Green Magazine Hawaii - Winter 2018 by Green Magazine Hawaii: Hawaii's Sustainable Living Magazine

WINTER 2018

Vol. 10 #4

greenmagazinehawaii.com

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WINTER 2018

CONTENTS

GREEN ___________________________

NATURE ___________________________

6 Cool Stuff

20 Plastic

Essentials for the home, bod and on the go

7 Cruise

How certified-sustainable Big Island tour operator Fair Wind Cruises honors the land and sea

8 Connect

Green Drinks Honolulu at Waikiki Brewing Company in Kaka‘ako and Mi Almita Cantina at IMP

10 Legacy

Sustainable forestry company HLH recounts a decade of reforesting native ecosystems and reconnecting man and nature

15 Action

Tour company Paradise Helicopters springs to action for communities affected by KĪlauea eruption

ENERGY ___________________________ 16 Grid

Pathways to an Open Grid project maps out a cleaner, healthier Hawai‘i

17 Ride

Servco launches Hui car share service and Hawai‘i's first hydrogen fueling station

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

All-women research expedition sets sail to investigate solutions for plastic pollution

26 Art

Multimedia artist Aurora Robson uses art as a platform for addressing our culture of waste

27 Junk

5 Gyres Institute founder Marcus Eriksen tells all in his journey to stem the tide of ocean plastic

28 Sun

Hawai‘i's landmark oxybenzone ban is a win for coral reefs

30 Community

Strengthening community capacity for stewardship through STEW-MAP

32 Trees

First annual Arbor Day Honolulu Festival is a call to action to grow and celebrate Hawai‘i's urban forests

Published by Element Media, Inc. VOLUME 10 :: NUMBER 4 :: WINTER 2018

President Jamie Giambrone Publisher Naomi Hazelton Managing Editor Lauren McNally laurenm@elementmediahi.com Art Director Keith Usher Contributing Writers Shannon Noelle Rivera, Crystal Rogers, Jennifer Sudick, Jolie Wanger Contributing Photographers Aaron Bernard, Dave Miyamoto, Darryl Watanabe Publisher’s Assistant Christie Honore Administration Sally Shaner Editorial Intern Jasmine Yi

Subscribe and read online at greenmagazinehawaii.com. Contact Element Media at 1088 Bishop Street, Suite 1130, Honolulu, HI 96813 808.737.8711. Follow Green on facebook at facebook.com/GreenMagazineHawaii and on Twitter at @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.

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GREEN

COOL STUFF // CRUISE // CONNECT // LEGACY // ACTION

| COOL STUFF |

HERE AND THERE

Essentials for the home, bod and on the go 1 1. MAMALANI The dog days of summer are finally behind us, but that doesn’t mean your deodorant should be getting any less action. This Native Hawaiian-made natural body product company uses local, organic ingredients in ‘aina-friendly packaging to keep you feeling fresh all year long. [$12, mamalani.com] 2. ELEMENTAL BOTTLES With so many options on the market, there’s no excuse to settle for a bottle made of single-use plastic. Try this one from Elemental Bottles, whose insulated stainless steel bottles come with lids made of steel and bamboo instead of the more traditional rubber. [$34.95, elementalbottles.com] 3. LORENA CANALS Synthetic dyes are a common environmental pollutant, both before and after the production process. This handmade woven basket is colored with natural, nontoxic dye, so you can toss it in the washer knowing you’re keeping chemicals out of the waste stream. [$69, lorenacanals.us]

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

| CRUISE |

LEAVE NO WAKE Not all tour companies are created equal. Learn how the crew at Big Island tour company Fair Wind Cruises is doing its part to serve the communities that remain after visitors leave the islands. By Lauren McNally

EDUCATION:

WASTE DIVERSION:

-Tour check-in includes an environmental snorkeling pledge to deter guests from interfering with marine life and their natural habitat during the tour

-Food and beverages are served on biodegradable dishware and wastereduction practices are enforced on board

-Complimentary reef-safe sunscreen raises awareness about the environmental impacts of oxybenzone and other common coral-harming sunscreen ingredients

-Used wetsuits and inner tubes are donated to local artist Mattie Mae Larson, who turns marine debris and other waste materials into repurposed products under the name Upcycle Hawaii—shop her stuff at the Fair Wind gift shop -Kitchen scraps are donated to a local farm for pig feed

FUEL:

CERTIFICATION:

-All cruising vessels run entirely on biodiesel produced by Pacific Biodiesel on Maui. According to life-cycle analysis by the Argonne National Laboratory, B100 fuel reduces emissions by 74 percent over traditional diesel

-Certified by the Hawai‘i Ecotourism Association for its sustainable practices

-Awarded the Hawai‘i governor’s Kilohana Award for volunteerism

-Received a Certificate of Merit Award For Environmental Preservation

-Earned the Richard Smart Big Island Community Achievement Awards Distinguished Business Award for Environmental Protection

FOOD AND BEVERAGE: -Ingredients are sourced from local vendors, including Kona Chips, Standard Bakery, Living Aquaponics and Honokaa Country Market

-Recognized with the U.S. Congress and Hawai‘i Visitors & Convention Bureau’s Keep it Hawai‘i award Photo: Fair Wind Cruises

-Coffee comes from the Fair Wind family farm on Hualālai, where sustainable farming methods include fertilizing crops with the trees’ own pulp—get your hands on the beans online and at the Fair Wind gift shop

Photo: Fair Wind Cruises

-Informational materials and programming are available throughout the tour to provide ongoing environmental education

-Adheres to Dolphin SMART program developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to promote responsible stewardship of wild dolphins in coastal waterways GREENMAGAZINE HAWAII.COM

GREEN COOL STUFF // CRUISE // CONNECT // LEGACY // ACTION | CONNECT |

GREEN DRINKS HONOLULU WAIKIKI BREWING COMPANY JULY 31, 2018 The July edition of Green Drinks Honolulu took place at Waikiki Brewing Company’s Kaka‘ako location, a venue recently certified as an Ocean Friendly Restaurant by the O‘ahu chapter of the Surfrider Foundation for its commitment to waste reduction and local sourcing. Attendees chatted over local eats and heard from resident brewmaster Joe Lorenzen on running a sustainable brewery operation in Hawai‘i. Green Drinks Honolulu also welcomed guest speaker Emma Anders, executive director of the Hawai‘i Conservation Alliance, who spoke on the nonprofit’s mission and recent work hosting the 35th annual Hawai‘i Conservation Conference, which brought together hundreds of conservationists from around the world to the Hawai‘i Convention Center this past July. PHOTOS: DAVE LIVINGSTON

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

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GREENMAGAZINE HAWAII.COM

Photos: HLH

| LEGACY |

Green Investing Generations ago, the natural landscape of the Hämäkua Coast on Hawai‘i Island began to disappear. Throughout the 1800s, pineapple, sugarcane and cattle replaced the endemic koa and ‘öhi‘a forests on Mauna Kea, permanently destroying most of its forestland—or so it seemed. In 2009, sustainable forestry company HLH planted a single koa tree on the slopes of Mauna Kea, turning the corner on a century of degradation and neglect. Since that first tree was placed in the ground, thousands of individuals have joined in the reforestation effort by planting more than 400,000 rare, endemic trees, creating nearly 1,200 acres of pristine native habitat. This land is now known as the Hawaiian Legacy Forest. HLH’s award-winning, innovative approach has combined sustainable forestry, agriculture, education, ecotourism and eco-assets to create a blueprint for environmental and financial success. “This first-of-its-kind Legacy Forest has successfully proven that a long-term, multifaceted approach to land management can be much more valuable and sustainable than anyone ever imagined,” says Jeff Dunster, CEO of HLH.

New plantings on the edge of over 1000 acres of maturing Legacy Forest

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The backbone of HLH’s reforestation initiative is a for-harvest tree-planting model—the opposite of where most people would begin to solve a problem like deforestation. HLH pioneered an investment model in which investors purchase seedlings in lots of 100, to be planted specifically for future timber harvest. Over the next 25 years, HLH is then tasked with the care, maintenance and eventual harvest of those trees. This sustainable timber model constituted 25 percent of the project site; the revenue, however, was sufficient to establish the necessary infrastructure for the entire project. The remaining 75 percent of the lands within the project site are reserved for Legacy Trees. These tree are not part of a harvest program— they're part of a managed forest, benefiting the entire endemic ecosystem and essentially replacing the one that was

lost a century ago. It didn’t take long for investors to notice the potential of HLH’s reforestation model. Fund managers, 401(k) holders, high-net-worth individuals and related businesses were all keenly aware of the investment potential of koa. Given the increasing koa timber shortages and the relentless rise in koa prices, investors welcomed the opportunity to invest in sustainable timber production while giving back and restoring the natural forest for future generations. Dan Falardeau, president of the Hawai‘i Division of the investment firm New Direction IRA, learned about HLH from a client interested in diversifying their retirement portfolio. Falardeau was intrigued. “We have had dozens of clients who purchase koa tree investment lots for their long-term potential,” he says. “This allows investors to diversify their retirement portfolio in a way that also supports our local environment and economy. They have the opportunity to plant trees and have that more tangible kick-the-tire experience. They can physically visit their investment trees or go online any time and see their investment trees from the comfort of their own laptop—something that people don’t often get when it comes to mutual funds.”

Leaving a Legacy

The Legacy Tree program is managed with the help of the nonprofit Hawaiian Legacy Reforestation Initiative (HLRI). Its mission is to provide opportunities for individuals, businesses and charitable organizations to participate in the reforestation of Hawai‘i through the planting of Legacy Trees. Legacy Tree sponsors help to make a meaningful, tangible and quantifiable impact as they help restore the Hawaiian forest. People plant Legacy Trees to honor an individual, celebrate an event or memorialize a loved one. In addition to reforesting Hawai‘i’s native habitat, proceeds from HLRI’s Legacy Tree sponsorships have provided funding to more than 350 other charities throughout Hawai‘i and around the world. “The benefits go beyond money, though,” says HLRI Chairman John Farias. “These trees are bringing back our endemic wildlife as well. We are seeing the return of rare and endangered species like the pueo and ne-ne-. We are even seeing baby ‘io nesting in our Legacy Trees and have witnessed the return of the koa butterfly. It is remarkable.” GREENMAGAZINE HAWAII.COM

Hawaiian LegacyTours

PLANT YOUR LEGACY: Monitor your investment hlh.co/timbertracker About the Hawaiian Legacy Reforestation Initiative legacytrees.org Find your Legacy Tree or browse the Legacy Forest in high definition findmy.legacytrees.org

TreeTracker

What makes this reforestation project unique is that each tree is planted with a proprietary state-of-the-art radio-frequency identification tagging system that tracks the tree throughout its lifetime. This technology was developed to track and improve long-term forest health, carbon sequestration, ecosystem diversity and tree ownership, all with unparalleled transparency. The data sets collected in the Legacy Forest are so extensive that it is widely known as the most intricately mapped forest in the world.

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

Visit the Legacy Forest on a one-of-a-kind planting tour hawaiianlegacytours.com Reduce what you can, offset what you can’t legacycarbon.com

For those who want to get their hands dirty, you can plant your own Legacy Tree through Hawaiian Legacy Tours, voted Hawai‘i’s number-one ecotour by the Hawai‘i Ecotourism Association for its contributions to advancing environmentally enriching opportunities in the islands. Choose a King Koa, Monarch Milo, ‘Öhi‘a Lehua or Royal Sandalwood and become a part of Hawai‘i’s natural history. There are many ways to access the forest and personalize your tree-planting experience: hike in like a woodsman, motor in on all-terrain vehicles, stroll in on horseback through exclusive scenic trails or arrive in a private helicopter. Guests have the opportunity to sponsor and plant Legacy Trees on Hawai‘i Island or at Gunstock Ranch on O‘ahu’s North Shore. Best of all, a video of your planting will be linked to your Legacy Tree, providing a record of the event and granting private online access to both your tree and your video by you, friends and loved ones.

Legacy Carbon

Individuals and businesses can now offset their environmental impact and become carbon-neutral through the planting of Legacy Trees or through the purchase of forest carbon credits, all while supporting Hawai‘i’s local economy. Legacy Carbon is the only certified carbon credit of any kind in Hawai‘i and the first forest carbon credit in North America to be carbon certified by Switzerland’s prestigious Gold Standard Foundation. The first Legacy Carbon partner was Paradise Helicopters, a local air-tour company that offers guests the unique opportunity to offset the carbon footprint of their air tours. “The ability to offer carbon-neutral flights provides us a means to bring awareness to environmental concerns and can help guests recognize the impact of civilization on our native forests,” says Calvin Dorn, CEO of Paradise Helicopters. “Legacy Carbon provides the opportunity to offer forest tours, education and rehabilitation, especially in remote areas, while also offsetting the environmental impact of those operations.” Revenue generated from the sale of carbon credits will fund the care and maintenance of the Legacy Forest and support its ongoing needs for the next century, making the Hawaiian Legacy Forest both ecologically and financially selfsustaining.

GREEN

For more on Paradise Helicopters, visit ParadiseCopters.com, or the company’s lava update website, HawaiiLavaUpdate.com, which features regularly updated photos and videos of K lauea.

| ACTION |

Paradise Helicopters springs to action for communities affected by Kīlauea eruption By Jennifer Sudick

In May, Kïlauea volcano’s fissure 8 began a sustained three-month flow of lava that would be both disastrous to the neighborhoods within the volcano’s lower east rift zone and historic in its scope, exceeding the volume of all other major Kïlauea eruptions in recent history. Cal Dorn, CEO of Paradise Helicopters, a leading Hawai‘i helicopter tour company based in Kona, immediately started asking, “How can we help?” The company has operated flights for relief and emergency response, firefighting, environmental and other public services since its founding in 1997. “The entire staff at Paradise is concerned for the safety and well-being of our communities,” says Dorn, who has more than 35 years of aviation

Photo: Paradise Helicopters

SKY’S THE LIMIT

experience. “With Kïlauea, we requested permission to assist with emergency relief in whatever capacity we could. This included providing flights to residents and members of the media, as well as conducting multiple rescue operations for people and animals.” For several months this summer, Paradise donated a portion of directly booked air tours from Hilo and Kona airports. In August, $10,000 went to the Hawai‘i Community Foundation’s Hawai‘i Island Volcano Recovery Fund to assist displaced residents in the Puna area. These efforts are part of the company’s longstanding Hoomaluo Program, which has supported environmental and community stewardship for the past two decades. This includes a first-of-its-kind carbon offset

initiative, which allows guests to offset the environmental impact of their flight through the reforestation of endemic trees under the nonprofit Hawaiian Legacy Reforestation Initiative (HLRI). Paradise also offers complimentary tours for guests who sponsor tree plantings through HLRI. In addition, Paradise has been a longtime supporter of the Daniel Robert Sayre Memorial Foundation, recently earning the foundation’s Malama Award for its support of Hawai‘i communities and the Hawai‘i Fire Department. Paradise donated nearly $15,000 this year to support the Puna Fire Station and first responders on Hawai‘i Island.

GREENMAGAZINE HAWAII.COM

ENERGY

GRID // RIDE

MAPPING THE ROAD TO CLEAN ENERGY Introducing the Pathways to an Open Grid Project By GMH Staff The state committed to meeting 100 percent of its electricity needs with renewable energy by the year 2045, but studies show this goal can and should be achieved earlier than the 2045 target. The Pathways to an Open Grid project (POG) is looking to show us how. Hawai‘i currently generates about 25 percent of its energy using renewable resources, with more than one in five customers employing rooftop solar. As adoption levels rise, the energy landscape will become increasingly reliant on additional distributed energy resources, including renewable generation, off-peak energy storage, demand-response programs, energy efficiency and electric vehicles. POG is a first-of-its-kind effort at crowdsourcing data and soliciting stakeholder input to develop a transparent, web-accessible tool that tracks integration of distributed energy resources on O‘ahu. The project’s dynamic assessor map offers a street-level view of O‘ahu’s electricity grid, reporting how and where energy is used throughout the day and providing analysis of electric vehicle charging and solar generation adoption. The culmination of a nine-month collaboration between the

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

Hawai‘i Natural Energy Institute and Elemental Excelerator cohort company Kevala Inc., the project also taps the expertise of Oregonbased planning and policy consultancy Gridworks to facilitate and report on input from more than 80 Hawai‘i-based stakeholders taking part in the project through a series of nine workshops held on O‘ahu. “Kevala’s platform surfaces temporal and geographic data at a level of granularity that has previously not been aggregated for public use,” says Kevala founder and CEO Aram Shumavon. “This information can be used immediately to evaluate scenarios and develop programs to support achievement of the state of Hawai‘i’s 100 percent renewable target.” Utilities, policymakers, enviromental advocates and other potential users of the tool can quantify the delivered cost and feasibility of integrating additional clean energy resources onto the grid by varying the amounts of renewable generation and electric vehicle charging patterns at different locations throughout the island.

servco rideshare | RIDE |

A CLEANER RIDE Photos: Servco

Servco launches Hui car share service and state’s first hydrogen station By Jasmine Yi Hawai‘i is known for a lot of things— thanks to Honolulu's dense population and city infrastructure, that includes some of the worst traffic in the nation. Toyota and local distributor Servco Pacific Inc. is working to alleviate the gridlock with the launch of Hui car share and Hawai‘i’s first public hydrogen fueling station. Hui, a round-trip, station-based car share service, allows members to book a vehicle by the hour or day, with no sign-up fee or monthly commitment. An accompanying mobile app makes it easy to book, change or cancel your reservation and serves as a digital key to unlock and start the vehicles.

Launched in July 2018 with over 20 stations located throughout Honolulu, the program has made a total of 50 vehicles available for reservation, complete with insurance, gas, 24/7 roadside assistance and more. Servco is also bringing our state closer to achieving its goal of 100 percent clean energy by 2045 with the opening of Hawai‘i’s first public hydrogen station and the Hawai‘i release of the hydrogenpowered Toyota Mirai. The station manufactures its own hydrogen on site

using a combination of grid and solar power. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles like the Mirai run by converting hydrogen and oxygen into energy, leaving only water behind as a by-product. According to Toyota, that gives them one of the lightest carbon footprints of any vehicle in the world. Traffic may test your patience and aloha spirit. Luckily Hawai‘i residents now have the option to drive hydrogen or drive Hui.

GREENMAGAZINE HAWAII.COM

ADVERTORIAL

Toyota Prius

GOES THE DISTANCE

Rethink sustainable mobility.

Think Prius.

Today, Prius is available in a selection of seven energy efficient models, with an EPA-rated fuel economy of up to 58 mpg in city1 driving. Its maximum efficiency with backup and recovered surplus energy and reduced CO2 emissions are combined with a powerful and highly enjoyable driving experience. Plus, it remains at the cutting edge of technology, with available: • Qi-compatible wireless smart phone charging2 1. 2018 EPA-estimated 58 city/53 highway/56 combined mpg for Prius Two Eco. Actual mileage will vary. 2. Qi wireless charging may not be compatible with all mobile phones, MPG3/WMA players and like models. When using the wireless charging system, avoid placing metal objects between the wireless charger and the mobile device when charging is active. Doing so may cause metal objects to become hot and could cause burns. 3. Drivers are responsible for their own safe driving. Always pay attention to your surroundings and drive safely. System effectiveness is dependent on many factors including road, weather and vehicle conditions. See Owner’s Manual for additional limitations and details.

• Color head-up display • 4.2-inch color dual Multi-Information Display that helps monitor the hybrid system’s eco score and eco savings record • Entune™ Premium Audio • Standard Toyota Safety Sense™ P (TSS-P)3

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

ADVERTORIAL

Toyota Prius Prime

MORE LUXURY, MORE STYLE, MORE MILES The Prius Prime adds plug-in hybrid technology to the pure gasoline-electric hybrid Prius making it the most efficient car in its class1. Classified as an advanced plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHV), the Prius Prime provides more of what you need and less of what you don’t: • Produces zero CO2 emissions when driven in pure electric vehicle mode • Eligible for tax credits and other incentives • Able to drive in HOV lanes, even with no passengers • Ideal for the long run with its 133 MPGe2, 3 (miles per gallon equivalent) and an estimated 640-mile range4. • Fast Charging - A full charge takes only 5.5 hours using a standard household outlet5,6, or just over two hours at a public quick charge (240V outlet) station. Along with being the hybrid you can charge, the Prius Prime also offers all the latest technology including available: • 11.6-inch HD multimedia display • Intelligent Clearance Sonar7 with Intelligent Parking Assist8 • Intelligent Drive Coach • Standard Toyota Safety Sense™ P (TSS-P)9.

1. Most efficient car claim – Based on 2018 Prius Prime EPA-estimated combinbed 133MPGe, and nonluxury lug-in hybrid segment from fueleconomy.gov. Actual mileage will vary. 2. 2018 Prius Prime EPA-estimated MPGe. Actual MPGe will vary depending upon driving conditions, how you drive and maintain your vehicle, and other factors. Battery capacity will decrease with time and use. For more information see www.fueleconomy.gov. 3. Based on www.fueleconomy.gov. non-luxury plug-in hybrids as of September 2016. Actual mileage will vary 4. 2018 Prius Prime EPA-estimated range rating when fully charged and with a full tank of gas. Excludes driving conditions. Actual mileage will vary. 5. Charge time is for standard 120V outlet. Always plug-in in accordance with Owner’s Manual. 6. A heavier-duty wall receptacle with GFCI (Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter) and a dedicated circuit are recommended but not required. 7. Intelligent Clearance Sonar (ICS) is designed to assist drivers in avoiding potential collisions at speeds of 9 mph or less. Certain vehicle and environmental factors, including an object’s shape and composition, may affect the ability of the ICS to detect it. Always look around outside the vehicle and use mirrors to confirm clearance. See Owner’s Manual for additional limitations and details. 8. The Intelligent Parking Assist system requires driver brake control. Always look around outside the vehicle and use mirrors to confirm clearance. See Owner’s Manual for additional limitations and details. 9. Drivers are responsible for their own safe driving. Always pay attention to your surroundings and drive safely. System effectiveness is dependent on many factors including road, weather and vehicle conditions. See Owner’s Manual for additional limitations and details.

GREENMAGAZINE HAWAII.COM

| PLASTICS |

J All-women scientific research expedition sets sail to investigate solutions for plastic pollution BY GMH STAFF PHOTOS COURTESY OF EXXPEDITION

This June saw the launch of Exxpedition North Pacific 2018, an all-female sailing voyage and scientific research mission across the North Pacific Gyre, better known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. The voyage’s multidisciplinary crew sailed more than 3,000 nautical miles on the 72-foot research vessel Sea Dragon to conduct research and raise awareness about the devastating impact of single-use plastic on our bodies and oceans. First, the name. The two X’s in Exxpedition are an implicit nod to the company’s calling card of deploying an all-women crew. (“Exypedition” just doesn’t have the same ring to it.) Besides addressing women’s underrepresentation in STEM professions, not to mention in sailing and the wider sporting community, Exxpedition’s female crew calls attention to GREENMAGAZINE HAWAII.COM

“Bold, exciting and innovative science on ocean plastic and toxics is at the heart of all Exxpedition voyages.” – EMILY PENN, EXXPEDITION CO-FOUNDER & MISSION DIRECTOR

Exxpedition's all-women crew departed Kewalo Basin on June 25, 2018, bound for Vancouver, British Columbia, to collect data and gain new insight on microplastics and their impact on environmental and human health.

and seeks to redress the historical lack of studies on the female-specific effects of plastic-borne chemicals on human health. In the four years since the first Exxpedition voyage across the Atlantic in 2014, 86 women have sailed on missions all over the world, creating unique narratives about plastics and toxics to share with their communities upon their return. Exxpedition ambassadors have gone on to give inspirational talks, organize plasticfree community projects, implement plastic policies within their organizations, campaign for better legislation, release powerful films and create inspiring artworks made of ocean plastic. Comprised of a diverse group of 24 sailors, both novice and experienced, from the U.S., Britain, Canada, Slovenia, Norway and Honduras, Exxpedition North Pacific 2018 marked Exxpedition’s 10th voyage and its first in the North Pacific Gyre, the largest offshore plastic accumulation zone on the planet. The voyage was led by Exxpedition co-founder Emily Penn, who was awarded the British Prime Minister’s Points of Light award on World Environment Day in 2018 in recognition of the important work of the Exxpedition voyages in scientific research and ocean advocacy. “We are starting our North Pacific voyage with an amazing multidisciplinary crew of inspirational women, as always, but also some fantastic partners,” Penn says. “The organizations supporting our journey share our vision of tackling ocean plastic through scientific

research and empowering changemakers, and that’s very exciting. We’re looking forward to furthering the science and visibility of ocean plastic and toxics, as well as inspiring our passionate crew to collaborate and take lessons back to their communities.” With support from prestigious international partners that included the UN Environment Clean Seas initiative, Canadian conservation organization Ocean Wise and multinational recycling corporation Tomra, the crew of Exxpedition North Pacific 2018 departed

Infographic: Clean Seas

GREENMAGAZINE HAWAII.COM

Co-founder and Mission Director Emily Penn briefs the Exxpedition crew during their 2014 voyage in the North Atlantic.

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Kewalo Basin on June 25, 2018, for the first of two voyage legs—Hawai‘i to Vancouver and then on to Seattle, Washington—ending their journey with new insight on microplastics and their impact on environmental and human health. During the month-long voyage, the Exxpedition crew conducted beach cleanups and daily trawls for plastics and pollutants, recorded macro plastic debris sightings and collected data for a variety of global datasets and scientific studies. The data is now being used to help scientists at Hawai‘i Pacific University and elsewhere in the U.S., U.K., Canada and Switzerland arrive at a better understanding of plastic pollution in its many forms, from its impact on sea turtle environments to that of toxics entering our bodies via microplastics. “Bold, exciting and innovative science on ocean plastic and toxics is at the heart of all Exxpedition voyages,” Penn says. “This year, we’re seeing a shift in scientific focus. Scientists still want to know how much plastic is out there and where it is, but they also want to know which toxic chemicals are on the surface of it, whether organisms are growing on it and what the impacts might be on wildlife—and on us.”

"We’re looking forward to furthering the science and visibility of ocean plastic and toxics, as well as inspiring our passionate crew." – EMILY PENN, EXXPEDITION CO-FOUNDER & MISSION DIRECTOR

NATURE PLASTIC // ART // SUN // JUNK // COMMUNITY // TREES | ART |

THE ART OF TRASH

Multimedia artist Aurora Robson uses art as a platform for addressing our culture of waste

Photo: Liz Barney

By Lauren McNally

Maui native Aurora Robson returned to the islands in September to craft a one-of-a-kind sculpture out of ocean debris collected from the shores of O‘ahu by Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii. Entitled Kuleana, the work was the centerpiece of Honolulu's fifth annual Diner en Blanc, held this year at Turtle Bay Resort.

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To artist Aurora Robson, the only difference between art and trash is perspective. “Waste is merely displaced abundance,” she says in her talk at TedxPeachtree in Atlanta, Georgia, in 2013. “Giving thought and attention to a piece of matter is what makes something a piece of art and not a piece of trash.” Trash wasn’t always Robson’s go-to, but it’s become her medium of choice to expose the fallacy that anything can truly be thrown away. In fact, she’s made a name for herself reincarnating into art what others have disposed of, taking a problem that’s escalated invisibly in our landfills, oceans and rivers and thrusting it into light. Inspired by the tangled, amorphous masses that once stalked her dreams in childhood, Robson set out to reconstruct her memories of these nightmarish forms using the real-world horror lurking in all of our waking lives— plastic. More specifically, plastic waste. Yet despite their grim origin, the artist’s intricate, whimsical sculptures are decidedly optimistic. They’re lively, even—organic in a way that synthetic material simply isn’t. Suspended from the ceiling or snaking upward to the sky, Robson’s artwork forces the viewer to shift their perspective on trash, both physically and figuratively, as if to say: all is not lost. In efforts to amplify her message and that of others engaged in art as activism, Robson started Project Vortex, a collective of artists, designers and architects whose work not only removes plastic from the environment but, more importantly, does it in a way that calls into question our very perception of value. She’s even designed a college course— Sculpture + Intercepting the Waste Stream—to teach and inspire others to perpetuate the important work of creative stewardship. In it, Robson challenges students to turn trash into works of art, using at least one item recovered from their local beach, river or other waterway. This changes the dynamic of the assigned cleanup, she says, from chore to treasure hunt— precisely the paradigm shift we should all consider.

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NATURE PLASTIC // ART // SUN // JUNK // COMMUNITY // TREES

| SUN |

THE DARK SIDE OF SUN CARE

Hawai‘i makes landmark decision to ban coral-harming sunscreens by Shannon Noelle Rivera It’s easy to take our coral reefs for granted, but many people may not realize that corals are actually little animals that play a vital role in our marine ecosystem. Oxybenzone and octinoxate, two ingredients commonly found in major sunscreen brands, are known to cause major deformities, viral infections, a harmful process known as coral bleaching, and ultimately death for these important creatures. Even small amounts of sunscreen can cause irreparable damage, and the amount entering our oceans is far from small.

Around 14,000 tons of sunscreen inundate the world’s coral reefs each year—the equivalent of 64 million seven-ounce bottles of sunscreen. The damage largely occurs in high-traffic destination areas, and sunny Hawai‘i is at the top of the list. At Hanauma Bay alone, 2,600 swimmers wash roughly 412 pounds of sunscreen into the protected marine life conservation area each day. Beachgoers aren’t the only ones to blame. Reef damage is also produced by residential, municipal, and boat or ship wastewater discharges, so even if you lather up by the pool, your sunscreen will likely end up on our reefs. Scientists have known about the harmful effects of common sunscreen ingredients for years, but most manufacturers have not made 28

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the move to eliminate these harmful ingredients from their products. With limited reef-safe options on the market, consumers in the know are left to choose between burning and bleaching, while the vast majority are still unaware of the impacts of their sunscreen choices on the health of our oceans. That’s changing thanks to a bill passed on May 1, 2018, that makes it illegal to sell sunscreen containing oxybenzone and octinoxate. The ban takes effect January 1, 2021, giving sunscreen producers two and a half years to make the switch to a reef-safe formula. We’re at a make-or-break moment for the fate of our coral reefs and, with any luck, this shift will pave the way for similar reform around the globe. The first of its kind in the world,

this Hawai‘i law has the opportunity to ignite legislative change worldwide. Unfortunately sunscreen companies have strong financial incentive not to change—rather than developing ocean-friendly products, the multibillion-dollar industry is financing lobbyists and campaigning against measures to ban chemical blockers from our shelves. Several big groups, including the Personal Care Products Council and the Consumer Healthcare Products Association, are pointing the finger at other sources of reef damage and scaring consumers into continuing to use products containing oxybenzone and octinoxate. For the sake of our corals, let’s hope that global markets follow suit in offering products that protect us from the sun but not at the expense of the planet.

THE REPLACEMENTS Don’t wait for the oxybenzone ban to take effect to make the switch to reef-safe sun protection. These local Hawai‘i companies use physical barriers and all-natural ingredients to protect both you and our oceans.

A RAW LOVE G MAMA KULEANA

Don’t forget that clothing is the best form of sun protection. Pick up this Mama Kuleana SPF 30 rash guard along with the brand’s mineral sunscreen, which comes in biodegradable packaging to boot. [$30, mamakuleana.com]

A little goes a long way with this super-concentrated, allnatural physical blocker from Maui-based company Raw Love. Available online and at dozens of retailers throughout the Hawaiian Islands. [$17–$25, rawlovesunscreen.com]

D LITTLE HANDS HAWAII The husband-and-wife duo behind this local company were moved to create a sunscreen they could feel good about using on their firstborn, so you can trust that only organic, baby-safe, locally sourced ingredients made the cut. Try their buttery soft face sticks or four-ounce jars, both of which are formulated to stay put and come in clear and tinted versions. [$12, littlehandshawaii.com]

GREENMAGAZINE HAWAII.COM

NATURE PLASTIC // ART // SUN // JUNK // COMMUNITY // TREES | JUNK |

THE PROBLEM WITH PLASTIC

Marcus Eriksen tells all in his journey to stem the tide of ocean plastic

Photo: Lauren McNally

By Lauren McNally

In celebration of the 10th anniversary of Marcus Eriksen and Joel Paschal's journey on the Junk raft, Books & Spirits partnered with the University of Hawai‘i at Ma-noa Better Tomorrow Speaker Series to host a screening of the short film adaptation of Junk Raft, followed by a Q+A with the author and navigator himself at The Royal Hawaiian in August.

On the surface, Junk Raft is about two men who embark on a harrowing 2,600mile journey from Los Angeles to Hawai‘i to raise awareness about plastic pollution. But really, it’s a story about junk. Penned by co-navigator Marcus Eriksen, the book provides a comprehensive history of the plastics industry, examining the political, societal and economic forces that have catalyzed and sustained our global epidemic of waste. Eriksen tackles the subject with both sobriety and humor, tempering grave insight with informed optimism as he questions the ironic triumph of engineering a material to last forever, only to use it for practically the blink of an eye. 30

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“No species hangs onto its trash like ours does,” Eriksen writes. “And now, thanks to the resilience of its chemistry, trash exceeds our lifespans.” It’s an unfortunate by-product of a society that’s learned to equate wealth with excess and crown convenience as king, Eriksen reasons. We’re ruled by the manmade construct of obsolescence, both planned and perceived—relentless public messaging has succeeded in launching an industry where there wasn’t need for one, creating both supply and demand, and now our planet is paying the price. But central to Eriksen’s story of junk is the growing movement to end our reliance on plastic, starting with discovery of the

infamous—if misrepresented—Great Pacific Garbage Patch, which galvanized people around the world to reevaluate their relationship with trash. The Junk raft serves as a microcosm of life on Earth, thoroughly vulnerable yet resilient to challenges if steered in the right direction. “We must globalize ideas, not stuff,” Eriksen writes, a task he shouldered with his wife, Anna Cummins, in co-founding the 5 Gyres Institute in 2009 following his stint on the Junk. After all that time on the open ocean, he knew he had to turn stuff into ideas, and ideas into action, to honor the harmony and sanctity of the wealth of life he found beneath the surface.

PLASTIC // ART // SUN // JUNK // COMMUNITY // TREES

NATURE

| COMMUNITY |

ON THE MAP Photos: DNLR Division of Forrestry and Wildlife

Strengthening community capacity for stewardship through STEW-MAP By Crystal Rogers Mälama ‘äina—meaning “to care for and nurture the land”—is a value deeply rooted within our island society and strongly grounded in Hawaiian culture. In Hawai‘i, where natural resources are so precious, it is critical to recognize, facilitate and honor the efforts of those working to safeguard our environment. Whether you come from a long line of stewards or are part of a more recent effort to mälama ‘äina, the Stewardship Mapping and Assessment Project (STEW-MAP) wants to hear from you. “The project is an effort to better understand, highlight and support community groups that care for the many

special places in Hawai’i,” says Heather McMillen, urban and community forester for the state’s Division of Forestry and Wildlife. The project is currently seeking to engage groups on O‘ahu that mälama ‘äina and mälama kai across the moku of Kona (greater Honolulu) and Ko’olaupoko (southeastern end of Windward O‘ahu). Beginning in September, stewardship groups active in those districts have been able to participate in Phase 1 of the project

by completing a survey identifying how different groups care for the environment, from where they work to who they work with. The goal? To create a public database of stewardship efforts across the Hawaiian Islands as well as identify gaps and overlaps in resources, activities and funding for local conservation initiatives. Participating groups will be able to use various online tools to engage with and strengthen their networks across organizations, volunteers and agencies.

GREENMAGAZINE HAWAII.COM

Photo: Arbor Day Hawaii

NATURE PLASTIC // ART // SUN // JUNK // COMMUNITY // TREES

PLAN AHEAD:

WHAT A TREE-T

of Hawai‘i’s urban forests. This free treegiveaway event will feature a range of fun and educational activities, including free admission to Foster Botanical Garden’s First annual Arbor Day 14-acre urban forest sanctuary in downtown Honolulu. Honolulu Festival is a call As part of Arbor Day 2018, the O‘ahu to action to grow Hawai‘i’s Urban Garden ‘Ohana will be giving away urban forests more than 2,500 tree saplings at Foster Botanical Garden and four other sites across By Jolie Wanger O‘ahu in partnership with the Kaulunani Observed around the world and Urban and Community Forestry Program recognized in Hawai‘i for more than 110 of the Hawai‘i Department of Land and years, Arbor Day is a formally designated Natural Resources, the City & County of holiday dedicated to planting trees and Honolulu and the urban forestry nonprofit honoring their many benefits. But this Smart Trees Pacific. November marks the first time that Hawai‘i Not on O‘ahu? Not to worry—those residents can officially gather to celebrate on the neighbor islands can visit the Arbor and learn more about the important role Day Hawai‘i website for information and that trees play updates on tree giveaways in the health and other Arbor Day and well-being events on Maui, Kaua‘i WHERE: of our island and Hawai‘i Island. FOSTER BOTANICAL communities. Master gardeners and GARDEN The inaugural arborists will be present WHEN: SATURDAY, Arbor Day at each giveaway to share NOVEMBER 3, 2018 Honolulu information on the best 9 A.M. TO 2 P.M. Festival will growing environment and ARBORDAYHAWAII.ORG bring community tree care information for partners, vendors each tree, but get a head and local artists start at to Foster Botanical Garden to help www.arbordayhawaii.org/tree-info for spread awareness about the important helpful tips on tree selection, planting and environmental, social and economic benefits care. 32

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MAKE SURE THERE’S ROOM FOR YOUR NEW TREE TO GROW TO ITS MATURE SIZE WITHOUT COMING INTO CONTACT WITH WIRES, INFRASTRUCTURE OR OTHER TREES.

THE LOGISTICS: HOW WILL YOU WATER AND MAINTAIN YOUR TREE AS IT GROWS? WHAT LEVEL OF MAINTENANCE CAN YOU REASONABLY PROVIDE? CHOOSE YOUR TREE ACCORDINGLY.

SAVE ON A/C: LOOKING TO SHADE YOUR HOME DURING THE HOT SUMMER MONTHS? CHOOSE A TREE THAT CAN THRIVE IN FULL SUN AND PLANT IT ON THE SOUTH OR EAST SIDE OF YOUR HOME.

Tree giveaway sites on O‘ahu: Foster Botanical Garden Urban Garden Center Wahiawā Botanical Garden Waimea Valley Botanical Garden Kailua United Methodist Church

Waste Waste Less, Less, Feed Feed More. More.

Instead of letting food go to waste, Instead of letting food go to waste, we can help feed Hawaii’s hungry. we canis ahelp Hawaii’s hungry. Aloha Harvest non-profitfeed organization that rescues quality donated food

from local establishments that otherwise would go to waste and deliversfood it free Aloha Harvest is a non-profit organization that rescues quality donated of charge social service agencies who are helping towaste feed Hawaii’s hungry. from localto establishments that otherwise would go to and delivers it free of charge to social service agencies who are helping to feed Hawaii’s hungry. Donate today, visit ALOHAHARVEST.ORG or call (808) 537-6945.

Donate today, visit ALOHAHARVEST.ORG or call (808) 537-6945.

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The 2018 Prius G E T M O R E O F W H AT YO U WA N T I N S I D E A N D O U T.

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1. 2018 EPA-estimated 58 city / 53 highway / 56 combined mpg for Prius Two Eco. Actual mileage will vary. 2. Drivers are responsible for their own safe driving. Always pay at tention to your surroundings and drive safely. System effectiveness is dependent on many factors including road, weather and vehicle conditions. See Ownerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Manual for additional limitations and details.