking:

Hawaii “Nets to Energy” Program Only Part of the Solution

Hawaii’s Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, one of the largest conservation areas in the world, is home to many rare and endangered species such as the green sea turtle and the monk seal.  Unfortunately, it has also become home to millions of pounds of forsaken fishing nets and gear.  The debris that has been lost at sea finds its way to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI), threatening to smother the coral reefs and strangle the marine life that inhabits the area.

Recognizing the need to preserve the NWHI area and protect it from the harms of the debris, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has been conducting annual removal cruises in the region for 14 years.  Now, with the help of the United States Coast Guard, Schnitzer Steel Hawaii, and Covanta Energy, they have found a place and purpose for the discarded debris. 

Hawaii’s School Garden Programs: Planting Seeds of Sustainability

Most people are familiar with the Chinese proverb, “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” Hawaii schools are showing just what is possible when we apply this idea to children and gardening.

With the help of the Kokua Hawaii Foundation’s ‘AINA In Schools program, schools like Sunset Beach Elementary and ‘Aikahi Elementary have experienced immediate successes and are envisioning a much brighter, healthier, and more sustainable future for our children and our islands. The Kokua Hawaii Foundation’s ‘AINA program focuses on three main goals: (1) addressing health issues through nutrition education and by encouraging healthy eating habits, (2) creating a sense of stewardship by connecting students to the land and sea, and (3) creating a market for local farmers.

While the concepts of school gardens and farmers’ markets are not new, community collaboration and grant support from the Kokua Hawaii Foundation have helped move market and gardening programs to the next level.

Maunalua Bay Reef Restoration: A Cause for Celebration

Invasive algae isn’t typically a cause for celebration. But the successful removal of it can be, particularly when it involves job creation, composting and community engagement.

On March 1, 2011, the Maunalua Bay community, together with The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Pono Pacific Land Management LLC. and Mālama Maunalua, celebrated the successful completion of the Maunalua Bay Reef Restoration Project. The project, made possible with the support of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding, was completed earlier than expected and under budget.

The removal of 23 acres of invasive algae was only one of the benefits realized through the project. The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii reports that the funds provided by the ARRA created or retained 75 jobs, engaged eight local businesses and five local farmers, with one hundred percent of the algae recycled into compost by facilities such as Hawaiian Earth Products, to be used on local farms. In addition, 3,000 community members and 12 schools got involved in the reef restoration by contributing a total of 7,000 hours of community service. According to The Nature Conservancy, the volunteer program will continue, as will scientific research in the Bay.