GREEN Volume 1 Number 1

ALL NEW SELECTION OF 2009 FRAMES IN STOCK

Complete set of glasses * Restrictions apply. Frame and Lense purchase required.

See store for details.

1415 South King Street :: Honolulu, Hawaii 96814 808.955.3532

Photo: Kevin Whitton

ON THE COVER

Bird Watching Some people would say that it’s never a good idea to mix work with the things you love most. Others say that the greatest feat for any person is being able to make a living doing whatever it is they love. Wildlife Biologist Jaap Eijzenga falls into the latter category.

Focusing his attention on seabirds in the Hawaiian Islands, Jaap has taken advantage of scientific opportunity to set foot on parts of the archipelago that most residence will never see in their lifetimes. Recently, he spent three months on Kure Atoll, at the tip of the Hawaiian archipelago, some 1,200 miles northwest of the main Hawaiian Islands.

Back on O‘ahu, Jaap is the offshore island coordinator under the Division of Fish and Wildlife. He recently led a concerted volunteer and staff restoration effort on Moku Nui, the northern islet of the Mokulua Islands off Lanikai. The group spread across almost three acres of the nearly six-acre islet, planting native species in place of the invasive sand bur grass that dominates the island. In a cosmic show of appreciation, it rained off and on for days after the out planting. With a little luck, hundreds of the plants will survive, slowing erosion and improving nesting habitat for the migratory wedge-tailed shearwater. For Jaap, it’s just another day at the office.

Benefits Reduce storm

water runoff

Create instant curb appeal Increase property value Improves air quality Provides sound dampening benefits Adds a natural protective membrane to help cool buildings

Living VaseÂŽ Available exclusively at Whole Foods Kahala and 1st Look Exteriors

94-422 Ukee Street, Suite 3 Waipahu, HI 96797

P.808.676.8988 • F.808.748.0388 www.1stlookexteriors.com Located in Waipio Gentry. Visit us online for more information.

LIC.# C-21468

1st Look Exteriors a subsidiary of Landscapes by Tropical Images, is an award winning design/build company and the first in Hawaii to design, construct, maintain and improve living wall systems.

Brett Schenk

(Realtor, CRS, GRI)

Published by Little Tree Publications VOLUME 1 // NUMBER 1 Editor Kevin Whitton Contributing Writers Jack Kittinger, Jeff Mull, Dr. Mark Shigeoka, Aubrey Yee Art Director Kyle Tanaka Graphic Designer/Web Assistant Nicolette Davenport Staff Photographers Willi Edwards, Michelle Whitton Contributing Photographers Isaac Frazer, Carol Oliva, Kyle Tanaka, Kevin Whitton, Aubrey Yee Sales and Marketing Carey Tanaka www.GreenMagazineHawaii.com Green P.O. Box 894061 Mililani, HI 96789 Green is distributed throughout the state of Hawai‘i at hardware and home stores, bookstores, grocery stores and retail stores. In addition, Green is also available at select expos and fairs throughout the year with no cover price.

Other than letters to the editor, we do not accept unsolicited editorial submissions. Green, Little Tree Publications and its associates are not responsible for lost, stolen or damaged submissions or the return of unsolicited material.

One-way correspondence can be sent to: P.O. Box 894061, Mililani, HI 96789 Email editorial inquiries to info@greenmagazineawaii.com All contents of this issue of Green are copyrighted by Little Tree Publications, 2009. All rights reserved.

Woodstock Properties, Inc. 98-211 Pali Momi Street #430

•

Aiea, Hawaii 96701

mobile: (808) 222-3366 office: (808) 488-1588 fax: (888) 602-1957 email: brett@brettschenk.com www.brettschenk.com

Green is printed in the USA on recycled paper.

Please recycle this magazine. Pass it on to a friend and extend the life of this publication.

Photo: Willi

EDITOR’S NOTE

What’s in a name?

Translating green to real life

The word green has come to mean many things. It’s a quick and modern single-word summation of all things sustainable and a generality used to represent eco-consciousness. It’s a social, political and economic movement as well as an environmental one. It’s also the color of chlorophyll, molecules of pigment found in plants and algae that are necessary for photosynthesis and in turn, the food we eat and the air we breathe.

The term green continues to evolve in its meaning, encompassing new ideas, technologies and ways of life. It brings under its wing individuals, businesses, institutions, products and services. Though diverse in scope and nature, these stratified communities are working toward the singular goal of sustainability.

What does being green mean in Hawai‘i? It means leading the nation in installed solar hot water heating systems. It also means taking care of the land, like picking up all your trash when you leave the park or beach. People are planting native plants around their homes and catching rainwater to water their gardens as the state works toward the ambitious goals set by the Hawai‘i Clean Energy Initiative: taking 70 percent of the state’s energy needs from clean energy sources by 2030. But being green is more than just using solar power or recycling your bottles and cans; it’s a collective consciousness that is necessary for the health of our communities, the islands and the ocean. Living green is an awareness that we are one with our surroundings, the natural environment, and the realization that our decisions and actions have consequences that reverberate around us like ripples in the sea.

Examples of successful sustainability have been handed down to us from the original Polynesian voyag14

GREENMAG AZINEHAWAI I . COM

ers to this land, whose social systems of farming and community stretched from the mountaintops to the deep ocean. The ahupua‘a system of land division and community employed sustainable methods of farming and fishing through a shared coexistence with the natural resources.

The Hawai‘i of today has seen much change over the last millennium: the forests have been invaded by invasive plant species and feral ungulates, many of Hawai‘i’s native plant, bird and insect species have gone extinct or are listed as endangered and extremely rare, development has taken the place of natural coastal ecosystems, the reefs near urban areas are at constant risk from pollution and fish stocks are in severe decline.

While the assessment may look bleak at first glance, it is an opportunity to expand one’s awareness of the issues we face, educate one’s self, then take responsibility and positive action. And everyone’s contribution toward that goal is relevant. Whether you have the finances to remodel your house to incorporate natural lighting and passive cooling design principles to cut down on your energy consumption or you take a reusable bag to the grocery store to consume less plastic, every contribution to lessen our footprint on the environment is worthwhile and important.

The task at hand is to lead a more sustainable life.

The key is to accomplish sustainability while increasing our quality of life by engaging ourselves in our communities and with the natural environment. Living green isn’t just for tree huggers anymore. —Kevin Whitton

Editor, Kevin Whitton

35% $1000 30% State Tax Credit

Phone: (808) 372-6691 Fax: (808) 943-1165 www.savingoahussolar.com

Utility rebate for solar hot water

Federal Tax Credit

• Customized solar installation in new and older homes • Quality work at an affordable price • Financing available

Visa / Master Card / Discover / American Expresss

THE WORD

Photo: KT

The Big Chill Air conditioning units are one of the biggest draws on electricity, for residences and businesses alike. The amount of energy required to power central air conditioning systems of high-rise buildings in downtown Honolulu is staggering. And with the excessive demand of large-scale AC also comes the need for large quantities of potable water, toxic water treatment chemicals and millions of gallons of sewage.

To combat this wasteful consumption of resources, Honolulu Seawater Air Conditioning (HSWAC) is currently developing a seawater air conditioning cooling system for downtown Honolulu, designed to serve the high-rise structures in downtown’s core. The key element that makes a large-scale air conditioning system like this possible is Honolulu’s ability to access deep, cold seawater.

Seawater between 39˚F and 45˚F is pumped into a distribution system of pipes from a deepwater source. A heat exchanger chills fresh water that is circulated through the air conditioning systems of each building in a closed-loop network. The seawater and fresh water never mix. According to HSWAC, the system would significantly reduce electrical usage by 80 percent, reduce the use of ozone-depleting refrigerants, conserve potable water and reduce waste into the sewage stream. The project will also reduce crude oil imports by more than 145, 000 barrels and save 292 million gallons of potable water per year.

The technology has been tried and proven in Sweden, Canada and right here at home at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawai‘i Authority at Kea- hole Point. Proof that HSWAC is not all hot air, First Hawaiian Bank has become the first customer to sign a contract with the alternative energy company, with a multi-year agreement to utilize the renewable energy source at the 30-story First Hawaiian Center. The system is slated to be operational by the end of 2010.

In a move to reach the goals set by the Hawai‘i Clean Energy Initiative (HCEI)—70 percent clean energy for the state by 2030—Hawaiian Electric Company and sustainability mobility operator Better Place have teamed up to create an electric-car network for Hawai‘i. The proposed network is only the second in the nation, serving as a blue print for other states and continuing Hawai‘i’s role as a leader in reducing dependency on foreign oil and utilizing renewable energy resources.

The first steps to developing the network include permitting and building an infrastructure to accommodate the widespread adoption of electric vehicles, which will be introduced within 18 months. The basic infrastructure is comprised of public charging spots and battery swapping stations.

Maui Electric Company is currently testing Phoenix Motorcars’ electric light trucks and vans and other plug-in hybrids, including six Toyota Prius hybrids that have been converted to plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. Better Place believes there will be mass-market availability of the electric car in Hawai‘i by 2012.

Hawai‘i spends nearly $7 billion on oil imports a year and Hawai‘i drivers pay some of the highest gas prices in the nation. The proposed network would not only reduce carbon emissions, but also provide more affordable transportation options. To maximize the efficiency of the network, Better Place will manage when vehicles are recharged, providing a market for renewable energy output in off-peak hours. Beneficial results will require large-scale deployment of electric vehicles throughout the state.

16

GREENMAG AZINEHAWAI I . COM

Photo: Willi

Transportation Recharge

Photo: Kevin Whitton

THE WORD

Solar Tax Credits Renewed Solar power technology has been around for a long time, but its popularity among consumers as an alternative source of energy has grown tremendously in the last few years. No doubt that solar tax credits, originally enacted by Congress in 2005, were a contributing force in solar’s rise to energy-efficient stardom.

As part of the $700 billion bail-out package passed last year, Congress extended the federal tax credit for renewable energy production for another year. If you haven’t already installed a solar hot water heater or photovoltaic system in your home, don’t fret because there is still time to take advantage of the federal government’s 30-percent solar tax credit.

In addition to solar, Congress extended the tax credit for one year to the production of other energy sources like geothermal, closed-loop biomass and hydropower. It also created a new category for energy production that will receive the federal tax credit: marine renewables. This category will include energy derived from waves, tides and currents.

Homeowners have something else to celebrate. The $2,000 monetary cap for residential solar electric installations was eliminated, which means you can claim the entire 30 percent maximizing your return.

THE WORD

Photos: Kevin Whitton

Fowl Play Wednesday, Jan. 21 marked the first of two statewide bi-annual waterbird surveys across the state of Hawai‘i. Conducted by the Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Forestry and Wildlife, the survey covers more than 250 wetland sites, including marshes, reservoirs, golf course canals, prawn farms and even the Honolulu International Airport’s reef runway. The counts give important population trend data and show habitat use of Hawai‘i’s endangered waterbirds, migrant waterfowl and shorebirds.

Wildlife Biologist Jaap Eijzenga is in charge of the Windward O‘ahu count, with sites stretching from Hau‘ula to Olomana Golf Course. Armed with clipboard, binoculars and a volunteer counter, his task is to accurately count nearly all bird species at the survey area, including the weather and area conditions.

Of utmost importance are four endangered waterbird species in Hawai‘i: the Hawaiian stilt (Himantopus mexicanus knudseni), Hawaiian moorhen (Gallinula chloropus sandvicensis), Hawaiian coot, (Fulica alai), and Hawaiian duck (Anas wyvilliana). “The survey is taken bi-annually because of the seasonal fluctuation of populations,” explains Eijzenga. “Spring and early summer are the breeding seasons, so the August count tends to have inflated numbers because of newly fledged chicks. Many of them don’t make it, so the January numbers are more reliable.”

The Hawaiian stilt population is gaining strength due to successful wetland restoration efforts over the past ten years. The Hamakua Marsh, on Eijzenga’s list of stops, is a prime example of wetland conservation. Pairs of Hawaiian stilts forage and frolic in the ponds nestled between rings of floating grass. Hawaiian coots cruise the deeper stream while the red-billed moorhens wade through the grassy shallows and up onto the banks. Black-crowned night heron perch patiently on sturdy foliage, eyes trained at the water anticipating their next meal.

Eijzenga spies the waterfowl and makes tick marks on his clipboard as he slowly walks the stream bank. His volunteer counter keeps watch for stilts with her binoculars. After stopping for a break to marvel at a night heron sitting on the bank, its red eye facing them, staring, they pack up their gear and continue to the next sight. All across Hawai‘i, staff and volunteers have their eyes peeled for Hawai‘i’s endangered waterfowl.

Longtime Hawai‘i developer Castle & Cooke Inc. has ambitious green plans for La- na‘i. They want the island, of which they own about 98 percent, to be powered completely with solar power by 2020. And with their recent completion of the state’s largest single-site solar farm, La- na‘i is on its way to that goal.

The fully operational solar farm is named La- Ola, the Hawaiian words for sun and life. The array consists of 7,400 photovoltaic panels installed on 10 acres of former pineapple land. The panels can tilt with the sun, making them 25 percent more efficient than if they were fixed in position. Costing the developer around $19 million, the solar power plant is designed to produce 1.2 megawatts of energy when three battery containers are installed in June, providing 30 percent of La- na‘i’s peak electric demand.

Under a 25-year purchase power agreement with Maui Electric Co., the utility will be able to cut their reliance on imported oil by about 5,000 barrels annually. Residence of La- na‘i are hoping the energy created at La- Ola will parlay into lower monthly electric bills. In January, La- na‘i electricity prices came in at 34 cents per kilowatt-hour, as compared to 27 cents per kilowatt-hour on Maui and 21 cents per kilowatt-hour for O‘ahu customers.

18

GREENMAG AZINEHAWAI I . COM

Photo: Castle & Cooke Hawaii

Solar Agriculture

Photo: © The Nature Conservancy

THE WORD

Chinatown Power Plant The Nature Conservancy of Hawai‘i is officially “walking the talk” with the instillation of a powerful 12.6 kilowatt photovoltaic system on the rooftop of their downtown Honolulu office. The 72-panel system is working in conjunction with the building’s new energyefficient air conditioning system and light fixtures retrofitted with compact fluorescent bulbs. Their ultimate goal is to help solve Hawai‘i’s energy crisis by generating clean energy and reducing its carbon emissions.

The state-of-the-art PV system is one of the first commercial instillations in the islands to take advantage of the latest in microinverter technology, which are able to generate more power per DC watt due to increased efficiency. Of course, the solar upgrade to the building came with a price tag of more than $100,000.

To mitigate the lofty initial investment, a private investor capitalized the cost of the system up front by through a purchase power agreement, and can now buy electricity from the Conservancy at a reduced rate. This way, the state and federal tax credits could be utilized by the investor to reduce the cost to the Conservancy, a nonprofit that, on its own, could not take advantage of the tax credit.

In addition to the Conservancy’s commitment to go green, they have also proven that Hawai‘i’s historic buildings can be adapted to meet 21st century needs. The stone and wood Wing Wo Tai Building was originally built in 1877, rebuilt in 1916 and is now on track to becoming the first “existing” building in Hawai‘i to go green under the rigorous requirements of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building certification program.

With so much success at the Nu‘uanu Avenue headquarters, a projected reduction in energy consumption of 40 percent, the Nature Conservancy’s Moloka‘i office is scheduled to be retrofitted with a similar PV system by late 2009. The system will completely power the building, taking it totally off the grid.

For more articles and news from The Word log on to: www.greenmagazinehawaii.com

Photo: Aubrey Yee

BODY & MIND

Foundation for a Healthy Life Achieving balance through meditation

You have probably heard the saying, “the mind and body are one” many times. Maybe the mantra is so prevalent because of the wealth of evidence backing this point of view. One needs only to look around and listen to daily life experiences to see the simple phenomenon in play. But it is one thing to say it and another to practice it. How do you practice oneness between the mind and body? By starting at the beginning: awareness.

Your body affects your mind and your mind affects your body. In fact, for myself, I had to look no further than writing this article. For a week I was not able to write anything, and it was not for lack of trying. My body just didn’t feel right. Everything was sore and tired. My energy was low. I felt like I was coming down with a cold. So it was no surprise that my mind was in a “weird” space.

Waking up after a week of frustration, my body felt great. My shoulders and neck were pain-free. The energy was flowing. My whole body was relaxed. To no surprise, my mind was clear. Before I knew it, I was sitting at the computer typing away. What a difference a day made. So what happened? Basically a shift in my body created a shift in my mind.

The connection between mind and body is a two-way street. I work with many athletes who compete on the national and international level. No matter how hard they train or refine their technique, if their minds are not in the right place, they will most likely not perform as well as they could. At top levels of competition this can mean the difference between a gold medal and merely participating, or worse yet, an injury.

After talking with athletes who’ve had a let down experience, all of them, without exception, had something on their mind that was bothering them. It is the same for all of us—mind affects body. The 20

GREENMAG AZINEHAWAI I . COM

foundations of health must address body and mind simultaneously. You can’t have health in one without health in the other.

When it comes to the body, there are many proven methods for training and development. Basically, you just have to find an exercise that you like, which meets your needs, and stick to it. But working to develop the mind is not so easy.

The mind is difficult to see. To make matters more complex, very few people think to stop and look into their own minds and bodies to become aware of what’s happening on the inside. People go about daily life without the awareness of their seemingly ceaseless stream of thoughts, sensations and emotions. It all happens under the radar of consciousness. By remaining unconscious of these thoughts and emotions, the mind becomes identified with them to the point that people don’t realize that they have a choice to act upon them or not. The unconscious barrage has the mind running in circles, which adversely affects health and connectivity. Fatigue, lack of concentration and negativity are sure signs that we are not functioning from the natural balance of the mind and body.

This is where sitting in meditation becomes useful to promote mental and physical health. Essentially, meditation awakens the mind by being conscious of the “right here, right now” and allows the natural balance that is already there to manifest in this life. Physical activity halts and attention turns inward. As awareness grows and deepens, there is an awakening to what is happening within and around us and the silence becomes empowering in the midst of the cacophony of thoughts and worries. When the inseparable harmony that exist between the mind and body is realized, then anything is possible, even writing an article. —Dr. Mark Shigeoka

GREEN SCENE

The Green Living Expo, Blaisdell Exhibition Hall

2

1

4

5

6

8

1. Kenneth Sheeks of Hawaii Skylights and Solar Fans shows off his wares. 2. Ema Premeaux, Karla Filibeck and Natalie Pawluck raise awareness for a drug free Hawai‘i. 3. Jim LoBianco of SynLawn, the ultimate in water conservation. 4. Melissa Cooper of Sun Energy Solutions test-drives an electric bike. 5. Stacey and Sommerlyn of Earthbuddies enjoy getting into a Can-O-Worms.

6. Brett Schenk is a green realtor with a cause. 7. Andersen’s Matt Collins and Honsador’s Ken Deleary talk shop. 8. Jeff Davis of Solar Professionals was a popular man at the show. 8. Janice Shimizu from Vim N’ Vigor promotes good nutrition and good health.

22

GREENMAG AZINEHAWAI I . COM

3

7

9

HOW-TO

8 SIMPLE STEPS

Black Gold

1. Purchase a 10- to 18-gallon opaque plastic container with a lid. Do not buy a clear plastic container—the worms prefer darkness. As a rule of thumb, the larger the colony of worms, the larger the container. A good place to start is with a quarter pound of worms and a 10-gallon plastic container.

Building a worm composting bin

Vermicomposting is an easy way to turn green kitchen scraps into some of the best organic fertilizer around without lifting a finger. It also has the added benefit of keeping unnecessary trash out of the waste stream. What is vermicomposting? It’s simply the process of using worms to break down organic waste into a nutrient-rich material used for fertilizer. Wilted lettuce, banana peels and apple cores go in, the worms feast heartily and we rejoice to harvest their castings, known to avid gardeners as “black gold.” It’s easy to get started and simple to maintain. Just toss in the food and count down the days till harvest time.

2. Drill plenty of air holes in the sides, bottom and lid of the container—each about 1/4" diameter.

3. Shred corrugated cardboard and newspaper or junk mail to use for the bedding. The shredded material should be damp, but not dripping wet. Place the dampened paper in the bottom of the bin to a depth of two to four inches.

4. Place the worms and any substrate they were packed in into the bin. Not just any worm will do the job, make sure to buy composting (epigeic) worms: Perionyx excavatus, also known as Indian blue, Malaysian blue or blueworm, is the Hawai‘i vermicomposter’s worm of choice. Earthworms found in your garden’s soil are not suitable for worm bins.

1

2

5. Place kitchen scraps into the bin. Adding the right amount will take some experimentation. Put enough matter in the bin to keep your worms fed for a week or so, but not so much so that it rots and attracts flies.

6. Cover the scraps completely with more shredded paper or a 100-percent cotton T-shirt. Keeping the food waste covered will keep the flies away.

3

5

4

6

7. Place the lid on the bid and rest it on top some type of reservoir (two bricks and an old baking sheet works well) to collect the nutrient-rich moisture that leaches out the bottom. This can be diluted and used to water the garden.

Keep the bin in a well-ventilated, shady place. Worms work their best at temperatures between 59˚F and 77˚F. 8. Check the bin regularly. Your worm bin is a self-regulating system. The worms need moisture, ventilation and sustenance to perform. If all is done properly, the bin will attract many beneficial insects to help out in the breakdown process. Most importantly, your worm bin should never give off a foul odor. Harvest the worm castings every three to four months then repeat the setup process again, keeping some of the old bedding laden with beneficial organisms.

Word to the wise: wear gloves while harvesting.

What to put in your worm bin: Banana peels, moldy bread, apple cores, orange peels, wilted lettuce, carrot peelings, mushroom stalks, asparagus stalks, onion peels, pineapple rinds, rotten or moldy fruits and veggies.

7

For information on worm suppliers in Hawai‘i go to: www.greenmagazinehawaii.com/DIY_worm_bin

24

GREENMAG AZINEHAWAI I . COM

8

What NOT to put in your worm bin: Papaya seeds, raw or cooked meats, bones (it attracts rats), excrement or feces of any kind.

Photo: Aubrey Yee

GREEN ECONOMICS

Spring Cleaning Natural homemade cleaners

As consumers we are led to believe that if a product is available from our local grocery store, then it must be safe. Unfortunately, this is not the case when it comes to household detergents and cleaners.

From phosphates in detergents that harm aquatic environments to alkalies that remove dirt without scrubbing, acids used in toilet bowl cleaners and other caustic ingredients that are poisonous and can be fatal if swallowed, you are potentially storing a miniature toxic chemical factory under your kitchen sink. By using non-toxic homemade cleaners with everyday ingredients like baking soda, vinegar and borax, you’ll create a healthy and safe environment at home and save money while doing so. Here are a few natural cleaning recipes to get you started:

All-Purpose Cleaner 4 tablespoons baking soda 1 quart warm water Dissolve baking soda in warm water for a general cleaner. Cleans and deodorizes all kitchen and bathroom surfaces. If scrubbing is necessary, use a paste made with baking soda and water or mix salt and water with vinegar.

All-Purpose Cleaner and Disinfectant 2 tablespoons borax Âź cup lemon juice 2 cups hot water Combine indredients in a spray bottle. Use instead of commercial all-purpose cleaners. Isopropyl alcohol is also a disinfectant. Apply with a sponge and allow to dry. Make sure the area is well ventilated before use.

GREEN ECONOMICS

Dr. Summer Baptist, ND Licensed Naturopathic Physician

(808) 783-0361

Specializing in: Family Medicine • Women’s Health • Men’s Health • Children’s Health • Metabolic Detoxification Programs • Nutrition & Lifestyle Counseling

Photo: Aubrey Yee

4 Week Detoxification Program Ideal for:

• Skin conditions (acne, eczema or psoriasis)

• Digestive problems (IBS, Crohn’s disease, colitis)

• Inflammatory conditions (arthritis, fibromyalgia)

• High cholesterol, hypertension and

Type 2 diabetes

• Chronic headaches, migraines, fatigue, pain or muscle tension

• Chronic exposure to toxins and pollutants Includes:

• 90 minute initial assessment

• 3 weekly follow up visits

• Detoxification Program Manual

• Discounted on-site use of infrared sauna

Four Main Purposes of an Individualized Detoxification Program:

• Decrease the toxic load built up in the body

• Identify and change or remove obstacles impeding health

• Initiate the natural healing process

• Implement a healthy regimen and lifestyle to reach optimal health Call for additional information:

Downtown Honolulu Office 1188 Bishop Street. Suite 1509 Honolulu, Hawaii 96813

Phone 808-783-0361

www.sacredhealingarts.info

Glass Cleaner ¼ cup white vinegar 1 tablespoon cornstarch 1 quart warm water Mix ingredients and apply with a sponge or spray bottle. Wipe dry with crumpled newspaper, buff to shine. Do not wash windows that are warm or in direct sunlight, it will cause streaking.

Drain Cleaner ½ cup baking soda 1 cup white vinegar 1 gallon boiling water Pour the baking soda down the drain or disposal, followed by the vinegar. Allow the mixture to foam for several minutes, then flush with boiling water. For slow drain, use once a week to keep drain fresh and clog-free.

Toilet Bowl Cleaner 1 cup borax ½ cup white vinegar Flush the toilet to wet the sides of the bowl. Sprinkle the borax onto the toilet bowl and then spray with vinegar. Let sit for at least two hours, up to overnight, and then scrub with a toilet brush. Baking soda can be used in place of borax to clean and deodorize as well.

Just scrub the bowl immediately after spraying on the vinegar.

1130 Koko Head Avenue Suite 1, Honolulu, Hawaii 96816

808.732.7124

Photo: Willi

Q&A

Below the surface

Dr. Alan Marc Friedlander talks about Marine Protected Areas

When it comes to fish and coral reef ecology, Dr. Alan Friedlander is one of the most sought after experts in his field. Focusing on the conservation of nearshore fisheries and community-based fisheries management, Dr. Friedlander is leading the charge to establish marine reserves throughout Hawai‘i to increase fish populations and preserve the health of entire ecosystems. His vision of sustainability is all encompassing as he works toward protecting marine areas as part of mountain to sea ahupua‘a.

Declining sought-after fish stocks are a real problem in the main Hawaiian Islands. You’re a proponent of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) to bolster fish stocks.

Why are MPAs the way to go to accomplish this?

Marine protected areas can mean a lot of different things to a lot of different people. There are no take marine protected areas like Hanauma Bay and Honolua Bay. There are a number of other protected areas that allow various types of activities to occur within their boundaries. Then there’s community-managed areas, which also can be considered marine protected areas.

30

GREENMAG AZINEHAWAI I . COM

What I’m advocating is more comprehensive zoning.

Start with ocean zoning and eventually have mountain to sea ahupua‘a. Comprehensive ocean zoning allows different uses in appropriate places.

As far as no take marine protected areas go, they’ve proven to be highly effective. The amount of fish in Hanauma Bay is about eight times greater than outlying adjacent areas. What these spatial closures do is two things: they allow for fish to get bigger and they allow for more fish within their boundaries. And you’re protecting not only the species, but their habitat as well, which is critical. It’s conserving an ecosystem instead of managing a species on a species by species basis. We’ve got hundreds of species of fish in Hawai‘i and you can’t come up with regulations for every one of them. It’s just too daunting.

Which areas are the hardest hit by overfishing and how does it impact marine environments?

The places that have been most impacted are, obviously, the island of O‘ahu in general and more specifically, where major human populations are: the south shore,

Q&A

the Ka-ne‘ohe Bay area and the south shore of Maui.

Those are the most egregious examples of human influence.

The ecosystem implications are this: once you’ve fished-out the top predators, the ulua and sharks, you typically start to fish down the food chain. The herbivorous fish, the manini, the sturgeons, the uhu, are important grazers on the reef, keeping the reef clean.

Once the herbivores are gone, and excessive nutrients in the water around these places, limu tends to proliferate above what they would normally. Without the herbivores keeping them in check, you have the limu overgrowing the corals, the corals eventually die and the limu fills in all the pukas in the reef, that’s important habitat for fishes. You have less fishes because the habitat is not preferable and the system just spirals downward.

Photo: Willi

Less than one percent of nearshore areas are protected with high conservation areas, marine protected areas or community-managed areas. If you include all the military areas where you don’t have access, even so, you still have over 90 percent of all nearshore areas open access to whatever you want to do. People throw out numbers like 20 percent minimum needs to be conserved in no take areas, but a lot of people get all freaked out by that. It’s a fairly large number.

There’s several community around the state that have taken charge of their resources: North Shore, Moloka‘i, Ha-‘ena on Kaua‘i, South Kona Coast. These communities have taken a more proactive approach to managing their resources, more typical of how they were managed in the past, limits or no commercial harvesting in some of these locations, no off-island exporting of resources.

These protected areas are not meant to penalize people for their actions. They are meant as both conservation and fisheries management tools. What we also need to consider is that Hawai‘i has the highest proportion of endemic marine species, about a quarter of marine species that we see on the reefs, found anywhere else on Earth. We’ve got a global responsibility.

We are the stewards of those resources and if they go extinct or become severely depleted, they’re not found anywhere else. The world becomes smaller and the loss of global biodiversity becomes greater everyday, we need to conserve it and we are a global biodiversity hotspot, so we have a responsibility associated with that.

Photo: Willi

How much protected area is necessary to get the job done?

MPAs are viewed as a taking. There are still a lot of people who won’t acknowledge that overfishing is an issue. And in some places it’s not, but in some places it very much is. But there’s still not the realization that we have a fishing problem. And there’s not a lot of good data because of the nature of the fisheries. If you talk 32

GREENMAG AZINEHAWAI I . COM

Photo: Courtesy Alan Friedlander

Why do unlicensed anglers and commercial fisheries typically disagree that MPAs are the solution?

Live the Power of 4...

Leverage the Power of 4...

Wealth • Business and Entrepreneurship

Passive Income Massive Income Massive Passive Income Business Ownership

• Sales and Marketing • Investing

Wellness • Body • Heart Mind and Soul • Recreation

Leadership • Communication • Personal Development

• Team Building

Legacy • Family • Community • Planet

Change Our Lives...

GREEN

We Teach

• We offer a variety of business opportunities.

• Build your own business.

• We’ll give you your own business.

• Join our sales/leadership team!

Change Our World...

EARTH

Our Planet

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON OUR EDUCATION AND BUSINESS CONTACT: email: khendrickson@quattrospace.com www.quattrouniversity.com Free entrepreneur website: www.quattrospace.com

Contact Kevin or Kasandra Hendrickson office: 808-888-2058 mobile: 808-375-8693

Photo: Willi

Q&A

to anyone who’s been fishing here their whole life, especially the kupuna, they’ll tell you it’s not like it was when they were young.

People first need to get into agreement that there is an issue.

Basically, things like bag limit, size limit, seasonal closures, those are quite easy to circumvent and enforcement is negligible at best.

Even if it did exist, some of these things are so difficult to enforce that they’re really not regulations at all. One of the benefits of MPAs as a management tool is that they are effective because it’s much more difficult to circumvent them. Whether it’s a community-managed area or a legislative no take area like Hanauma Bay, poaching is very minimal and fairly difficult to get away with.

What can communities do to help protect their local marine areas from overfishing?

The community needs to determine what the community consensus is. The community needs to recognize that these are their resources and it’s something that they care about; identifying the resources of importance in the ahupua‘a that are of the most concern. Are they in poorer shape now then they were in the past? What was done in the past?

How about banning gill nets and night fishing, and not just night fishing with scuba. Uhu have really taken it on the chin, even though uhu don’t have chins, because they sleep at night. The big animals are males, so typically the big animals are the ones that are harvested and you end up with skewed sex ratios.

People need to understand the natural rhythms and processes like the proper sex ratios of a species. Moi are sex changers the other way, the big animals are females. Don’t disrupt the natural spawning sites. People do the opposite. When they ball up and aggregate, they are easier to catch and that’s when we target them.

Each ahupua‘a is going to have different resources of concern, different locations that need to be protected. It comes down to localized management, knowing what your resources are, knowing how to manage them more effectively and establishing strategies that are appropriate for your particular community. Like I said, this whole thing is about people. You can have all the best science in the world, but if you’re not having community buy-in then you might as well forget about it.

To read the interview in its entirety, go to: www.greenmagazinehawaii.com/primary_QA_Friedlander

Photo: Willi

GREEN SCIENCE

The Electric Disco The science behind photovoltaics

The world is green. Just look outside—unless you live in the Sahara desert, the Canadian arctic or in a submarine, you’re bound to see green. All of this greenery, or vegetation if you prefer, is nurtured by a single energy source: the sun. In fact, it’s not a stretch to claim that the Earth itself is solar-powered. Sure, it’s a blue planet and the oceans cover 71 percent of the globe, but in that ocean are billions upon billions of growing, photosynthesizing algae, which provide a lot of the oxygen we need to survive. Thanks algae.

So if the world is solar-powered, why do we still insist on drilling, excavating and blasting our way down to the inky, sludgy and sooty stuff to fuel our economy? The answer is complex, but part of the problem is that a lot of these fossil fuels provide a lot more punch than we can currently get from the sun. Unfortunately, you can’t power a Boeing 747, a transatlantic ocean liner, or even your Toyota Prius on solar rays. Yet.

The primary method for harvesting solar energy is through the use of photovoltaic cells. The term photovoltaic, broken down, simply means light (photo) and electricity (voltaic). Taken together it literally means making electricity from light. Most people are at least familiar with photovoltaics in the form of dark gray rectangular panels bolted onto roofs. But how does this alchemy work? What funky magic enables this gray metallic panel to power my water heater or heat my swimming pool? To help understand how electricity is harvested from the sun, we must first understand a little bit about what materials go into a solar panel.

Believe it or not, solar panels are made from the beach. Yes that’s right, the same sand on our beaches is the main ingredient of a solar cell. Sand, which is silicon, is first placed into a mold and heated 36

GREENMAG AZINEHAWAI I . COM

to very high temperatures. Then the silicon is put through a special process, transforming it into a crystalline structure. During this process different impurities are added, such as phosphorous. The added impurities, along with the newly formed crystalline structure, are what give the solar panel its magical capability to produce electricity.

So how do we get electricity from sand? Put simply, electricity is the free flowing of electrons. The entire goal of a solar panel, its very reason for existing, is to generate a free-flow of electrons. It does this by converting energy from light, from the same sunglow warmness you feel whilst lounging on a silicon beach. Inside the panel the sunlight creates an electron dance party. Think of it as a disco party in which, suddenly, a free supply of champagne has been added. Things inevitably heat up. The chemical structure of the photovoltaic cell absorbs the light energy, exciting electrons to move, or boogie if you prefer, down the panel. Just like our disco dancers have become enticed to flood the dance floor, the solar mojo has induced our previously reluctant electrons to dance down the panel. This creates a free-flow that is harnessed by two terminals that provide the electricity to the device of your choosing, like a bar cooler filled with champagne.

The advantages provided by solar energy are numerous. Besides cooling champagne, solar energy is freely available, has little to no environmental impact and is cost effective in the long-term. Even better, the increased use of solar energy cancels out the need to rely on fossil fuels and can decrease thousands of tons of greenhouse gases each year, helping to counter global climate change. It turns out money doesn’t grow on trees, but it does fall from the sky.

—Jack Kittinger and Casey Turner

Photo: Kevin Whitton

HOME

38

GREENMAG AZINEHAWAI I . COM

Photo: Kevin Whitton

HOME

John Harrison’s home is a model of sustainability Kevin Whitton

“The bottom line was I really wanted to have a place where people could come and say ‘Ah, this is what it looks like,’ instead of this broadly perceived understanding of renewable houses as dark little caves with water dripping out of the walls. I wanted to show how to do it in virtually any residence.”

— John Harrison

John Harrison may have retired in 2007 from his position as the environmental coordinator at University of Hawai‘i at Ma-noa’s Environmental Center, but his predilection to educate and impart the benefits and necessities of energy efficiency and sustainability still take precedence in his life. There’s only one difference: his classroom is now his home. Harrison, who continues to work as an energy and environmental consultant through his company 3E Advisory Services, frequently entertains small groups of people to tour his energy-neutral home.

On a particularly wet December afternoon, seven curious energy-minded homeowners mill around a wooden table in the family room, the center of an open floor plan beset by the den and the naturally well-lit living room. It’s covered with pamphlets and books on birds, sustainability and the environment. John’s wife, Anne, is showing a few of them around the grand and spacious remodeled living area as John talks rainwater catchment systems with one of the guests. He’s been giving the two-hour tour of his home for the last three years and anxiously looks forward to getting started.

Finally the last guest arrives and John invites everyone to have a seat in the living room. He is tall with a crop of white hair, a calming smile and a gentle, articulate voice. He passes out several pages of information about the house and dives head first into the casual seminar.

Harrison bought the Osipoff-designed, Nu‘uanu Valley home in 2000. With an ailing roof, John knew a major remodel was in the cards; the 1954 abode was about to get a major facelift that would transform it from an ordinary electricity-dependant residence to a self-sufficient example of energy efficiency and sustainable design and practice. By 2005, working with architect Paul Noborikawa, John Harrison drew up

G R E E N M A G A Z INEHAWA II.C O M

39

Photo: Kevin Whitton

HOME

plans to replace the roof, enclose the open lanai with a new roofline to integrate the den, living and family room into the addition, convert their existing laundry into a guest studio, install solar thermal and photovoltaic energy systems, switch to natural gas for heating applications, replace all appliances with Energy Star qualified appliances and to use recycled materials and renewable resources wherever feasible. The ambitious remodel was a tall order indeed, but integral to show that an energyneutral residence is possible without sacrificing quality of living.

In John Harrison’s vernacular, demand is the energy required to power one’s home and lifestyle. Addressing ways to decrease demand in the home was his first order of business.

One of the biggest draws on energy in the home is air conditioning. To do away with air conditioning, John designed the addition with the overall goal to keep the heat out with insulation and adequate ventilation. Harrison’s great room is essentially one complete passive cooling system.

The open beam roof is a dual roof insulation design, using Tech-Shield to create an air space above the sub-roof and ridge vents on every ridgeline of the house 40

GREENMAG AZINEHAWAI I . COM

to dissipate the trapped heat. Tech-Shield is a recycled wood radiant barrier with a reflective surface designed to keep the sun’s radiant heat from entering the home.

There are also soffit inlets under the shaded eaves.

“When the sun shines on the roof, most of the energy is reflected by the Tech-Shield right back out,” explains Harrison. “That which is not, heats up the air in that one-inch space between the sub-roof and the Tech-Shield. Heated air has a lower density than the surrounding air, meaning it’s lighter, so it has a tendency to rise. It rises up till it gets to the ridge vent, exhausts and as it goes out creates a low-pressure system that draws the cool air in from the soffit vents. So we are air conditioning our roof with no electrical energy.”

Harrison also employs the same strategy in the house, using three solar attic fans to pass the rising warm air out through the roof and small, floor-level windows, which are almost always left open, for an opportunity for fresh air to enter. John has taken his passive cooling technique a step further by planting tropical vegetation around the windows and his home, which actually cools the air before it enters the home. For those days when light and variable winds dominate and the sun is intense, he has ceiling fans to help circulate

From what’s in the garage to what’s on top the garage, John Harrison is eco-conscious in every sense of the word.

42

GREENMAG AZINEHAWAI I . COM

Photo: Kevin Whitton

the air, the only appliance in the entire system that uses electricity, and a very small amount at that.

Next up on John’s list is mitigating the big demand on electricity used to heat water by switching over to something no home should be without: a solar hot water heater. “Whenever people ask me what they can do, this is the first thing. It’s going to pay for itself instantly and the technology is there,” says Harrison. According to Harrison, air conditioning units and electric hot water heaters alone comprise 60 percent of the energy consumption in the home.

Once a cool and comfortable home is achieved, the next step to decreasing demand is through employing natural lighting techniques. Harrison designed the roof profile to create east- and west-facing apertures for large trapezoidal windows to maximize natural lighting during the day. At night, instead of using common area lighting, John opted for task lighting: small halogen bulbs in low voltage fixtures that direct light purposefully in a specific area. The lighting is on dual circuit tracks, so each light can be dimmed or brightened accordingly. And of course, all other incandescent bulbs were replaced with CFL bulbs.

Harrison beams with delight as he explains to the group about the extremely inefficient process of electric generation through the combustion of fossil fuels, his main reason for replacing the electric stove and the electric clothes dryer with models that operate on synthetic natural gas. “By the time the electricity gets to the outlet in your house, you’re probably looking at something in the order of at most maybe 30 percent, or as little as 25 percent, of the original energy in the barrel of oil that was imported and bought and paid for with money shipped over seas for you to have that electricity,” he says with enthusiasm.

Then, like a proud father, he talks about his switch to Energy Star certified appliances: clothes washer, dishwasher and refrigerator. He jokes that the toaster is the only inefficient aspect of the kitchen.

Energy has to come from one source or another— fossil fuels, solar, wind, water or wave energy—to power our 21st century lives. It can be produced by a utility or harnessed by an individual. Either way, our homes require a consistent supply of energy to function and as we all know, it’s not free. According to Harrison, once you’ve utilized green building techniques and energy efficient practices to reduce your demand, the next phase to the complete system of the sustainable home is creating supply.

Harrison accomplishes this goal through an off-theshelf photovoltaic system. Obvious to the audience that this is his favorite part of the afternoon seminar, they listen intently as he animates his talk with his hands and wears his excitement with pride.

After some initial calculations based on how much sunlight is available to the location and the average monthly demand, John opted for a five-kilowatt solar array, the catcher’s mitt of his power plant. That’s big for a single-family residence, but the limited amount of sunlight in the valley required additional panels. Being a

Photo: Kevin Whitton

HOME

Photo: Paul Noborikawa

HOME

Photo: Kevin Whitton

Photo: Kevin Whitton

“ As an expression of a positive contribution to the energy footprint of the home, we decided to incorporate green building ideas into the design.�

G R E E N M A G A Z INEHAWA II.C O M

43

Photo: Kevin Whitton

HOME

sailor as well, having completed two Transpac crossings in his many years at sea, John is familiar with battery back ups and fail safes, and chose to include two 48volt battery banks with his photovoltaic system.

Even though self-sufficiency is completely attainable with the size of the system, Harrison elected to stay connected to the grid, opting for net metering. “During the day we are producing far more than we are using.

The surplus of what we produce goes right back out into the grid,” Harrison continues. “We have a meter that calculates how much we take off of the grid and how much we put back into the grid. We are net metered with the utility. There is an equal trade off. For every kilowatt we take off the grid, it gets balanced one for one with every kilowatt that we put back into the grid.

“I was disappointed when Hawaiian electric came by and switched out my old conventional spinning wheel meter with a digital one, so I can’t go out on a sunny day and watch the meter turn backward, which was one of my recreational activities.”

44

GREENMAG AZINEHAWAI I . COM

Harrison stresses to the group the importance of working with a solar contractor that is up to date on current regulations, laws and tax credits associated with installing a photovoltaic system.

Before heading out to the carport for an up-close look at the power plant, Harrison offers one last anecdote to the group, “When we had the earthquake in the fall of 2006, I felt the earth start to move early in the morning, the ground shook, the whole island shook. I immediately turned on the TV to see what was going on, but it was still regular programming. I walked out into the living room to make sure everything was OK. I went back into the bedroom and the TV was off. Island wide the power went out, but our PV system seamlessly switched over to the battery back up. It switched over so fast that not even the led lights on the clocks started blinking, an instantaneous transfer, we never knew the power was out. We had power all day long. The TV went off because the transmitter station went down. The TV was still on, there was just no signal.”

Plants not only offer shade and beauty around the home, but they are also an important part of Harrison’s passive cooling system, which brings cool, fresh air through low windows into their home.

Tinting Hawaii Since 1984

Automobiles + Commercial + Residential + Diminishes health risks from UV exposure + Increases privacy, safety and security + Reduces energy consumption for cooling

call Loren:

808-221-1150

TRANSPORTATION

TestDrive The fuel-sipping fleet of 2009 Jeff Mull

I’ve never been much of a car person. For me, there’s always been a Berlin Wall-like disconnect between my mind and all things mechanical. With the exception of the keyboard, I tend to treat objects with gears, pumps, levers and spark plugs like they’ve just come down with a messy case of the stomach flu. I think it’s far better to let people who know what they are doing handle those type of things.

That’s not to say that I don’t own a car—I actually drive the same car I’ve had since I was 16—or am

advocating riding a bike or hoofing it everywhere. I’m a realistic person and realize that walking to and from work may indeed be good for your health, but does terrible things for your spare time.

My gas-guzzler is dying. I’ve been saving my money and it’s time to make the switch to a fuel-efficient

ride. And with any high-dollar commitment, there’s some research to be done. That’s fine with me, as long as I don’t have to look under the hood.

Here’s the lowdown: I’ll review five different cars, give you my honest-everyday-average-Jeff-who-knows-

next-to-nothing-about-cars, and at the end of my high-octane and caffeine-fueled adventure (note to self: cars must have adequate cup holders to hold venti-sized coffee cup), I will buy the car I like the best. Now, dear reader, feel free to skim through the following glossy pages and get my take on today’s most fuel-efficient and user-friendly vehicles written by someone who knows nothing about the automobile, except that it has four tires. I am no authority on engines, no expert on specs, but I do know style when I see it.

46

GREENMAG AZINEHAWAI I . COM

TRANSPORTATION

First Take First up, I’m checking out the Honda Fit. The first thing that catches my attention about the Fit is the body shape. With four doors and a tight, Euro-inspired design, the Fit will (hopefully) make me look cool and edgey, yet enviro-conscious. As far as practicality is concerned, it’s small enough to be able to park anywhere in the city, but if I want to go for a surf, the front passenger seats folds down and I can fit a few boards inside of the car.

Does She Guzzle or Does She Sip? Well, with this magazine affectionately going by the moniker “Green,” this should be pretty high up on my priority list. With around 30 MPG, the Fit does a heck of a lot better on gas than the ’99 Tacoma that I currently

Photo: Courtesy Honda

Honda Fit

drive, which I think gets around 8 MPG on a good day. (Hey, that’s why I’m writing the piece: I need a new car.) At 30 MPG the Fit merely sips on the petrol, plus the car comes in a pretty cool shade of gunmetal.

Did You Know That…?

As I mentioned earlier, I’m big into cup holders. With that said, I’m about to take you to the end

of the Honda Fit rainbow: 10 cup-holders. Yep, this kid comes equipped with 10 cup-holders.

That means if, for some reason, I have the car completely full— the Fit seats four—everyone will be double fisting with two and a half drinks. She also comes iPod compatable and with satellite navigation in case I get lost, which never happens.

Honestly.

The Wrap There are a lot of things about the Fit that I like. First off, the style is very contemporary.

Secondly, 10 cup-holders just scream awesomeness. On the downside, it’s not the most fueleffeciant beast in our lineup.

MSRP $14,750

“As I mentioned earlier, I’m big into cup holders.”

First Take With either a hatchback or sedan option, the Nissan Versa has two different looks to her. In my eye, the Versa appeals to the conservative buyer as there’s nothing too flashy about the old broad. But sometimes, that’s a good thing. In a few years, the Versa will still look timeless; an important aspect of buying a car that should never be overlooked. Rental car companies will take note. Plus, at a base rate of under $10K, she comes at a hard-to-beat price.

Does She Guzzle or Does She Sip? Although the Versa doesn’t have the most attractive body, her gas mileage is quite appealing. At 34 highway MPG, you can go almost 400 miles between fill-ups, which just upped her from a 5 to a 6.5 in my eye. Maybe an 8 if I’m desperate for a drive. With that kind of mileage in tow, it’s hard not to rank the Versa as a top tier, fuel-efficient auto.

Did You Know That…?

The 2009 Versa debuted to a few awards and accolades from the automotive boys. Consumers Digest gave the Versa the Best Buy award in the Small Car category taking special liking to the interior room, engine, and MPG. It’s also the got the highest horsepower and most passenger legroom in its class.

Photo: Courtesy Tony Group

Nissan Versa

The Wrap When Nissan made the Versa, they played it safe and smart. They engineered a fuel-friendly car that can appear to a large audience. The car will definitely appeal to a lot of folks, just not me. I just can’t get beyond the fact that it looks like a rental car.

MSRP Starting as low as $9,990

G R E E N M A G A Z INEHAWA II.C O M

47

TRANSPORTATION

Toyota Prius

Does She Guzzle or Does She Sip? The ’09 Toyota Prius leads the pack of cars I test drove by getting an estimated 48 highway miles to the gallon. As another measure of how advanced the Prius is, in 2008 the EPA named the Prius as the most fuel-effeciant car sold in the United States.

Did You Know That…?

Originally introduced to the Japanese market in 1997 (that’s right, the Prius has been around for more than a decade) the vehicle hit the streets worldwide in 2001. With 12 years of well-oiled manufacturing details and a dedicated following of die-hard constituents, the Prius has become the hybrid car that all other vehicles are measured against.

Photo: Courtesy Toyota Servco

First Take Swift. Silent. Deadly. No, I’m not talking about the latest Jason Bourne movie, but rather the Toyota Prius. As the tip of the eco-spear, the Prius has set the stage for the hybrid cars of the 21st century by rethinking and engineering what a streamlined, attractive hybrid car should look, and of equal importance, drive like.

The Wrap It’s hard for the other members of the fuel-effeciant fleet to hold a candle to the Prius when it comes to being a gas-sipping car. But, in this writer’s humble opinion, what the other vehicles have over the Prius is style. While it may be the responsible car to drive, the body isn’t the most savory of our lineup.

MSRP $22,000

Photo: Courtesy MINI Honolulu

“...a timeless sign of smart design.”

Mini Cooper First Take She’s tiny, she’s sharp, and she’s definitely got some kick. For nearly 50 years now, the MINI Cooper has been a timeless sign of smart design, top-tier handling and fuel effeciancy. With leagues of devoted fans, hundreds of innovations and one International Car of the Century award in its lineage, the MINI is a staple in automotive design.

Did You Know That…?

Although it’s only been in the past decade that the MINI Cooper has been making a major push in the U.S. market, the MINI Cooper feels about as timeless as a pair of Levi 501s. She’s one classic and iconic beast to say the least.

Does She Guzzle or Does She Sip? Born out of the fuel crisis that hit Europe in the late 1950s, (that’s right, this isn’t the first time this has happened) the MINI was molded to be a fuel-effeciant machine that could seat the nuclear family of four and still have enough horsepower to be a force on the highway.

After generations of good breeding, today’s standard MINI hardtop can get up to an estimated 37 MPG on the highway.

The Wrap The MINI is many things: she’s a timeless design and she’ll still reek of cool tomorrow. The MPG at up to 37 is damn fine, but my only hangup on this fabled car is the amount of room on the interior. While the MINI will comfortably sit two in the front, it will also very uncomfortably sit two in the back. As was aforementioned, I like to surf, but squeezing a couple of boards inside a MINI is not easy.

MSRP $19,200

48

GREENMAG AZINEHAWAI I . COM

TRANSPORTATION

First Take At Green, we fancy ourselves realists and know that making the transition from a fuel-chugging society to a sustainabilityminded public isn’t something that can be achieved over night.

Knowing full well that a MINI or Honda Fit may not suit everyone’s needs, we figured we’d throw in a good, old-fashioned SUV into the mix—hybrid fashion, of course. With that said, please tip your hat and say hello to the Ford Escape Hybrid.

Does She Guzzle or Does She Sip? As an SUV that seats five comfortably complete with a 4WD option, the Escape Hybrid clocks in an estimated 34 MPG on the highway. Impressive. Also, if you apply, Uncle Sam’s got your back, as well as your back pocket, covered if you invest in an Escape Hybrid. For those that qualify, the federal government

Photo: Courtesy Honolulu Ford

Ford Escape Hybrid

is offering up to $3,000 in tax credits.

Did You Know That…?

The Escape has more than just the hybrid thing going for it. Take a quick gander at the seats for instance. Composed of post-industrial fibers that were headed to a landfill, the seats in the Escape are about as green as they come. It doesn’t end with the seats either. In most cars, a good chunk of energy is

lost as heat when you hit the brakes, but the Escape salvages that once-lost braking energy by rerouting it to the car’s battery pack where it can be used later.

Lastly, the Escape Hybrid uses no fuel when you’re stopped in traffic or driving up to 40 mph, but runs exclusively in electric mode. Pretty fine.

The Wrap It’s no secret the automotive industry is hurting these days.

But if Detroit keeps pumping out attractive and eco-conscious cars like the Escape Hybrid, they’re opening themselves up to a whole new demographic that can support the American car company for decades. From the lines of the car to the fuel effeciancy to the eco-minded seats, there’s a whole lot to like about the Escape Hybrid.

MSRP $29,645

“Composed of post-industrial fibers that were headed to a landfill, the seats in the Escape are about at green as they come.”

The Verdict Like being a judge at a beauty contest, it’s so damn hard to pick just one. But in the end, there has to be a winner. For me, it’s the Honda Fit that will be shuffling me around town. Of all the cars reviewed here, the Honda Fit appealed to me as a well-rounded car with lots of style at a good price. I can’t wait to drive it home.

50

GREENMAG AZINEHAWAI I . COM

Coffee Talk 3601 Waialae Avenue, Kaimuki 808-737-7444

CULTURE

OurModernAhupua‘a Sustainable solutions for hawai‘i’s communities Jack Kittinger

When James Cook arrived in Hawai‘i in the late 1700s, he and his crew were amazed at the density of native Hawaiians that occupied the archipelago. Upon landing at Kealakekua Bay, Cook and his lieutenants were greeted by 800 canoes carrying some 9,000 Hawaiians. Hundreds of swimming Hawaiians encircled the Endeavor. Many thousands more were looking on from shore, leading Cook to remark, “No where in this Sea have I seen such a number of people assembled at one place.” Historical evidence has corroborated Cook’s observations and now there remains little doubt that native Hawaiian populations reached the highest densities of any island chain in Polynesia.

52

GREENMAG AZINEHAWAI I . COM

Photo: Kevin Whitton

CULTURE

Surprisingly, the same description now applies to Hawai‘i, which still hosts the highest population of any Polynesian island group. Since first contact with European explorers, a host of changes have come to the Hawaiian Islands. From a historical perspective, the switch from traditional native Hawaiian communities to modern day lifestyles has been influenced by a number of factors, starting with Cook’s catastrophic introduction of Western diseases and cascading forward through colonial occupation, the U.S. takeover, induction to statehood and development into an international tourist destination. At the distal end of this historical spectrum is our modern Hawaiian society, which has resulted in an almost complete reliance on off-island resources including food, energy, and the basic materials that sustain island life.

Hawai‘i is now a Pacific hub in the interconnected global economy through which goods, services and people flow in a turbulent and dynamic fashion.

Considering that Hawai‘i was once completely isolated from outside influences, it has indeed been a momentous switch in the patterns of existence and way of living in the archipelago. It’s obvious that the change from complete self-reliance to a globally integrated economy has implications for the sustainable use and management of resources in Hawai‘i.

Put simply, sustainability means meeting the needs of the present without compromising the needs of the future. More of a process than an outcome, sustainability requires considering both the dynamics of a changing society, as well as the long-term viability of the ecosystems and the environmental goods and service upon which societies rely, like clean water and breathable air. Never before in history have human societies faced problems of the magnitude and scale we currently face, which are the result of complex processes and perturbations that are undermining our capacity, and our ecosystem’s capacity, to support life.

The solutions to problems of sustainability are by definition complex. It has not been a simple set of circumstances that have brought us to the current situation, so it is unlikely that simple answers will exist. While some of the solutions we may find lay in the development of technological fixes, well-intentioned changes in our individual behavior or carefully crafted government regulation, we also have a lot to learn from Hawaiian history. If we are to be students of human history, we may find that many of our critical problems have actually been faced successfully before, that old ways offer new lessons, and that there is much to be learned by heeding the wisdom of prior generations.

G R E E N M A G A Z INEHAWA II.C O M

53

Photo: Hawaii State Archives

Photo: Hawaii State Archives

Photo: Isaac Frazer

CULTURE

54

GREENMAG AZINEHAWAI I . COM

Early Hawai‘i and the Ahupua‘a Contrary to popular belief, Hawai‘i at the time of Cook’s contact was not a virgin tropical paradise, barely touched by the native Hawaiians that inhabited the islands. What Cook and others found instead was a highly developed land and seascape, in which native Hawaiians had altered, manipulated and in some cases wholly transformed to meet the needs of a dynamic and complex society. Societies, like ecosystems, are constantly in change. Of course, population alone doesn’t explain the complexity of pre-contact native Hawaiian society. What Cook found was not only a thickly populated archipelago, but also the makings of a nascent political state. Whereas other Polynesian islands were often characterized by various political factions presiding over subdivided lands and waters, early Hawai‘i exhibited a highly developed social stratification with ruling chiefs that had begun to consolidate their power, unifying the governance and political management of individual islands, and eventually, the entire archipelago. Though it was among the last islands to become colonized by intrepid voyagers, Hawai‘i had reached a level of social and political complexity unrivaled in Polynesia.

In retrospect, early Hawaiians accomplished an amazing feat. By the time Cook arrived, Hawaiians had ceased the long voyages between

Photo: Isaac Frazer

CULTURE

other Polynesian isles for at least a few centuries, and were therefore functionally isolated. Compared with other Pacific islands, the Hawaiian Islands are not particularly unique with respect to environment or resources. So what enabled pre-contact Hawaiian populations to reach the apogee of social complexity in Polynesia? The factors that have contributed to this are still debated among scholars, but what is clear is that the resource management systems employed by native Hawaiian societies played a central role in the rise of a complex society.

One of the most salient features of the native Hawaiian social structure was the ahupua‘a, a traditional land and sea tenure system where local communities and resource systems were organized.

Typically, an ahupua‘a encompassed an entire watershed, from the top of the ridge to the deep sea.

Resources were managed in a hierarchal fashion and tasks were stratified socially and by occupation.

Each individual ahupua‘a was managed by a local leader, a Konohiki, who was granted the authority by the ruling chiefs. Different uses of land and sea occurred in different areas of the ahupua‘a. The upland forest was reserved for gathering wood and hunting, the fertile valley floor was used to grow taro in irrigated pond-fields called lo‘i, rivermouths were encircled by walls for fishpond aquaculture, and expert fishermen, po‘o lawai‘a, oversaw offshore fishing.

The success of the ahupua‘a system was enabled by a high level of sophistication and complexity of knowledge developed by native Hawaiians. Strict rules accompanied resource use and were enforced in a draconian system. Restrictions included rotating closures of local fisheries to prevent overexploitation, restriction of certain food items depending on social status and regulation of water use. Perhaps most importantly, the ahupua‘a system was designed to ensure a constant and steady supply of basic materials for subsistence, including food, building materials and ornamentation.

opposite page top and inset: Waipio Valley on the Hamakua Coast of the Big Island, a sacred site, then and now. opposite page bottom: Ma-noa Valley at the turn of the 20th century. above: In stark constrast, the land stretching from Ma-noa Valley to Waikı- kı- has transformed from agriculture, fresh-water springs and fish ponds to a paved metropolis.

G R E E N M A G A Z INEHAWA II.C O M

55

Photo: Courtesy Ma-lama Maunalua

Photo: Courtesy Makiki Watershed Awareness Initiative

Photo: Keoki Stender, MarinelifePhotography.com

CULTURE

Though similar management systems exist elsewhere in Polynesia, the ahupua‘a was developed to sustainably utilize the unique terrestrial and marine resources of Hawai‘i. But the ahupua‘a was as much a social system as it was a natural resource management system. The system was dynamic and changes in Hawaiian societies resulted in alterations to the ahupua‘a system to meet societal needs.

Reviving the Ahupua‘a What can we learn from traditional ahupua‘a? Recently, significant attention has been given to reviving the ahupua‘a concept to confront the challenges of sustainability in modern Hawai‘i. Obviously, our current challenges are different than those in pre-contact Hawai‘i, but many of the management systems are still pertinent and practical for modern-day problems. The lessons we can learn are many, but three primary practices figure prominently in moving toward sustainable Hawaiian futures. These include the recognition and implementation of pono practices, building capacity for community-based action and managing our environment holistically. Reviving these strategies requires changes from the level of the individual to the archipelago, a multi-scale approach that early Hawaiian societies also espoused.

Pono Practices In Hawaiian, the word pono means to be good, to be right and to possess rectitude of conduct. With regards to resource use, it means giving deference to the resource, providing the proper care to the place, and proceeding in an acceptable, lawful and upright manner.

The concept of pono reminds us of the importance of individual behaviors in determining environmental outcomes. In ahupua‘a, different practices were allowable in different areas. What was acceptable in the upland forests may or may not have been pono on the coral reef.

For example, local fisheries were tightly controlled with respect to the methods of fishing, the time at which different species could be harvested and which species were off-limits. Restrictions were heeded because overexploitation could result in serious shortages that affected the entire community.

Local Konohiki were responsible for the welfare of their natural resources and, by extension, their community. The collective reliance 56

GREENMAG AZINEHAWAI I . COM

top left: Avrainvillea amadelpha, invasive algae found in the bays of windward O‘ahu. bottom left: Ma-lama Maunalua removed 4,000 pounds of the invasive algae. right: Makiki Watershed Awareness Initiative (WAI) native Hawaiian plant restoration.

on local resource availability must have been a strong motivator for both chief and commoner alike. In our current system, the separation of people from the environment that produces their food, water and supports their basic needs is probably the single biggest barrier to sustainable lifestyles. But this separation is not likely to be resolved quickly and initiating a paradigm shift in people’s behaviors will rely on the same methods used in early Hawaiian societies. These include education, morality and motivating factors.

Just as in early Hawai‘i, creating an urge to act in a pono manner at the individual level requires a high level of understanding about environmental life-support systems and the importance of natural places in cultural, social and ecological systems. Underlying environmental education are the social mores and norms that originate in relationships between individuals, families and communities, and shape individual behaviors. Finally, motivating factors such as penalties for violating rules or incentives that induce positive behaviors are critical in motivating a collective conscience for pono behaviors in our Hawaiian Islands.

Community The importance of community cannot be overstated in finding solutions to our current conundrum of declining environmental quality, resource over-use and reliance on imports from distant shores. As a result of our lifestyles, we have largely become detached from a historical focus on the community as the center of social life and activity. A shift back to the community means leadership from within, with local residents bonding together to confront the challenges that affect their particular neighborhood. The good news is that local, ahupua‘a-based initiatives have long been a feature of Hawai‘i’s communities and continue to proliferate.

For example, the Makiki Watershed Awareness Initiative (WAI) has engaged the local community in restoring a subsection of the Makiki to a native Hawaiian forest. Aaron Lowe, with the Department of Land and Natural Resources, coordinates community volunteers who gather monthly to remove invasive plant species and outplant natives to help restore the watershed and educate the public.

Similarly, Ma-lama Maunalua is working to restore the health and productivity of Maunalua Bay in eastern O‘ahu. The project involves

CADMUS PROPERTIES CORP. Serving the state of Hawaii for more than 20 years with all your Property Management needs.

Family Owned Since 1983

Real Estate Sales • Full Property Management Services Fiscal Management Services • Short/Long term Rentals

Please call our office for more information or if you would like to make an appointment with one of our Property Managers.

CADMUS PROPERTIES CORP. 332 North School Street • Honolulu, HI 96817 Ph: 808-531-6847 • Fx: 808-528-2804 Caesar Paet: ext 11 • Casey Paet: ext 26 • Chea Paet: ext 14 • Cynthia Guillermo: ext 12

Photo: Kevin Whitton

CULTURE

community-based efforts to eradicate invasive algae, reduce landbased pollution into the bay and strengthen local resource stewardship efforts through education and outreach. Tegan Hammond, the volunteer and events coordinator with Ma-lama Maunalua, has dealt with these issues first-hand. “Building relationships takes time,” says Tegan. “The community knows the bay’s health is diminishing and residents are ready to be involved. Support is strong once residents understand our mission is to restore Maunalua Bay through community stewardship.” According to Tegan, one of the primary challenges has been establishing an information base that can direct their efforts and raise awareness within the communities that surround Maunalua Bay.

Many community-based initiatives, like Ma-lama Maunalua, have become highly involved in building community awareness through education and outreach programs, building local leadership capacity and empowering local communities to help determine the fates of their neighborhoods and lifestyles. There is also an increasing recognition that communities are better-equipped to deal with their local issues than are state and federal agencies, which are often over-extended and under-funded.

Managing Holistically It’s hard to envision a more tangled system than that which characterizes our current social and political systems for ecosystem management. Take coastal management for example. A myriad of local, state and federal agencies, with differing mandates, rules and cultures, all regulate some aspect of our coastal zones. Larry Crowder, a marine scientist with Duke University, has likened this to a scenario in which a patient with multiple medical problems is treated by a number of specialist physicians who can barely communicate. Unsurprisingly, the outcome has not been beneficial for either the physicians (the regulating agencies) or the patient (our coastal resources).

58

GREENMAG AZINEHAWAI I . COM

In early Hawai‘i, the scales of the resources and the ecosystems of which they are a part dictated the management scheme. Islands were divided into districts called moku, which corresponded not just with political boundaries, but also with the environmental characteristics of the region. Districts were further subdivided into individual ahupua‘a, which varied in size depending on resource availability and the productivity of the area. Each ahupua‘a was managed specially with regard to the particular social and environmental conditions that prevailed. The management strategies for dryland agricultural systems on the islands of Hawai‘i and Maui were different than those for large irrigated pond-field agriculture that dominated the islands of O‘ahu and Kaua‘i. This contrasts sharply with our current state, where the rules used for the urbanized and highly populated Ma-noa Valley in O‘ahu are basically the same for rural equivalents, such as Waipio Valley on the island of Hawai‘i.

Part of the current problem is the need to implement ecosystembased management or management that is tailored to the scales of the local environment and the social characteristics of a particular place. This will eventually require our political leaders to reconfigure the overly complex governance of the current system. But changes in governance are a long-term fix that are unlikely to occur on the time scales necessary, and empowering communities does no good unless communities are ready to accept the significant responsibility of managing their own ecosystem.

A more productive path is to build the capacity of individual communities to successfully confront their own local issues and, in turn, linking communities together to face common challenges in their area.

This may seem like a pie-in-the-sky proposition, but the reality is that it is already happening in some Hawai‘i communities. For example, on O‘ahu’s rural North Shore, the local community engaged with the State Legislature to expand their local marine reserve, resulting in a larger protected area that will ensure the long-term persistence of their local coral reef ecosystems and the prized fish species targeted by local fishers. In the same area, the community has worked to prevent developers from adding new homes and hotel accommodations due to the impacts it would have on the North Shore community and lifestyle. Though the fight to preserve the North Shore lifestyle hasn’t been without tension, the community has worked in a myriad of ways to reach successful outcomes and has demonstrated a capacity to determine the fate of their neighborhood.

Whether or not we know it, every last one of us lives in an ahupua‘a. While history has changed the shape character of the land of our Hawaiian ahupua‘a, there still remains an element of history that lives in the landscape. The vestiges of times past surround us, enlivening the social and cultural fabric of our communities and providing the framework upon which our future is built. For some, history defines who we are, the new generation to whom the torch has been passed, along with the responsibility to leave our islands in better shape for our own children. If we listen closely, we may just hear the distant voices drifting upward through the haze of history. Whether we heed this ancient wisdom and the lessons it offers depends on how closely we listen, and how much we believe.

Jack Kittinger is a PhD candidate at the University of Hawai‘i at Ma-noa, studying the natural and social history of coral reef ecosystems in the Hawaiian Archipelago.

carololiva.com

MARKETPLACE

The Cabrio

Na‘u Gardenia brighamii

Sasha Bag by Denise Tjarks

The Cabrio by loll is excellent low maintenance outdoor furniture. The wide arms work well to hold a magazine and your favorite beverage. Made with post consumer HDPE plastic in the USA.

Extremely rare Hawaiian gardenia that loves full sun or partial shade with very little watering necessary once established in the ground. 1-gallon pot $12

This vintage handbag is made from recycled vintage fabric. Each one is unique and completely reversible.

Bags also available in a variety of different vintage fabrics. $60

Available at: 1st Look Exteriors 94-422 Ukee Street #3 Waipahu, Hawaii 96797 808.454.0426 www.1stlookexteriors.com

‘Olulu (Alula) Brighamia insignis

62

Available at: Hui Ku- Maoli Ola Hawaiian Plant Specialists 46-403 Haiku Road Kaneohe, Hawaii 96744 808.295.7777 www.plantnativehawaii.com

Lanikai Dress

This rare and unique Hawaiian plant has only one individual remaining in the wild on the sea cliffs of the Na Pali Coast on Kaua‘i. 2-gallon pot $20

The full length, backless halter dress is made from 100-percent recycled vintage fabric and is completely oneof-a-kind. Also available in different lengths and fabrics. $275

Available at: Hui Ku- Maoli Ola Hawaiian Plant Specialists 46-403 Haiku Road Kaneohe, Hawaii 96744 808.295.7777 www.plantnativehawaii.com

Available at: Mu‘umu‘u Heaven 767 Kailua Road, #100 Kailua, Hawaii 96734 808.263.3366 www.muumuuheaven.com

GREENMAG AZINEHAWAI I . COM

Available at: Mu‘umu‘u Heaven 767 Kailua Road, #100 Kailua, Hawaii 96734 808.263.3366 www.muumuuheaven.com

FoxFarm Original Planting Mix Premium organic planting mix containing earthworm castings, bat guano, Norwegian kelp meal, composted forest humus, sphagnum peat moss, and more, makes sure your plants get the nutrients they need.

Available at: Hawaiian Hydroponics 4224 Waialae Avenue Honolulu, Hawaii 96816 808.735.8665

FOR ALL YOUR SOLAR NEEDS RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL

PHOTOVOLTAIC

Up to 65% funded by state and federal tax credits.

Photovoltaic credits up to $5000 from state.

With 30% unlimited federal tax credits. Call for your customized energy savings quote.

SOLAR HOT WATER • SOLAR ATTIC EXHAUST FANS ALL FORMS OF PLUMBING Commercially licensed plumbers specializing in residential solar License No. C24062

HECO APPROVED INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR 0 DOWN, 0 INTEREST FOR 12 MONTHS ic

s Photovolta

Solar Panel

Solar Att

ic Exhau

st Fan

MICHELL JOHN Se habla Español

SOLAR PROFESSIONALS LLC 96-1362 Waihona Street Pearl City, Hawaii 96782

Tel 808-778-3538 michell-john@hotmail.com www.solarprohawaii.com