Green Magazine Hawaii Oct/Nov/Dec 2015

MALAMA KAWELA-KAHUKU

OCT/NOV/DEC 2015

Vol. 7 #4

greenmagazinehawaii.com

SPIRITUAL ECOLOGY

SEEQS SCHOOL

CONTENTS VOLUME 7 NUMBER 4 // OCTOBER/NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

FEATURES _________________________________________________________________________ 20 STEPS FROM PERFECTION

A beachy, craftsman retreat receives the state's first LEED v4 certification

28

28 THE SKY IS FALLING

With sea level rise, coastal erosion and a hotter, drier climate upon us, it's time to prepare for climate change

34 SEEQS

The public-charter secondary school is shaping citizens through the lens of sustainability

38 MALAMA KAWELA-KAHUKU

The North Shore Community Land Trust fights to conserve open space and agricultural opportunities on the North Shore

44 BACK TO THE SOURCE

Spiritual ecology is an emerging field that combines ecology, environmentalism and spiritual awareness

34

NOW _________________________________________________________________________ 10 COME SAIL AWAY

A landmark expedition to Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument

12 PLASTIC BAGGAGE

Hawai‘i's most populous island implements the weakest plastic bag ban

14 POWER PLAY

Blue Planet Energy Systems brings Blue Ion to market

16 ANSWER ME THESE QUESTIONS 3

Q&A with Dennis Swart of Pacific Island Solar

38

17 RACING EXTINCTION

The planet’s latest and greatest threat—us

18 UNDERWATER GARDEN

Outrigger Resorts is growing coral for reefs throughout the Pacific

19 HOLE IN THE MALL

Grab a pint at Puka’s

PEOPLE _________________________________________________________________________ 48 PICK IT UP

Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii frontman Kahi Pacarro is energizing

communities about coastal stewardship

44 “Wilderness is the royal road back to the source.”

—LOUIS G. HERMAN

Published by Element Media, Inc. VOLUME 7 :: NUMBER 4 :: OCTOBER/NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

Publishers Jamie & Naomi Giambrone

Art Director Keith Usher

Associate Publisher E. S. Adler

Contributing Photographers Buffy Cushman-Patz, Augie Salbosa, Kevin Whitton

Managing Editor Kevin Whitton, kevin@elementmediahi.com

Administration Athena Keehu, Sally Shaner

Copy Editor Lauren McNally

Publishers’ Assistant Enjy El-Kadi

Contributing Writers Stuart H. Coleman, Lindsey Kesel, Larry Lieberman, Alyssa S. Navares Myers, Doorae Shin

Advertising Inquiries E.S. Adler, esadler@elementmediahi.com

Editorial Interns Chance Nakazato

Editorial Advisory Board Mike Fairall, Dr. Jack Kittinger, Jeff Mikulina, Nicole Milne

Subscribe and read online at greenmagazinehawaii.com. Contact Element Media at 1088 Bishop Street, Suite 1130, Honolulu, HI 96813; 808.737.8711. Follow Green at facebook.com/GreenMagazineHawaii and Twitter @greenmaghawaii. Green Magazine Hawai‘i is a quarterly publication available through subscription, direct mail and bookstores throughout Hawai‘i. The views expressed within Green Magazine Hawai‘i do not necessarily reflect the opinions of management and ownership. Green Magazine Hawai‘i may not be reproduced without written permission from the publisher.

ON THE COVER Climate change is a hot-button topic that has graced many national magazine covers. You've seen satellite photography of super storms, renderings of flooded city streets and polar bears stranded on floating discs of ice. Green's art director, Keith Usher, came up with the hour glass concept to show that even though climate change is out of sight and out of mind, we're running out of time to mitigate its effects. The image also symbolizes the coastal erosion Hawai‘i will be seeing more and more of in the coming decades.

Illustration: Keith Usher

Now Online You can read Green Magazine Hawai‘i anytime online.

Go to GreenMagazineHawaii.com and click on the ezine tab.

2

GRE E N M A G A Z I N E H AWA II.C O M

Long Range and Quick Fill-Ups Define Toyota’s Game-Changing Fuel Cell Vehicle EPA-estimated 312-mile range and five-minute fill-ups are only the beginning of the benefits of Toyota’s stylish new fuel cell vehicle

Powered by Toyota Hawaii

T

he numbers are in and are even better than expected. Toyota recently announced official Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) fuel economy for the Toyota Mirai fuel cell vehicle (FCV) of 67 miles-per-gallon equivalent (mpge) city/highway/combined and an estimated driving range of 312 miles on a single fill of hydrogen. That gives Mirai the longest driving range of any zero emission vehicle on the market today.

What is even more impressive is the fact that the Mirai’s hydrogen fuel tanks can be refilled in about five minutes, compared with hours needed to recharge typical pure electric vehicles. And with Mirai’s real-world range of around three times that of the average EV, it means less time recharging, more convenience and more miles to drive the kids to school or the whole gang to dinner.

“The difference between the new Toyota Mirai FCV and plug-in zero emission vehicles is simple—by producing the energy needed for driving within the Mirai’s onboard fuel cell system, the cord is cut,” said Rick Ching, president, Servco Automotive. “You don’t spend your day looking for charging stations, you don’t have to remember to recharge every night. Once you

4

GRE E N M A G A Z I N E H AWA II.C O M

refuel the vehicle, you get in and drive.”

As for the driving experience itself, pressing the accelerator pedal sets some amazing technology in motion. Hydrogen mixes with oxygen, creating electricity that powers the motor that propels the Mirai, leaving only water vapor behind. And you won’t feel anything except smooth, powerful performance.

As with all Toyota vehicles, safety is engineered into Mirai, starting with the protective body structure and the three-layer hydrogen storage tanks that can absorb five times the crash energy of steel. In the unlikely event of a collision, sensors automatically stop the flow of hydrogen. Safe, clean and convenient, Mirai is also equipped with Toyota’s Star Safety System of braking, stability and traction control technology.

“Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles like Mirai are a perfect fit for Hawai‘i because the hydrogen fuel can be produced locally, meaning less dependence on the world’s limited oil supplies,” added Ching. “Fuel cell technology is being called the powertrain for the next 100 years. With the coming of the Toyota Mirai to the roads of Hawai‘i, the future is already here.”

Sign up to receive updated information on the Toyota Mirai FCV at ToyotaHawaii.com/Mirai.

A CAR SO FAR AHEAD OF ITS TIME IT USES 13.5-BILLION-YEAR-OLD FUEL.

Introducing a car that doesn’t use a single drop of gasoline. A car that produces zero pollution.

A car that uses a clean, renewable fuel. Hydrogen. This alternative-fuel car has a range of 3121 miles and takes only five minutes to fill up. And because its only emission is water vapor, you can relax and enjoy the view knowing you’re in a car that will help preserve the scenery.

the hydrogen-powered mirai is coming.

Find out more at ToyotaHawaii.com/Mirai

1

Actual mileage will vary. Range measurement pursuant to SAEJ2601 standards (ambient temperature: 20°C; hydrogen tank pressure when fueled: 70 MPa).

ADVERTISEMENT

Since 2003, Brad Albert and Matias Besasso have been working to get Hawaii homeowners “sponsored by the sun.”

Clients enjoy tracking the growth of their tree online in what has become the most intricately mapped forest in the world. HLH uses a proprietary radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology that verifies ongoing growth, maintenance, genealogy, ownership and carbon sequestration data.

With their Maui-based company Rising Sun Solar installing approximately 1,000 photovoltaic systems this year through a network of 250 employees throughout Hawaii, they have helped lead a movement to change how the state makes and uses power.

“The average 5-kilowatt photovoltaic system reduces carbon dioxide emissions equivalent to planting 160 trees annually,” Besasso said. “Deforestation and a reliance on imported energy sources have had a devastating impact in Hawaii, and with each new solar array and planting, we are making the state a better place to live for generations to come.”

Now, as their company grows, so does the world’s first Hawaiian Legacy Forest on Hawaii Island. Working together with Hawaiian Legacy Hardwoods (HLH), Rising Sun Solar has helped re-establish an entire native ecosystem through the reforestation of endemic trees like koa, ohia, mamane, naio, ko’oko’olau, kukaenene and ‘iliahi; transforming pastureland back to the spectacular forest it once was.

For more than a year, Rising Sun Solar has planted one koa seedling in the forest for each of its solar projects, helping offset the environmental impact of its operations.

6

GRE E N M A G A Z I N E H AWA II.C O M

HLH, in partnership with the nonprofit Hawaiian Legacy Reforestation Initiative, recently celebrated the planting its 300,000th endemic tree – nearly a quarter of its overall goal of 1.3 million total trees to be planted for permanent reforestation across Hawaii.

“HLH uses state-of-the-art technologies and proprietary forest management practices to promote long-term forest health, carbon sequestration, ecosystem diversity and unparalleled data collection for research and development,

all while creating permanent green jobs for Hawaii families,” said Jeff Dunster, CEO of HLH. “Through partnerships with companies like Rising Sun Solar, we have created a groundbreaking way to reforest these lands and re-establish a vital ecosystem.”

Key to these efforts is the new Legacy Carbon™ program, launched earlier this year. It is the first Gold Standard Certified forestry carbon credit in North America and the first in the world to produce certified carbon credits for the reforestation of koa trees. Koa and sandalwood Legacy Trees may be sponsored online via www.LegacyTrees. org, or be planted through Hawaiian Legacy Tours, named Ecotour Operator of the Year by the Hawaii Ecotourism Association. In addition to re-establishing the forest, proceeds from each tree planted raise funds for more than 330 nonprofits in Hawaii and worldwide.

I

could take this opportunity to drone on about climate change, to weigh in on the legitimacy and urgency of the issue. I could stand on a soapbox and rant about sea level rise, coastal erosion, flooding, drought, storm severity, increasing sea surface temperatures, Hawai‘i’s response to the evolving climate or the long-term effects of climate change. But I’m not going to.

Larry Lieberman eloquently tackles that discussion in his insightful article on page 28.

I’ve got a better idea. Let’s chat about photography. I got my first camera, a Kodak Instamatic, for my birthday when I was seven years old. The boxy camera had a square flashcube on top that rotated like a disco ball. It came in a big box that I proudly displayed on a shelf above my desk. I would take pictures of my parents, my dog and the plants in our backyard—the worldview of a child.

Film was a limited resource for me.

The Instamatic used encased plastic film cartridges that were easy to load into the back of the camera. The cartridges contained either 12 or 20 exposures. Of

course, I wasn’t snap happy like I am now with my digital camera. Even then I knew I had to be selective before pressing the shutter button.

I remember taking my film cartridge to the lab for processing and printing. It would take a few days before they were ready, which felt like an eternity at the time. Opening that thick, paper envelope with the prints and the negatives filled me with anticipation. Seeing the images that developed onto the photo paper was like magic. I kept my prints in photo albums.

Looking through them was akin to reliving that moment in time, even if it was just a shot of my dog lying in the grass in front of a big juniper bush.

In high school I took a photography class—my favorite second only to surf class every morning. My dad let me use his Canon FT, a manual 35mm film camera, which now sits on my bookshelf at home next to an old microscope and a stack of bonsai books. During the class I learned to use the aperture and shutter speed settings.

Once again, I had to practice restraint and only press that shutter button once I was confident my settings would produce the image I was after.

With digital photography at everyone’s fingertips (even my four-year-old’s), it

seems archaic to use film cameras today for anything other than nostalgia. I couldn’t be happier that technology has given us the digital SLR camera. I can still manually adjust my settings, tweak the depth of field and shoot macro or moving objects with a change of the dial. Viewfinders provide instant gratification and allow for instant image critiques. I can snap away until I get the desired frame, focus, look and feel. And memory cards with double-digit gigabytes of storage allow me to shoot hundreds, if not thousands, of images at a time.

If you enjoy photography like I do, send me your images that relate to sustainability.

I want to see your perspectives on the issues shaping our community and the places we live and recreate. If we like your photo, we’ll share it in the magazine and online. In fact, we're dedicating a new section in the magazine to you. It’s called Perspectives because that’s what our individual reality really is, a singular, unique perspective of a shared whole. The more we understand each other’s perspectives, the more we learn from each other and expand our horizons. As you connect with nature and the community, point and shoot and send the results my way.

—Kevin Whitton

SUBMISSION DEETS Submit your high-res (300+ dpi) photos in JPG, TIFF or RAW file format, along with the photographer’s name and a photo description, to kevin@elementmediahi.com.

Multiple images can be sent via Dropbox, WeTransfer or other file-sharing service.

8

GRE E N M A G A Z I N E H AWA II.C O M

THE PREMIERE ASIAN PACIFIC & EUROPEAN FILM

CELEBRATING 35 YEARS OF SHOWCASING THE SHOWCASE OF THE PACIFIC BEST IN WORLD CINEMA.

NOVEMBER 12– 22, 2015

NOVEMBER 12– 22, 2015

#MYHIFFMOMENT2015

HIFF.ORG

COME SAIL AWAY A joint landmark expedition to Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument Papahänaumokuäkea Marine National Monument is the largest protected marine conservation area in the world.

Spanning 139,797 square miles of the Pacific Ocean, it’s larger than all of the United States’ national parks combined. The reserve is home to over 7,000 marine species unique to Hawai‘i, including the endangered Hawaiian monk seal and green sea turtle, as well as various terrestrial species.

10

GR E E N M A G A Z I N E H AWA II.C O M

Photo: State of Hawai‘i

[ notes from the field ]

Photo: NOAA

OUR IMPACT There are 99.9% more ‘opihi on the shorelines of the monument than on O‘ahu.

shoreline ‘opihi counts and reef fish surveys and discuss how to better manage Hawai‘i’s marine resources.

“Nihoa and Mokumanamana have always been places of high spiritual mana,” says navigator and first-time captain Kaleo Wong. “Situated near the transition of pö and ao [light and dark, life and afterlife], they remain sacred wahi pana [celebrated places] and allow us to practice many aspects of our culture, one of which

is gaining vital open ocean navigation experience while remaining relatively safe in our home waters of Hawai‘i.”

Thanks to its unexplored deep-sea habitats and extensive coral reefs, the monument is the holy grail of genetic diversity. The team aboard Searcher surveyed ‘opihi for the first time on the north shore of Mokumanamana and collected samples of ‘opihi living near a freshwater seep on the island. They also observed incredible genetic

diversity of ‘opihi on Nihoa.

“This is significant because ‘opihi populations in the monument could be more resilient to human-derived effects like ocean acidification and disease outbreaks than populations in the main Hawaiian Islands,” explains Texas A&M University researcher Chris Bird, Ph.D., who has conducted ‘opihi research in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands for the past six years. —Chance Nakazato

Illustration: State of Hawai‘i

This past July marked the first-ever joint scientific and cultural expedition to Nihoa and Mokumanamana, the monument’s easternmost islands. Crewmembers aboard the Polynesian double-hulled sailing canoe Hikianalia collaborated with government and university researchers aboard the modern research vessel Searcher to conduct navigator training for future legs of the Polynesian Voyaging Society’s Mälama Honua Voyage, carry out

DID YOU KNOW? Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, which stretches from Nihoa Island to Kure Atoll, was proclaimed a UNESCO World Heritage Site in July 2010.

GREENMAGAZINEHAWAII.COM

11

PLASTIC BAGGAGE

The most populous island in the chain implements the weakest plastic bag ban Honolulu is the last county in the state of Hawai‘i to legally prohibit grocers and retailers on O‘ahu from providing single-use plastic bags to customers at checkout. With 11 types of plastic bags exempt from the ban, this law is a long way from a victory for single-use plastic opponents. —Chance Nakazato

The Good Consumer and retailer compliance will reduce single-use plastic bag waste and the demand for singleuse plastic bags.

Compostable plastic bags, which many retailers now offer in lieu of single-use plastic bags, biodegrade 60 percent or more within 180 days.

Some retailers charge a fee for compostable plastic bags at checkout. Usually around 10 cents, the fee is a big reminder to bring a reusable bag when you shop.

Businesses can be fined from $100 to $1,000 per day for noncompliance.

12

GR E E N M A G A Z I N E H AWA II.C O M

Compostable plastic bags are still plastic bags and thus harmful to the environment and wildlife. They blow out of garbage trucks and rubbish bins, littering parks and beaches and even end up in the ocean, where they can be ingested by marine life.

Federal entities such as the Defense Commissary Agency are not required to follow the ban.

Many plastic bags are exempt from the ban, including those for cut flowers, restaurant takeout, pharmaceuticals, newspapers, dry cleaning, pet and yard waste, live animals and chemical pesticides.

Plastic takeout bags comprised 84 percent of the littered bags collected during a recent Beach Environmental Awareness Campaign Hawai‘i cleanup at Ala Moana Beach Park.

The Bad

Taking bold steps to transform Hawai‘i’s energy future.

Hawai‘i has the most ambitious clean energy goals in the nation. The Hawaiian Electric Companies have achieved 47 percent renewable energy on Hawai‘i Island, 34 percent on Maui and 15 percent on O‘ahu.

Together, we’ve already surpassed the state’s 2015 goal of 15 percent renewable energy. We’ve accomplished this by partnering with customers, Hawai‘i businesses, and state and local governments. But what about the future?

Key goals that benefit everyone.

100 percent renewable energy.

Our goal is 100 percent renewable energy by 2045. As we continue to add renewable energy, we’ll reduce our dependence on imported oil. This will lower electric bills and provide a sustainable future for generations to come.

Triple the amount of distributed solar.

Hawai‘i is first in the nation for installed solar systems per customer, including rooftop PV. And with ongoing grid improvements, our goal is to triple the amount of distributed solar by 2030. In fact, O‘ahu is already close to 30 percent of houses with installed or approved rooftop solar.

20 percent reduction in electric bills.

By 2030, as clean local energy replaces imported oil, we’ll reduce electric bills by 20 percent. We may also replace imported oil with natural gas, which is a cleaner, less expensive fuel. As a transition fuel in power plants, natural gas can help lower bills as we continue to move from oil to renewable energy.

At the Hawaiian Electric Companies, we’re leading the way to a more affordable clean energy future.

To find out more, visit: hawaiianelectric.com/ourvision

Photos: Blue Planet Energy

Photos: Blue Planet Energy

POWER PLAY

Blue Planet Energy Systems brings Blue Ion to market

When Henk Rogers brought Tetris to market over two decades ago, the tile-matching puzzle became the world’s most popular video game. Today, as founder and chairman of Blue Planet Foundation and CEO of his newest business venture, Blue Planet Energy Systems, Rogers is hoping that energy efficiency and power storage systems will be just as big of a consumer hit.

Rogers ia a clean energy advocate who walks the walk in all aspects of his life.

His homes on O‘ahu and the Big Island are models of sustainability, energy 14

GR E E N M A G A Z I N E H AWA II.C O M

efficiency and cutting-edge technology. “When I tell people I’m living off-grid, they think I’m living in a small shack with no hot water,” says Rogers. “But the reality is, Blue Ion technology has allowed me, my family and my guests to live fully off the grid and enjoy all the amenities without changing my lifestyle, including all the appliances we need—hot water, Wi-Fi—and I can even charge my electric cars.

No carbon emissions, no fossil fuels, no utility bills."

—Chance Nakazato blueplanetenergy.com

Hu¿ ku- Maol¿ Ola Transforming Land Back to ‘Aina

Specializing in Cultural and Ecological Landscapes • Hawaii’s largest selection of Native Hawaiian Plants & Endangered Species • Licensed and Insured • Erosion Control • Hydroseeding/Mulching • Xeriscaping • Landscape Maintenance

C-31072

nativehawaiianplants@gmail.com

808.235.6165

www.HawaiianNativePlants.com

ANSWER ME THESE QUESTIONS THREE

Knowledge from leaders in sustainability Is 100 percent renewable energy a realistic goal for Hawai‘i? If so, how are you helping to achieve that goal?

I believe renewables will make up the vast majority of energy that mankind uses. It is really a question of what is best for the planet and our desire to create the technology to make it happen. Pacific Islands Solar provides solutions for solar thermal systems, photovoltaic energy, LED lighting, reflective roofing solutions and solar air conditioning systems.

When would you recommend a battery system to residential solar customers?

Battery technology is like the holy grail of our energy future.

I believe that within three to four years, cheaper and better battery technology will be available as investment dollars continue to chase the solution. We generally recommend that investment in a cheaper battery today that will be replaced in three to five years makes sense since lower cost and length of battery service life will be available then.

What sets Pacific Island Solar apart from other solar installers?

We believe the equipment purchased has to be maintained and we provide free maintenance with every system. As a roofing and general contractor, we also have a better understanding of the total installation that insures a quality installation. Our emphasis is also on quality solutions, not the cheapest low quality options that do not provide value as they age. pacificislandsconstruction.net

DENNIS SWART Co-Owner, Pacific Island Solar

16

GR E E N M A G A Z I N E H AWA II.C O M

ASK the EXPERT

RACING EXTINCTION The planet’s latest and greatest threat—us

Gail Slawson-Eich, MBA Co-Owner OceanHead Solar & Electric 808.735.5745 oceanheadsolar.com

OFF-GRID SOLAR AIR CONDITIONING

BY LAUREN MCNALLY

On the brink of what could be Earth's sixth mass extinction event, the investigative documentary Racing Extinction wields an arsenal of lurid undercover footage and larger-thanlife visuals in its call to action on climate change and the global wildlife trade. The film made its Hawai‘i debut for World Oceans Day in June and premieres in 220 countries this December on the Discovery Channel.

Q A

Can I really go off grid?

Going off grid with solar air conditioning is easy and there is no HECO approval required. First you start with a split air-conditioning system that has been specifically engineered to run off batteries. Then, add three to eight PV panels, a bank of four batteries and a battery charge controller. Lastly, have a licensed electrician and HVAC company install the system for you, then you’re good to go.

How the system works is that the PV panels charge the batteries during the day. When you turn the air conditioning on, either during the day or at night, the system runs off the energy stored in the batteries. You’ll need to make sure to tell your contractor how often and how long you plan to run your AC so that they can determine the right number of PV panels and the right battery size for your system.

Remember it’s still solar, and the state and federal governments are still eager to provide you with tax incentives to install solar and efficiently cool your home.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

WATCH

THE COVE Prior to tackling biotic crisis in Racing Extinction, filmmaker Louie Psihoyos won an Academy Award for exposing the gruesome and surreptitious annual dolphin hunt in Taiji, Japan.

READ

THE SIXTH EXTINCTION Elizabeth Kolbert chronicles the five mass extinctions that have swept the planet over the course of its 4.5 billion-year history and portends a sixth extinction event given current rates of species loss.

GREENMAGAZINEHAWAII.COM

17

Photo: Outrigger Resort

Free Parking Free Parking available at Ala Moana Center Plaza structure location

Enjoy Beer and wine* with our pau hana specials, or just have Breakfast for dinner!

Kama’aina Discount

Outrigger Resorts is growing coral for reefs throughout the Pacific

Eggs ‘n Things is now offering a Kama’aina Discount to customers who have a valid state ID.

Saratoga

Waikiki Beach Eggspress

(808)923-EGGS (3447)

(808)926-EGGS (3447)

343 Saratoga Rd. Honolulu, HI 96815

2464 Kalakaua Ave. Honolulu, HI 96815

Ala Moana

451 Piikoi St. Honolulu, HI 96814

(808)538-EGGS (3447)

UNDERWATER GARDEN

Guam

1317 Pale San Vitores Rd. Tumon, GU 96913

(671)648-EGGS (3447)

*Beer and Wine Served Exclusively at our Ala Moana Location.

www.eggsnthings.com

In Hawai‘i and across the Pacific Ocean, coral reefs are threatened by climate change, land-based sources of pollution and overfishing. With 500 million people depending on coral reef ecosystems to provide them with their daily needs, maintaining the health of fragile coral colonies is more important than ever. Outrigger Resorts, a family-owned, locally based company with oceanfront resorts across the Pacific region, has adopted a new global conservation initiative to protect coral reefs and educate the public on coral reef preservation.

Ozone, short for Outrigger’s Zone, aims to bolster coral health and resiliency in oceans surrounding Outrigger Resorts’ iconic beach destinations and for coral reefs worldwide. With the help of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Pacific Islands Ocean Observing System, the Polynesian Voyaging Society and community partners, coral will be planted and grown on reefs fronting participating resorts over the next decade. Lay scientists headed to Castaway Island Resort in Fiji can even lend a hand planting. —Kevin Whitton outrigger.com/ozone

18

GR E E N M A G A Z I N E H AWA II.C O M

Photo: Kevin Whitton

HOLE IN THE MALL

Grab a pint at Puka’s

Puka’s is just what Kahala Mall needed— an eatery with a creative menu and 24 craft beers on tap. Part of Whole Foods Kahala, Puka’s offers a fresh menu using as many locally sourced ingredients as possible and features a rotating selection of local, limitedrelease and seasonal brews, as well as wine and handmade Italian sodas. The cozy nook was conceptualized by Maui designer Carlo Carbajal and features a tile mural by North Shore photographer Clark Little. Dine inside or enjoy full-service food and drink under an umbrella on the lanai. —Kevin Whitton

GOOD IN THE 'HOOD

LOVE THE BUBBLES

SIP OF SUDS

For a refreshing,

a $10 beer flight—four-

tomatoes is a house

nonalcoholic quaff, try an

ounce pours of any four

favorite as well as the

Italian-style soda made

beers on tap. They're served

local-IPA beer-battered

with OnoPops' locally

on a cool, retro skateboard

fish and chips.

made syrups.

made by local company

The BLT with fried green

Expand your horizons with

Retrospect Designs.

GREENMAGAZINEHAWAII.COM

19

STEPS TO PERFECTION

A beachy, craftsman retreat receives the state's first LEED v4 certification for its high standard of energy efficiency, durability and quality

BY KEVIN WHITTON | PHOTOS AUGIE SALBOSA

20

GR E E N M A G A Z I N E H AWA II.C O M

L

EED certification is a rating system for homes, building and neighborhoods constructed with sustainable design and building standards. The more boxes a project can tick in relation to sustainability, the higher the rating.

Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, LEED v4 sets a new benchmark for high performance.

Local sustainable builder Mike Fairall, principal of Mokulua High Performance Builder, recently completed Hawai‘i’s first LEED v4 home just steps away from the fine white sand of Kailua’s beaches. Reminiscent of the old Hawaiiana-style homes of the early 20th century, this modernday, two-story, four-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bath abode was built with an emphasis on durability, energy efficiency, on-site stormwater retention and ease of maintenance while limiting the impact of construction on the near-beachfront environment. Upon completion, the home was also certified Energy Star version 3 with a fully integrated Energy Star lighting and appliance package, high-efficiency mini-split air conditioning system and solar hot water, allowing its humble five-kilowatt PV system to achieve net-zero energy use.

Tiare Pinto, president of whole-home design firm Archipelago Hawaii, translated the homeowners’ lifestyle and aesthetic preferences into a clean and modern, multi-generational living space with a chef’s kitchen and a long list of features that speaks to the importance of sustainable building without compromising on design or budget.

Opposite: The chef’s kitchen features a highly efficient Energy Star appliance package, book-matched granite countertops and under-cabinet lighting. Top: An upstairs lanai utilizes reclaimed tongue and groove from the existing home was cleaned up and repurposed for a classic painted ceiling finish. Above: A bay window brightens the tone of this formal dining room.

GREENMAGAZINEHAWAII.COM

21

An integrated office space promotes the best of space management, along with a Ko’olau view and upcycled desk constructed from flooring scraps. The FSC-certified, cedar tongue and groove ceiling adds another dimension to both the craftsman and Hawaiiana themes of the home.

22

GR E E N M A G A Z I N E H AWA II.C O M

TOP QUALITY

Homeowners with premium value homes trust Oceanview Roofing What makes OceanView Roofing unique?

Experience and attention to detail. I have over 35 years of experience in the roofing business. We only use quality materials and we have extensive experience working with concrete and Spanish tiles, aluminum, wood shakes, asphalt shingles and flat roof silicone coatings.

We also pay attention to important things that will give your roof a longer life, including stainless steel nails that won’t rust out, top quality underlayment (not just felt paper) and custom folded flashings.

How is roofing in Hawai‘i different?

In tropical climates, you have to choose a roofing

product that will withstand the extremes of strong winds, excessive rain, heat, sun and salt air. Many substandard roofing products will fade, peel, chip or crack in this weather.

What should I look for in a roofing contractor?

Safety. Beware of roofing companies are not compliant with OSHA regulations, meaning a contractor doesn’t have up-to-date workers' compensation and liability insurance, which means you could be personally liable. Make sure to check the general insurance of the company that installs your roof before they start working and keep a copy for your files. You may have no legal recourse if your roof leaks and causes damage to your home.

Ocean View Roofing is fully licensed and compliant with OSHA regulations to ensure best practices, service and the highest quality products available. oceanviewroofing.com Created by OceanView Roofing

GREENMAGAZINEHAWAII.COM

23

REVOLUSUN SMART HOME’S INNOVATION CENTER Innovation is about change, transformation, new methods and breakthroughs. RevoluSun, Hawai‘i’s leading solar provider, is leading the charge in renewable energy beyond—actually, below to be exact—Hawai‘i’s rooftops.

The innovation center at RevoluSun Smart Home is a curated collection of sustainable products that can transform a house into an energy-efficient, healthy and comfortable home. This can mean utility bills drastically downsize, air quality or lighting evolves and a subsequent metamorphosis from standard to smarter.

Open to contractors, architects and the public, RevoluSun’s headquarters at 210 Ward Avenue features a hands-on Smart Home showroom—a dynamic space to learn about smart home solutions like: • PV electric systems by SunPower, the worlds most powerful solar panels • Whole-house fans • Natural lighting solutions such as skylights and sun tunnels • High-efficiency pool pumps • Electric vehicle charging stations for home or business • PV hot water systems

“There is no other place on O‘ahu where you can talk to smart home experts, see the products in action and then get a detailed plan of how we can integrate these products into your home, all under one roof,” states Chief Innovation Officer Eric Carlson.

“RevoluSun’s Smart Home Showroom was created as the result of thousands of conversations we’ve had with homeowners as we helped them with their solar energy goals. The reality is that solar PV is not a one-size-fits-all solution for homeowners' needs, so we found additional products that help improve the quality of your home experience and make it as economical as possible.”

Locally owned and operated, RevoluSun remains the industry leader for cutting-edge technology, top-notch workmanship, knowledge of HECO regulations and the best product warranties in the business.

“A holistic approach to the home is what will save homeowners huge amounts of money in utility bills,” Carlson maintains. “We invite the public to come to our showroom or attend one of our informative Smart Home seminars. We have had hundreds of homeowners attend our seminars and take the next step to integrate our products to create a more efficient, economical, sustainable and comfortable place to call home.”

Check the website for upcoming seminars, which are free to the public. revolusun.com Created by RevoluSun

24

GR E E N M A G A Z I N E H AWA II.C O M

Smarter Living. Starts Here.

RevoluSun Smart Home is a holistic approach to making your home more intelligent, healthy, economical and enjoyable, through a curated suite of industry-leading products.

ENERGY

WATER

Generate it. Store it. Enjoy it.

Eco friendly. Wallet friendlier.

RevoluSun offers the most powerful panels to produce more energy, state-of-the-art battery solutions and EV charging stations that cut your charge time by 60% so you can enjoy more of the energy you make.

PV hot water (unlike solar thermal) delivers predictable, reliable hot water for your home with less maintenance and fewer moving parts. It’s also eligible for tax credits and doesn’t require utility approval.

High efficiency variable speed pool pumps can save you up to $1500 per year and are dramatically quieter.

LIGHT A brighter bright.

Our PV powered fresh air skylights are easy to manage with an intelligent touch remote control and smart rain sensors. And they’re eligible for solar tax credits!

Sun tunnels are a great option for bringing natural light into your home and, making spaces feel larger and more inviting.

HOME AUTOMATION & SECURITY

AIR QUALITY Fresh air. Cool comfort.

Cool your home naturally and remove pet dander, odors, germs, smoke and VOC gases with the quietest Whole House fan on the market. Save up to 90% on AC bills and get a $75 rebate from Hawaii Energy.

Safer. Smarter. Automated.

Create peace of mind with home automation, energy management and offsite home monitoring through an easy to use app for your phone!

LIC # ABC 30244

HOME FURNISHINGS AND ACCENTS Established in 2000, Bali Aga opened its first location in Honolulu with a mission to provide a variety of high-quality home furnishings and accents with an island feel at accessible prices. Since then the company has grown to be a cornerstone in Hawai‘i’s brick-and-mortar furniture retail industry.

Every year Bali Aga assists customers in realizing their dream homes. Bali Aga Lifestyle offers a wide range of products and services to the local and international buying community. Bali Aga’s past experience with furnishing private homes, condominiums and larger-scale, state-of-the-art properties throughout the islands enhances its ability to cater to the needs of all of its clientele. From demanding commercial projects with

26

GR E E N M A G A Z I N E H AWA II.C O M

innovative designs, high-quality products, secure handling and shipping and on-site installations to functional home designs, Bali Aga’s product gallery reflects hard work and intense passion.

Bali Aga exclusively uses sustainable products out of respect and sensitivity to the environment.

So whether you need stylish contract furniture or refined residential pieces, rustic or contemporary designs, you will find something of interest at Bali Aga. For interior designers, Bali Aga can either work according to custom specifications or from their catalogs, which include an extensive range of several styles including neocolonial, minimal and contemporary.

Choose Bali Aga Lifestyle is a sign of your confidence and trust in its products and services. Since opening its doors, Bali Aga has strived to ensure that the experience is always a positive one and all about you, the customer. Bali Aga considers it a privilege to work and sincerely values your business. bali-aga.com Created by Bali Aga

28

GR E E N M A G A Z I N E H AWA II.C O M

Hawai‘i is on the front lines of climate change.

Do we have the foresight to prepare for the inevitable or will our grandchildren wonder why we ignored the warning signs?

ur ancestors survived the last Ice Age thousands of years ago and we are the product of that resilience. Our advanced society now has the tools and knowledge to understand our environment, predict the weather and build communities that are better protected from storms, natural disasters and the creeping onslaught of climate change. When catastrophes occur—volcanic eruptions, hurricanes or tsunami—precious weeks, days, even hours of advance notice can mean the difference between life and death. Why then are so few paying attention to the clamoring alarm bells warning us well in advance of what will likely be the most destructive disaster in all of human history?

“The problem is that many people don’t view climate change as an immediate threat,” explains Dr. Karl Kim, director of the National Disaster Preparedness Training Center at the University of Hawai‘i. Dr. Kim and his team have been developing FEMA-certified training courses on natural hazards, climate adaptation and threat management for coastal communities. “We need to address the question as to why communities should commit to infrastructure modifications, companies should change business practices, governments should revise policies and people should adapt their lifestyles. Collectively, these actions could cost billions of dollars, to safeguard against a threat that many do not recognize. Why should people care enough to act? It comes down to protecting the things they value: families, livelihoods, peace and security. It’s all at risk, and we need to manage that risk.”

If Earth’s climate continues to change at the current rate, billions of dollars spent on preparative measures will seem like pocket change compared to the economic devastation in store for us within our grandchildren’s lifetimes. Whether or not you believe that climate change is induced or accelerated by human activities, the fact is that change is upon us. The tangible harm that once seemed so distant has already arrived.

Dr. Kim is vice chair of the Pacific Risk Management ‘Ohana (PRiMO), an organization comprised of an impressive cross section of representatives from academia, U.S. and foreign government agencies and industry stakeholders.

They share information and best practices relating to disaster preparedness and community resilience with a special focus on island nations and coastal 30

GR E E N M A G A Z I N E H AWA II.C O M

Photo: Dolan Eversole, University of Hawai‘i Sea Grant Program

communities. What started in 2003 as a small group of altruistic movers and shakers—essentially meeting in the shadows to cut through red tape and collaborate on saving the world—has blossomed into an annual conference in Hawai‘i attended by hundreds of scientists, researchers, policymakers and other disaster risk-management professionals throughout the Pacific and beyond.

PRiMO puts emphasis on helping island communities become more resilient. “Climate change-induced sea level rise and the increased threats from flooding are a growing problem for many coastal communities,” Dr. Kim says. “But especially so for island nations who are the most vulnerable to sea level rise and coastal hazards.

Some of the lowest-lying countries may disappear altogether.”

That fact has not been lost on Anote Tong, president of the tiny central Pacific nation of Kiribati, where the average elevation is only six feet above sea level. President Tong spoke with

passion at last year’s PRiMO gathering, explaining how his country is already losing the battle against sea level rise. As a nation they are currently making long-term plans for all 100,000-plus citizens to migrate out of the country before the swelling ocean swallows up the vestiges of their low-lying homeland over the next several decades. The Kiribati government has purchased over 5,000 acres of land in Fiji in an unprecedented effort to facilitate the population’s impending exodus.

Coastal erosion and flooding are only part of the problem. A keynote speaker at PRiMO’s recent 2015 conference shared photos and data from Micronesia that should give Hawai‘i residents cause for concern. Dr. Mark Keim is the CEO of DisasterDoc, an international consulting firm that provides education and advice regarding disasters and health. “What we’re seeing increasingly throughout the Pacific are starvation-level events due to sea level rise, creating climate refugees,” says Dr. Keim. “In some parts of Micronesia, villages

have had all of their crops destroyed by saltwater saturation as the increasing tides creep farther and farther inland. There’s no more taro. There’s no more breadfruit. Groundwater becomes brackish and undrinkable and people are left with no food or water. They’re running out of choices and many are packing up and leaving.”

“Kiribati is only the beginning,” says Bill Thomas, PRiMO's navigator council chair and the senior advisor for islands, indigenous and international issues at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

“Eventually, virtually every coastal community will be wrestling with the need to seriously look at relocation planning. And not just islands in the Pacific, in remote coastal Alaskan villages or tribal communities along the Louisiana coast, but established cities on the U.S. Mainland, places like San Francisco, New York and the Jersey shores.

There’s no one community facing this alone—it’s everyone.”

A 2015 study from the University of Hawai‘i predicts that sea level rise will accelerate coastal erosion, which is bad news for thousands of beachfront homeowners across the state; 2013 winter storm damage, North Shore.

GREENMAGAZINEHAWAII.COM

31

Source: windyty.com

Top: Hawai‘i dodged another bullet as hurricanes Kilo, Ignacio and Jimena (left to right) marched past the state in August 2015. July 2015 was the hottest month in recorded history. Right: According to Dr. Karl Kim, executive director of the National Disaster Preparedness Training Center at the University of Hawai‘i, by 2100 32.68 miles of highways and 11.076 square miles of urban area will be adversely affected by sea level rise.

32

While Dr. Keim focuses on human and environmental health, Thomas is also concerned about the social impacts of relocation and coastal recession. “One of the most important things in the social fabric is to be able to identify where you come from; it’s tied to who you are,” he says. “That piece of land, your home—when you have to move it’s disruptive, increasing the risk of community impoverishment, negative health and economic impacts and the loss of place, social networks and cultural identity.” Climate-induced emigrations are currently underway throughout the Pacific, as islanders from vulnerable nations flee the slowly rising tide. Many end up here in Hawai‘i, harbingers of the change coming to our own shoreline.

For now the waves are human—an influx of immigrants fleeing from low-lying Pacific islands to safer, higher ground in Hawai‘i. The real waves to come may not wash away the mountainous Hawaiian Islands to the same extent that they will Micronesia, Samoa and other Pacific nations, but they will have a substantial impact on our island home and economy. A 2015 study from the University of Hawai‘i predicts that sea level rise will accelerate coastal erosion, causing beaches to disappear nearly twice as fast as previously anticipated. If current trends continue, it could mean the loss of 40 feet of shore along much of Hawai‘i’s coastline by 2050 and as much as 100 feet of coastal retreat by the end of this century.

Sand preservation efforts may be too little too late; a recently released NASA report concludes that sea level rise of at least three feet by the end of this

GR E E N M A G A Z I N E H AWA II.C O M

century is now an irreversible certainty. That level of increase will put much of Waikïkï underwater, turning places like Blaisdell Center, McKinley High School and Honolulu Stadium Park into beachfront properties. There’s little doubt that tourism—the main pillar of our economy—would suffer dramatic downturns if Waikïkï’s iconic arc of sand was underwater. Worst-case scenario, sea levels will rise as much as six feet by century’s end and Honolulu’s new shoreline will be nearly a mile inland.

“It’s already happening,” says Chip Fletcher, associate dean at the University of Hawai‘i’s School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology. “Slowly, but steadily. The tides are already overflowing some of our drainage systems.

Near the Shorebird restaurant in Waikïkï you can see waves splashing out of the storm drain at high tide on a regular basis. It’s going to grow over time and become more and more of a nuisance. And when the drains are already full, there’s nowhere for rain to go, so we’ll see more flooding during storms.” According to Fletcher, three feet of sea level rise puts lower lying urban areas like Waikïkï, Kaka‘ako and Iwilei over the tipping point.

James Hansen, the NASA climate scientist credited with bringing human-induced global warming concerns into the spotlight during congressional testimonies almost 25 years ago, suggests that sea levels are rising even more rapidly than prior projections indicated. In July of this year, Hansen’s team of 17 leading climate scientists published new research in the scientific journal Atmospheric Chemistry

Illustration: Dr. Karl Kim

and Physics, estimating as much as 10 feet of ocean rise before the end of this century if greenhouse gas emissions aren’t drastically curtailed. “The science of sea level rise keeps projecting more and more dangerous levels as research pushes forward,” Fletcher warns. “The new information is never better. It’s always worse.” Coastal erosion alone will require massive resources, determination and planning over the next several decades.

The rising sea is only one of the climate-induced problems we’ll be battling. “The threats to human health resulting from climate change are far reaching,” says Dr. Keim. “It’s all interrelated; loss of food and water supply leads to malnutrition and increases in cardio-respiratory diseases, more frequent and severe weather events like hurricanes and floods can bring injuries and loss of life, widespread drought leads to famine and wildfires, even infectious diseases can spread more rapidly due to changes in human migration patterns as a result of climate-related displacement.”

So what can be done to prevent or at least prepare for these grim outcomes?

“We have to manage the growing threat, first by not burning fossil fuels and then by adapting our lifestyles to become healthier and better prepared,” says Dr.

Keim. “Healthy people are more resilient.

Healthy islands have strong infrastructures and safeguards like early warning systems.

Healthy communities have vibrant economies that lead to more capacity for things like food and water security.

We need to take steps to promote health and prevent illness and injury, building strong communities and infrastructure before disasters strike, instead of waiting to respond after disasters have already occurred.”

One thing we can do in Hawai‘i to prepare for this inevitable change is take a proactive approach to climate preparedness. Hawai‘i is a perfect test bed for implementing and measuring adaptation strategies that can show the rest of the world how to become more resilient. We are on the front lines of the climate battle, with our livelihoods, economy and land at risk. By embracing renewable, sustainable approaches to agriculture, construction, energy, transportation and other core elements of our infrastructure, we have an opportunity to show the rest of the world how to take steps toward resilience, not just in theory, but also in practice. There may not be much we can do to prevent changes from happening, but there is a lot that can be done to affect the results. The question is, can we do it fast enough to make a meaningful difference?

According to NOAA data, July 2015 broke records as the hottest month in recorded history. The previous record

breaker was just two months earlier—May 2015. If this year’s temperatures continue, 2015 will be the hottest year on record, beating out the previous record holder, (drum roll, please) 2014. In fact, nine of the top 10 hottest years ever recorded have occurred after 2000. Whether humaninfluenced or not, there is no doubt global temperatures are rising.

Skeptics who point to severe winter weather as a reason for denial fail to realize that global warming can also lead to extreme cold spells, as the destabilization of atmospheric and climatic systems results in more extreme contrasts in weather, including severe snow storms, cold snaps and changes to regional weather conditions. Fortunately we aren’t expecting snowfall any time soon other than on the peaks of Hawai‘i’s highest mountains, but disruptions and changes to traditional seasonal patterns are already being experienced throughout the world.

How we react to this knowledge will define the course of human history.

We have a precious opportunity to take collective action toward self-preservation.

Hawai‘i can show the rest of the world how to prepare. Will humans survive the Earth’s next major climatic shift as our ancestors did so long ago? Our success in maintaining peace, freedom and economic stability throughout that adversity will depend on how well we organize ourselves and take proactive steps to mitigate the impact of climate change. If we choose to pass the buck, our generation may go down in history as the one that piloted our species into another ice age. Only this time, we’re getting lost while holding a map in our hands and we won’t be able to plead ignorance.

GREENMAGAZINEHAWAII.COM

33

LEARNING THROUGH THE LENS OF SUSTAINABILITY

BY LINDSEY KESEL IMAGES BUFFY CUSHMAN-PATZ 34

GR E E N M A G A Z I N E H AWA II.C O M

W

ide-eyed students huddle around the massive trunk of a sprawling monkeypod tree, the social epicenter of campus, waiting to get their photos taken for the yearbook. It’s Wednesday, a free dress day at SEEQS middle school in Kaimuk , and the students are wearing whatever they please: tank tops, dresses, aloha shirts and hoodies. There is a girl wearing a wreath of flowers on her head and a few boys sport fedoras. The eclectic mix of styles aptly reflects the school’s spirit of individualism and the creativity running rampant within its walls. Each student takes a seat in front of a colorful, hand-painted SEEQS school logo, smiles (or not) and says, “SEEQS!”

S

EEQS is a startup charter—an independently operated public school—offering integrated, sustainability-based education to sixth, seventh and eighth graders. Its acronym, School for Examining the Essential Questions of Sustainability, may sound like an ultra-progressive approach to education, but its motto of, “seeking questions, seeding futures,” is grounded in much more than abstract thinking, composting and yoga. It’s a strategic mix of interdisciplinary studies and collaborative opportunities that develops and tests students’ skills and intelligence beyond the classroom. It’s a safe haven where students are encouraged to begin defining and shaping their role in the local and global communities, where educators focus on intentional skill building and champion originality and imagination.

Startup charters must submit a comprehensive plan detailing the school’s mission, vision and methods. The institution undergoes regular evaluations to ensure that academic, operational and financial goals are being met. Like other charter schools, SEEQS has more operational freedom than a traditional public school and is held to high standards of accountability. The school is open to anyone on the island, although there is a waiting list for enrollment—blind lotteries are held before the start of each school year.

GREENMAGAZINEHAWAII.COM

35

“We are currently preparing students for jobs that don’t yet exist, using technologies that haven’t been invented, in order to solve problems we don’t even know are problems yet.”

—Educator Karl Fisch Over the course of her seven years teaching science and math in more traditional school settings, SEEQS founder Buffy Cushman-Patz toyed with the idea of creating a unified approach to education in which educators from different disciplines collaborate on curriculum. Her ideas for overhauling traditional curriculum persisted as she left teaching in 2010 to accept an Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship, a yearlong position in Washington D.C. with the National Science Foundation. Afterwards, she earned a master’s degree in education at Harvard where she refined her vision and acquired the leadership tools to bring her vision to life.

Over the course of her year at Harvard, she wrote the charter for SEEQS and assembled its founding governing board.

In August of 2013, SEEQS opened its doors to a class of 60 students in sixth and seventh grades. In its second year, the

school doubled the number of students and faculty and added an eighth grade class. This past May, the first graduating eighth grade class presented formal portfolios to showcase their understanding of the five core SEEQS sustainability skills: collaborating productively, managing effectively, reasoning analytically, communicating powerfully and thinking systematically.

During the challenging process of bringing SEEQS to life, Cushman-Patz recognized that a sense of community was integral to the school’s success. The practice of sustainability, she reasons, involves keen consideration of how your actions affect others. Her overarching goal is to teach students how sustainability and community work together on a small scale so they can apply this principle to the world around them. “We are not trying to bombard students with a long list of sustainability must-dos,” she clarifies. “We are a school first. Our aim is to provide the ways and means for students to come to conclusions on their own about the contributions they want to make.”

As school leader, Cushman-Patz (known as “Ms. BCP” to her students) wears a few different hats. In her executive director role, she raises funds, manages the facility, fosters community connections and works toward judicious expansion.

As principal, she provides teachers with instructional leadership, handles student disciplinary issues, consults with parents and works with the Department of Education to support children with special needs. She also recruits seasoned educators with a strong presence in the community.

The faculty of 22 collectively holds 17 master’s degrees collectively (three from Harvard), plus one Ph.D and two in progress.

Now in its third year, SEEQS is not immune to the financial hurdles confronting other public charter schools.

Unlike regular public schools, SEEQS has to pay its own rent. It costs $10,000 per student to run the school, leaving a $3,500-per-student deficit after state funding. Constant fundraising is necessary for survival. SEEQS is now looking to add a high school in the near future and fingers are crossed that the state or a benefactor will step up to provide a proper facility.

T

he monkeypod tree is where students and teachers migrate to when they have downtime. Their shared experience is at the heart of what makes SEEQS so extraordinary.

The school's community-based lessons emphasize inquiry, philosophy and reflection to fosters an “intellectually safe” space where students build empathy and interact democratically. SEEQers (the commonly used term for the students) are expected to fill their toolboxes with skills from each discipline and use that knowledge to solve real-world problems.

The school’s weekly schedule reflects what the founders value most in a learning environment. School days are divided into curriculum blocks dedicated to community involvement and authentic work, as opposed to busywork. The semester-long Essential Question of Sustainability (EQS) blocks are at the heart of the reimagined student experience. At the start of each term, SEEQers participate in a weeklong EQS camp, an intensive primer that involves field trips, expert interviews and brainstorming. Students enroll in one of the EQS courses chosen by the faculty and embark on a semester-long project.

In Spring 2015 the EQS themes were “How does water sustain us?” and “How does transferring knowledge worldwide help Mälama Honua?” Educators from different classes guide the students as they evaluate and interpret the questions through the lenses of science, math, English, history and the arts, adding their own twist on the topics. Throughout

the semester, students visit community partners and seek direction to refine their focus. Past trips have included an invasive algae cleanup with Mälama Maunalua and tours of the Healthy Watershed Demonstration site at Koko Head District Park.

At the semester’s end, students present their EQS projects to the school community and the public. This past spring, two students created Kokua Boards Foundation, a nonprofit that connects young, aspiring wave riders with professional surfers. One student made her own toys from recycled materials and sold them at a Hawai‘i Public Charter Schools Network fundraiser. Another wrote and published a book, The Mystery Aboard the Hokule‘a.

History teacher and EQS coteacher Nathan Malinoski feels the school's nontraditional culture fosters empowerment. “The teaching style at SEEQS lets the kids take control in a way that builds skills of inquiry and the power of connection,” he says. “These students know how to engage, how to build relationships. They look you in the eye and genuinely listen and respond.”

SEEQS celebrates individuality, says Cushman-Patz, and many parents appreciate the school’s efforts to create a climate of diversity and inclusiveness.

Kanani Fuimaono, whose daughter, Hunter, is now a seventh grader at SEEQS, believes the emphasis on personal identity has helped her child feel accepted

and more open to learning. “This school is like a snapshot of the island, from your surfers to your anime kids, but here everybody belongs and the school really supports and respects different styles of learning,” Fuimaono says. “This is a tough time for kids, so having a safe, comfortable and supportive environment is extremely important.”

Cushman-Patz aims to fine-tune the SEEQS model and open additional locations on other parts of O‘ahu and the neighbor islands. She envisions immersion internships for 11th and 12th graders that translate their deep understanding of sustainability issues into service with local organizations. As Cushman-Patz works towards expansion, the success of the SEEQS formula will continue to be measured by the transformations that occur in its students.

Former SEEQer Chloe Fagan, a member of the 2014 graduating eighth grade class, is a shining example of the effects of this dynamic learning environment. “Before SEEQS I was scared to talk to people and express my opinions,” Fagan says. “I began to step out of my comfort zone because of the fine arts classes. I started raising my hand more and asking questions. I learned that talking to people was one of my strong suits and it came naturally. Without this school, I would still be that scared girl in the back of the class, worried that I would get teased if I raised my hand. SEEQS has prepared me to be a leader.”

GREENMAGAZINEHAWAII.COM

37

The North Shore Community Land Trust balances development and conservation in the Kawela-Kahuku region of O‘ahu’s North Shore

Photo: John Bilderback

By Alyssa S. Navares Myers

ber that continues to grow with each passing surf season. The higher demand for space and resources has resulted in daily traffic congestion, a higher cost of living and the quest for public and private infrastructure expansion. Community and environmental watchdog North Shore Community Land Trust has stepped in to help find a balance between development and conservation. Since 2009, the volunteer-based land conservation organization has fought to protect, steward and enhance the natural landscapes, cultural heritage and rural character of the ahupua‘a from Kahuku to Ka‘ena.

The North Shore Community Land Trust has saved thousands of acres of coveted and precious open space on the North Shore, from forested hillsides and coastal farmlands to naupakashaded beaches. “What we’re trying to do is preserve that special experience and essence of the North Shore for current and future generations to enjoy,” explains Doug Cole, executive director

of North Shore Community Land Trust.

“It is what makes this place so unique— whether you are from here or not.”

Protecting - PupukeaPaumalu Perhaps North Shore Community Land Trust’s biggest achievement to date is the Püpükea-Paumalü initiative, which kickstarted the land trust’s conservation efforts. Püpükea-Paumalü is a 1,129-acre bluff that stretches about a mile along the coast and overlooks world-class surf breaks such as Pipeline and Sunset Beach. Residents and visitors recognize the area as a defining feature of the North Shore, with its heiau, hiking trails and one-acre residential lots zoned for agriculture.

Several decades ago, the natural

Photo: Kevin Whitton

here's a certain charm about O‘ahu's North Shore emanating from its verdant mountainscapes and pristine stretches of sandy shoreline. Its rural character sets the iconic region apart from the rest of the island.

Although houses and small buildings dot the coastline, skyscrapers and freeways—like those found in its Town counterpart a mere 35 miles away—are no where in sight. Instead, spacious natural corridors make “the country” one of the world's last remaining accessible wild coastlines near a major metropolitan area. The North Shore is home to nearly 60,000 acres of undeveloped and unprotected land, from white sand beaches to lush agricultural lands, all of which help to create the locale's unique laidback allure.

Like nearly all coastal communities in the Hawaiian Islands, the pressure to expand on the North Shore is ever increasing. More than 2.5 million people visit the North Shore every year; a num-

40

GR E E N M A G A Z I N E H AWA II.C O M

state of the bluff was threatened when a luxury residential development was approved for the area. The project, several hundred high-end homes, was eventually put on hold when community members raised concerns that the development would spoil the breathtakingly wild landscape, destroy Hawaiian archaeological resources and pollute waters off the North Shore's prized beaches.

“Discussions were on the table for more than a decade,” explains Cole, who became involved with the Püpükea-Paumalü initiative during law school. “But in 2003, we took a remarkable step toward finally putting this issue to rest.”

The North Shore Community Land Trust, along with The Trust for Public Land, took the lead to acquire the bluff on behalf of the city and state. Through this partnership, the trust’s end goal was to permanently protect the bluff from development. To accomplish this, it raised more than $8 million from government sources and private donors to purchase the property from the Japanese landowner. Several years passed and the deal was finally sealed with the natural beauty of Püpükea-Paumalü protected in perpetuity. As part of the

Illustration: Courtesy North Shore Community Land Trust

Below: The Ma-lama Kawela-Kahuku conservation partnership protects about 740 acres of land from Kawela Bay to Waikalae Bay, also known as Turtle Bay. Left: The conservation easement enables local farmers to grow an abundance of produce on small parcels mauka of Kamehameha Highway.

agreement, the mauka portion of the site went to the state as a park reserve, while the city received a small portion in the makai area, for a possible expansion of Sunset Beach Neighborhood Park. In addition, Pu‘u o Mahuka Heiau (the largest heiau on O‘ahu) was protected, while both the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary and the Püpükea-Waimea Marine Life Conservation District were established.

“That showed the power of partnership and belief because we brought as many people to the table as possible, and to an extent, provided a peaceful alternative to land conservation,” says Cole, who grew up on the North Shore and recalls getting involved in the North Shore community at a very young age.

Land trusts seek opportunities to work with landowners, the government and the community on a friendly, more peaceful basis. “When we look back in our history, many instances involving protection and land conservation tend to be adversarial and revolved around fighting,” he says. “It is not to say that there shouldn’t be adversarial groups, but rather that we are able to take a different approach.”

A greenprint as a guide Today, Püpükea-Paumalü serves as a model and inspiration for future conservation efforts, locally and worldwide. Following an intense, 10-year ordeal to protect the prized bluff, North Shore Community Land Trust decided to expand its efforts to other parts of the North Shore. The land trust mobilized once again, working together with North Shore residents and The Trust for Public Land. This time, however, they aimed to develop a “greenprint” that would serve as a guide to future conservation initiatives.

“This was an opportunity for us to engage in greater communication about what mattered most when it comes to preserving the beauty of the North Shore,” explains Cole. “It was a way of empowering diverse stakeholders in the community to help define what should guide [North Shore Community Land Trust’s] work.”

The North Shore greenprint is the first of its kind in the state, addressing key questions such as, “What does the North Shore mean to you?” and “What will it look like in 20 years?” According to North Shore Community Land Trust, the greenprint includes about

NSCLT At A Glance The North Shore Community Land Trust was founded in 1997 to protect the North Shore’s natural landscapes, cultural heritage and rural and agricultural lands for the benefit of the public. The nonprofit is also dedicated to creating better access to land for North Shore farmers.

Close Call, Kawela Bay Houses lined Kawela Bay’s entire coastline until 1986, when all residents along the eastern edge of the bay were evicted to clear the land for a resort that was never built. The North Shore Community Land Trust established a conservation easement in 2014 that protects Kawela Bay from future development.

Kahuku Sugar Before Kahuku corn there was Kahuku sugar. In 1892, Kahuku Plantation had its first crop in the ground and boasted a complete processing operation with a mill and railway. The company hit peak production in 1935 at 21,873 tons of sugar.

Decades later, markets shifted, the railroad ceased operation, shipping costs went up and the plantation shut down in 1971.

42

GR E E N M A G A Z I N E H AWA II.C O M

90,000 acres of land on the North Shore and extends offshore to include an additional 34,000 acres of ocean that buffers the coast. To date, 20 percent of the study area on land has already been protected in some way. This includes about 270 acres of city park land and 16,100 acres of other protected lands within the study area. The “other” category includes natural area reserves, game management areas, state parks, National Wildlife Refuges and forest reserves. About 80 percent is privately owned.

During the discussions, many residents expressed mixed feelings about Hawai‘i’s concentrated land ownership, in comparison to typical patterns on the mainland. Kamehameha Schools, Dole Foods, Castle and Cooke and the U.S. Department of Defense are among the largest landowners or leaseholders in the state. Residents voiced concerns about future management of privately owned lands, worrying that after tracts of land are sold, the land use patterns may change. North Shore Community Land Trust points out that this would be an example of when the greenprint would come in handy for prospective conservation buyers. They could use the report as a reference to aide in their land purchase.

After seeking input from the community and local experts, North Shore Community Land Trust and an inclusive steering committee were able to pinpoint the region’s most important conservation values. Looked at existing and past efforts, as well as public information-gathering sessions, the result was a set of color-coded maps and action strategies that included protection of agriculture, natural habitat, water quality, view planes and beaches.

In addition, it aimed to increase recreation access and to preserve places of cultural and historical importance. The North Shore's greenprint is published on North Shore Community Land Trust’s website.

Although the initial steps in creating the greenprint have been completed, the future of the North Shore’s conser-

vation efforts still rely heavily on those who helped developed it. It reflects a work in progress rather than inception of something completely new. “The greenprint is both proactive and reactive because we are always proactively looking for an opportunity to conserve land and react to landowners who are willing to conserve land as well,” says Cole.

Malama Kawela and Kahuku Recently, the North Shore Community Land Trust’s efforts have been focused on preserving the shoreline from Kawela Bay to Kahuku Point. Last year, former Governor Neil Abercrombie agreed to establish a conservation easement on about 665 acres of land at Turtle Bay Resort, which would ensure the open space owned by the resort— presently zoned for resort development—would remain undeveloped forever.

“Every single conservation value that was identified and described in the greenprint will be accomplished through this easement,” points out Cole, who adds that there will be numerous public benefits, which include providing public access to beaches and eight miles of public trails on private land. The agreement would also allow for traditional native Hawaiian cultural practices and prevent the sprawl of urban development in the area.

A conservation easement is a voluntary agreement that is also legally binding. In order for this to occur, the landowner must be willing to place this perpetual restriction on the land. The easement would also allow restoration of critical marine and land ecosystems and Hawaiian cultural resources. This agreement will join the growing list of easements already in place for the state.

Earlier this year, legislation passed

COMMUNITY FOOD, COMMUNITY ENERGY Building on last year’s theme of understanding sustainable ancient food systems and restoring ancestral abundance to O‘ahu’s North Shore, the third annual North Shore Food Summit will explore the connections between food and energy. Organized and produced by the North Shore Community Land Trust, discussion topics will include the economic and environmental costs of food and fuel import dependency, the effects of high-energy food production and the use of agricultural lands for clean energy and biofuel production. The event will utilize a more participatory format to engage attendees to develop community plans of action.

that extended the funding deadline for the $45 million agreement from June 2015 to the end of December. The agreement consists of $35 million from the state, $7.5 million from the county and $2.5 million raised by The Trust for Public Land. The new conservation deal also includes 635 conserved acres, 532 of which fall under the easement.

“We needed more time, which is understandable in this situation,” says Cole, pointing out that the switch from the Abercrombie to the Ige administration has contributed to the delay in finalizing the easement. Other factors adding to the delay include several lawsuits and the time it takes to get appraisals and iron out the details.

Negotiations for the easement began last year, following decades of dispute over Turtle Bay Resort’s expansion. The resort can still expand; however, it will be limited. According to a statement released by Turtle Bay, its updated development plan has been scaled back by about 20 percent and will include two small, full-service hotels with an additional 625 rooms and up to 100 resort

residential homes. This is less than oneseventh of the total homes previously proposed. Turtle Bay representatives did not respond to phone calls or emails for further comment.

The easement is similar to an agreement that Turtle Bay Resort previously secured to protect 469 acres of agricultural-zoned land located mauka of Kamehameha Highway. A patchwork of small fields extends from the road to the base of the mountains, where local farmers grow an abundance of fresh produce. There is also a roadside market in the area, decked out with bananas, tomatoes, eggplants and plantains.

Not only does this agricultural agreement benefit the area, but also the island and state as a whole because it promotes stable and sustainable food production. Agricultural conservation easements, according to Cole, are more common than easements on resort lands. Thus, the Turtle Bay Resort agreement—should it go through— would be breaking new ground.

“There is no way the resort agree-

THE DEETS NORTH SHORE FOOD SUMMIT Waimea Valley an d Turtle Bay Resort October 23–24 8am–6pm northshoreland.or g

ment would have been accomplished if it weren’t for a very open-minded landowner,” says Cole. “The owner has really been working hard to be a good neighbor to the community.” Cole points out that the current owner has also been more welcoming to the public than previous owners have been. For instance, they eliminated the gate to the hotel entrance and now allow the public to park in their lot free of charge.

This neighborly attitude is somewhat of a modern-day phenomenon in a world so driven by money—a phenomenon on the North Shore that enriches not the pocket, but rather the soul. It is a feeling that is easily realized when lounging on its golden shoreline, synchronizing with the ocean’s cadence, or perched upon the Püpükea bluff, listening to the trade winds rush through the trees. With development looming over this coastal treasure, North Shore Community Land Trust will continue the shift to a more conservational paradigm to keep the country, country.

GREENMAGAZINEHAWAII.COM

43

BY ST UA R T H . C O L E M A N

n traditional Hawaiian culture, there was a brotherly relationship between the kalo plant and the first human; they nurtured each other. Native Hawaiian families had a sacred connection to the land and the food that came from it.

Before the first Western ships sailed into Hawai‘i, the islands produced enough food for a native population of more than half a million people. Over time, that intimate relationship with the land was lost with the rise modern industrial agriculture. Today, acres sugarcane and pineapple have been replaced by acres of GMO crops grown by the world’s largest chemical and seed companies, none of which benefit our local food supply. Instead of building affordable housing and promoting local, sustainable agriculture, our political leaders have allowed developers and investors to pave over O‘ahu’s most fertile lands in favor of upscale housing developments. The result is a complete disconnect from a local food supply, requiring the state the import more than 85 percent of its food.

The rapid pace of development and the destruction of our natural habitat have made Hawai‘i the extinction capitol of the world. “Each year sees the disappearance of thousands of plant and animal species which we will never know, which our children will never see, because they have been lost forever,” Pope Francis wrote in his recent papal encyclical. Named after St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of all nature lovers, the Pope is now calling for an “ecological conversion” to help save the planet and ourselves. Religious leaders around the world are echoing this call, asking people, communities and nations to change their destructive ways and take better care of nature and each other.

But where do we begin?

Spiritual Ecology and the Life of the Land “Ultimately, the environmental crisis is a moral and spiritual crisis in the way that humans relate to nature,” writes Dr. Leslie Sponsel, professor of anthropology at the University of Hawai’i at Ma-noa. Sponsel helped pioneer a popular new field of study called spiritual ecology to deal with these crises.

In his book, Spiritual Ecology: The Quiet Revolution, Sponsel says there is a growing movement in many religious and spiritual traditions to develop “greener individual lifestyles and societies

Photo: Courtesy Dr. Leslie Sponsel

Dr. Leslie Sponsel

that do not degrade the environment. Naturally, this also involves matters of justice and peace as well as environment, and all three are often interrelated.”

At its heart, spiritual ecology is about reconnecting humankind to the natural world. The movement embraces the best of traditional religion, indigenous culture, social justice and modern science. According to Sponsel, spiritual ecology calls for a fundamental rethinking about the ultimate causes and solutions of the ongoing and worsening environmental crisis. The essence of spiritual ecology can be summed up by Hawai‘i’s state motto: Ua Mau ke Ea o ka ‘Aina i ka Pono. The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness.

In a new book called, Thinking Like An Island: Navigating a Sustainable Future in Hawai‘i, local authors write about the roots of Hawai‘i’s ecological crisis and possible solutions. One essay suggests that missionaries helped spread the misconception that man has dominion over the natural world and its unlimited resources.

“This is clearly captured in the Genesis myth of the Garden of Eden,” says Louis Herman, an author and professor of political science at University of Hawai‘i, West O‘ahu. “This is the beginning of civilization and it really defines the whole separation from nature.”

The Royal Road Back To The Source Born into a Jewish community in South Africa, Louis Herman was exposed at an early age to the beauty of pristine savannahs in the African wilderness. Conversely, he also witnessed the brutality of racism. “As I was becoming aware of the incredible beauty, power and good feeling of being in the that environment, I was also becoming aware of the corruption and cruelty of civilization because of apartheid,” Herman recalls Wanting to escape apartheid, Herman’s family moved to Britain, where he studied medicine and political science at Cambridge University. He later moved to Israel in an attempt to explore his Jewish roots. Living in a kibbutz and working on a farm, he experienced deep connections with the land that shaped his language and culture as a Jew. During the Arab-Israeli wars, Herman became a soldier.

Affected by these bloody political conflicts—apartheid and war—Herman lost his will to fight and began studying political philosophy to try and answer the question: What is wrong with civilization and how can we fix it? Herman eventually moved to Honolulu, where he earned a doctorate of political science at the University of Hawai‘i at Ma-noa. Years later, he returned to his homeland after apartheid ended.

During a five-day trek through the South African wilderness, he saw all kinds of wildlife like elephants, buffalo, baboons and crocodiles. “It should have been terrifying and we were scared at first,” recalls Herman, “but our guides were extraordinarily skilled Bushmen.” According to Herman, San Bushmen live just like their ancestors did thousands of years ago.

At the end of his journey, Herman felt at peace and at home GREENMAGAZINEHAWAII.COM

45

Photo: Louis Herman

Louis Herman

in the wild. “I was happier and healthier than I had ever been in my entire life since I was a child,” he continues. “That was another revelation—that sort of experience must have been common to all human beings for much of human existence when we were living as hunter-gatherers in this incredibly rich environment.”

In the scope of human existence, he says our ancestors lived like huntergatherers for almost 99 percent of our time on Earth. But over the last century, we have destroyed more natural habitat than all the previous millennia combined.

Herman believes we have to fight to protect our last wild forests, watersheds and coastal wetlands. “These areas are extremely valuable to all human beings because wilderness is the royal road back to the source.”

The Wisdom of Indigenous Cultures Since the launch of the voyaging canoe Ho-ku-le’a in 1975, the Hawaiian Renaissance has brought about a resurgence of indigenous values that are still transforming life in the Hawaiian Islands. As people begin to recover their traditional cultural knowledge, they see how relevant ancient practices are in an age of ecosystem collapse.

“People live happier, healthier lives when tuning into these values,” Herman says. “They have an immediate, pragmatic 46

GR E E N M A G A Z I N E H AWA II.C O M

value that’s been increasingly recognized by indigenous people themselves and by industrial societies. “ Conversely, the environmental impacts of development in Hawai‘i are obvious: overcrowding, traffic, stress and the diseases. “It’s very difficult to live a healthy life while working two jobs, commuting and trying to make it in an urban, industrial economy,” Herman says. “It’s very unhealthy physically, psychologically and socially. It fragments families and sets individuals against each other.”

Teaching at the University of Hawai‘i, West Oahu, Professor Herman is excited that the university is working with organizations like MA‘O Farms.

“There’s an emphasis on building a community between the people and the land together,” he says. “This movement toward organic farming, co-ops and ecovillages can all be seen as creative attempts to apply elements of this primal wisdom in a way that is informed by the best elements of science. In a way, it really is a synthesis of the best of science, indigenous wisdom and the best parts of capitalism.”

Building Relationships Between Land and Community Local organizations like MA‘O Farms in Wai‘anae are putting spiritual ecology into practice every day and inspiring young locals to learn about organic farming. By studying local food

issues, Hawaiian cultural traditions and sustainable business practices, they recognize that environmental, social and economic issues are tied together in the life of the land. Established in 2001 by Kukui and Gary Maunakea-Forth, MA‘O Farms, located deep in the Lualualei Valley, started farming on five acres of land. Since then, the operation has grown tremendously and the Maunakea-Forths are working with Kamehameha Schools to create another farm on the North Shore.

One of the most important values that Kukui Maunakea-Forth tries to share with her student workers is their relationship with the land and the community. “You can’t really have that authenticity unless you have that sense of place,” she says.

“That’s a very Hawaiian way of thinking.

You can’t really know yourself unless you know your family, your community and your place in nature.”

Kukui says that vision is deeply embedded in the name MA‘O, which stands for mala (garden), ‘ai (food) and ‘opio (youth). “It’s about the connection between the land and the youth. That builds relationships, sustainability and resilience.” Along with learning about Hawaiian culture and growing local, organic food, MA‘O is helping to educate and nurture young locals searching for a sense of direction.

Many of the students come from troubled backgrounds, and part of MA‘O’s mission is to create a safe community where they feel like family.

Kukui says that MA’O Farms provides a healthy alternative to the “school-to-prison pipeline” that derails some young Native Hawaiians and locals who feel rejected or alienated from mainstream society.

Working in the soil, they are following in the footsteps of their ancestors. Farming is hard work, but it brings families and communities together. “Hana [work] is the root word of ‘ohana [family], so we are a social unit, but we are also an economic unit,” Kukui says. The students not only work in the fields tending the crops, but they also learn the business of organic farming. They grow, sell and distribute fresh, organic produce to big grocery stores like Foodland and top restaurants like Town and Alan Wong’s Restaurant.

Kukui credits part of their success to the wise guidance of Native Hawaiian elders who work with the students on the farm. “A big part of our pedagogy is the inter-generational connection,” she says. “We see our kupuna as our future ancestors.” Local leaders like William Aila, Sr. ask the kids engage the kids and teach them about environmental stewardship and community service.

Cheryse Kaui Sana grew up in Lualualei Valley near MA’O Farm and joined their internship program while at Waianae High School. She went on to earn a bachelor degree from the University of Hawai‘i at Ma-noa. Today she is the farm manager, overseeing the interns.

Sana says she learned her most important lessons from kupuna like William Aila, Sr., “Papa Aila used to say, ‘You need three things to succeed in life:

love, respect and a willingness to work. If you do these three things, you are gonna go some place.’ That’s always in the back of my mind.”

Louis Herman believes farming and gardening have healing effects that benefit body and spirit. “Working on the land is the most intimate way of connecting with nature. If you plant seeds, you become aware of how important your role is in tending the earth. When you handle these plants and watch them grow, you become aware of the miracle of creativity and creation in all living things. Eating these plants and feeding your vitality is a profound act of communion with the natural world.”

The explosive growth of farmers’ markets around the islands shows that people are hungry for local food and a more direct connection to the land.

The simple act of buying local, fresh produce empowers our local communities.

Avoiding fast food and joining the slow food movement also helps support the local economy and a healthier lifestyle for our people. “It’s available to every one of us every time we eat,” Herman says. “So buying local and eating organic are ways of integrating spiritual values and economics in our personal practice.”

According to Les Sponsel, spiritual ecology emphasizes the unity, interconnectedness and interdependence of all beings and things. In the end, it’s about going back to the source and reestablishing a relationship with nature, each other and the life of the land.

TOPICAL Titles Dive into spiritual ecology with these books

Future Primal: How Our Wilderness Origins Show Us the Way Forward

By Louis Herman

Spiritual Ecology: The Quiet Revolution

By Dr. Leslie Spownsel

Thinking Like An Island: Navigating a Sustainable Future in Hawai‘i

Photo: Rafael Bergstrom

By Dr. Jennifer Chirico and Gregory S. Farley

Kukui Maunakea-Forth

GREENMAGAZINEHAWAII.COM

47

PICK IT UP

Kahi Pacarro is energizing communities about coastal stewardship It’s rare to find a nonprofit known for both epic parties and high-impact outreach. But thanks to Kahi Pacarro, executive director of Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii, ocean lovers and community environmentalists can become agents of change through hands-on beach cleanups fueled by live music and good vibes. Moreover, he’s found a way to make recycling and waste diversion fun and engaging.

At the onset of the Great Recession, Kahi left behind a lucrative yet stalling career in real estate and took off on a surfing sojourn around the world with his wife. The couple found marine debris and signs of nearshore ocean pollution everywhere they traveled.

After globe trotting for two years, Kahi returned to O‘ahu with a new life purpose— coastal stewardship.

Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii has been steadily building momentum since its first cleanup at Makapu‘u in 2011. Burgeoning financial and community support has allowed Kahi to coordinate a growing number of beach cleanups across the state and expand the organization’s educational

48

GR E E N M A G A Z I N E H AWA II.C O M

initiatives and community outreach.

In addition to giving presentations at schools, conventions and other venues, Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii hosts pop-up workshops in its shipping container-turnedmobile classroom. Kahi has also established an ocean plastics recycling program that turns over recovered plastic to companies like Method for use in recycled consumer products. Through a partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Hawaiian Monk Seal Research Program, Kahi has spearheaded efforts to remove marine debris from beaches throughout the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, transporting it to O‘ahu on NOAA ships for recycling.

An avid surfer, Kahi fits as much time on the water as possible into his 60-hour workweek. “Getting barreled is the ultimate recharge and keeps me motivated to continue fighting for the sustainability of our oceans,” Kahi says.

By Doorae Shin Photos: @malamamonkseal

Special lease and finance offers available from BMW of Honolulu through BMW Financial Services.

BMW of Honolulu 777 KAPIOLANI BLVD. HONOLULU, HI 96813-5211 808-597-1265 WWW.BMWHAWAII.COM

FIRST LEED PLATINUM

COMMERCIAL INTERIORS IN HAWAIÿI

GROUP 70G2ROUP ND FLOOR & SD USTAINABLE ARKET PLACE 70DESIGN 2NDSFTUDIO LOOR ESIGN SM TUDIO

FIRST LEED PLATINUM LAB FACILITY IN HAWAIÿI

C-MORE C-MOREHH ALE ALE

FIRST LEED PLATINUM SCHOOL IN HAWAIÿI

KKANU KANU ANU O OOKKAKAÿAAINA ÿAINA ÿAINALLEARNING LEARNING EARNING O OO HANA HANA HANA

FIRST NET ZERO

AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMUNITY IN THE NATION

KAUPUNI KAUPUNIVV ILLAGE ILLAGE

First in Sustainable Design Architecture ∙ Civil Engineering · Interior Design Sustainability · Planning & Environmental Services

www.Group70int.com