CONTENTS
Photo: Jan Becket
Photo: Maui Weekly SR
32
Photo: Courtesy USGS, pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2010/5011
38
06
Editor’s Note Pulling Weeds
10
Contributors
12
The Word A Green Hawai‘i Box It Up Nissan LEAF Solar Brewing Watershed Partnership Reef Protection
18
Business Pete Cooper
20
Green Economics Beach Days
22
In The Kitchen Fresh Fruit Libations
24
Music Kokua Festival 2010
26
Body & Mind Stand-up Paddle Surfing
28
Art Last Chance Glass
30
Green Science Less-toxic Surfboards
32
Technology: Grid Access The Future of Hawai‘i’s Solar Industry
36
Design: Taking the LEED Kahala Luxury LEED Certified Home
38
Outdoor: Makua Valley Challenges of a Sacred Space
44
Conservation: Intersections The Story of West Maui Streams
52
Marketplace Things We Like
56
Advertiser’s Directory Support Our Advertisers
58
Coming Next Issue
44 COVER PHOTO: Aubrey Yee
4
GRE E N M A G A Z I N E H AWA I I.C O M
King
King_Windward_V2-2.indd 1
6/10/10 2:40:14 PM
Illustration: Orthreb Arios
EDITOR’S NOTE
Pulling Weeds Gardening, like life, is not perfect. But you don’t need me to tell you that. Even if you were born with a green thumb, gardening is just as much an art as it is a science, sway to forces of nature that act beyond our control. It’s a practice of patience and an experiment in trial and error. You can do everything right—turn the soil with compost, water frequently and accurately, sing songs to your keiki veggies—only to have midnight raiders eat sage down to a stump, mynah birds steal your vine-ripening tomatoes or your daughter fall into the seed bed, crushing a few cilantro sprouts while regaining her posture. I’m not boasting, but I do consider myself one of the lucky few to have a green thumb. It’s not a miracle, as some would make it seem. It just comes with the awareness that plants need the same basic nourishments we human beings seek: food, water and sunlight. Exercise those analytical skills and it’s not rocket science to figure out when it’s time to water. Consistency with a touch of compassion is the key. But having a green thumb does not make one immune to the detrimental effects of the harsh elements. Case in point: I started a rooftop garden this spring as a way to turn a 200-square-foot patch of flat, boring roof outside my bedroom window into a vegetable garden. Cucumbers, Roma tomatoes, Serrano chiles, cilantro, green onions, basil—I had just about everything I needed for pesto or salsa right on my roof. By May, the intense overhead sun was wreaking havoc on my prized greens. The cucumber plant produced two cucumbers then shriveled up and died, the Roma tomatoes looked more like grape tomatoes and the edges of the Manoa lettuce leaves were burning. Even the peppers were wilting everyday from the moisture-consuming breeze and the hot afternoon sun, concentrated and intensified by the black asphalt shingles. I was watering twice a day and my plants were still bending and wilting in between waterings. Common sense is the foundation of sustainability. Just because green roofs work well in one valley, doesn’t mean they are the answer 6
in another. And there’s nothing sustainable about watering your vegetable garden twice a day, especially evident when your water bill arrives in the mail—egad. Lesson learned. Let’s do some digging. The rooftop container garden was scrapped without delay. I turned up an old gardening bed in the yard, laboriously picked out most of the weeds and mixed in a lot of healthy compost to add nutrients to the hard-packed, red clay soil. Now I have the chiles, Kamuela tomatoes, cilantro, cucumber, squash, asparagus, green onions, flat-leaf parsley, thyme, oregano, strawberries and what’s left of the sage in a cozy bed in the ground. The plants receive direct and filtered sunlight throughout the day as the sun moves across the sky and interacts with the old mango and lychee trees in the yard. As of yet, the mesclun greens have yet to break the surface, which seems a bit lazy to me. Like I said before, gardening is as much an art as it is a science. Will all my veggies tower in the new location? Probably not. Am I still watering twice a day to keep wilting plants from dying? No, and that’s a really good thing. There are many different ways to sculpt a garden, area and lifestyle pending. It’s great fun if you look at it in the right way. And of course, it’s a chore if you loathe hands-on activities that require a bit of attention. If you fall into the second category, that’s fine; buy local produce and leave the agriculture to others who find joy in the slow progress of vegetative growth. You don’t have to feel guilty because everyone on the block has a rooftop garden, an aquaponic garden or a traditional garden; you’re still living sustainably by supporting local food production. Or better yet, befriend one of the green thumbs. They always grow more than they can eat and they’re sure to unload much of their bountiful harvest on good friends with the right attitude. Lychee anyone? —Kevin Whitton
GRE E N M A G A Z I N E H AWA I I.C O M
Haw
Solatube doesn’t just manufacture natural lighting systems; we make world-class solar attic fans too! So why would anyone need a solar-powered attic fan? Lots of reasons, really. For starters, a well-ventilated attic is a cooler attic (by as much as 50˚F). A cooler attic means a lot less heat transfers into the rest of your home. And here in Hawaii, that’s a really good thing, especially during the hot summer and fall months. Save on electricity bills. With a solar attic fan allowing heat to easily escape from your home, you’ll need to run the fans and AC less frequently. Not only will this lower your energy bills, it’ll extend the life of your cooling system too! Extend the life of your roofing materials. As tough as asphalt shingles are, they really start to cook when the roof decking overheats, which is exactly what happens when an attic isn’t properly ventilated. In cooler months, a well-ventilated attic keeps moisture to a minimum, helping to prevent the growth of mold, mildew and rot in the roof deck and framing. *Complete purchase of product(s) and intallation required.
Hawaii_Skylights_V2-2.indd 1
From $659 Installed! 35% State Tax Credit and 30% Federal Tax Credit
Don’t pay $900, $1,100 or even $1,400 to have an attic fan installed. Our installed prices start as low as $659 on composite shingle roofing and $799 for tile roofs! Our prices include the fan, parts and labor! We are locally owned and operated in Hawaii! Contact us today for a FREE in-home consultation!
Hawaii Skylights & Solar Fans phone: (808) 84-SOLAR / (808) 847-6527 mobile: (808) 345-1779 email: info@hawaiiskylights.com
6/10/10 3:04:46 PM
Published by Little Tree Publications VOLUME 2 :: NUMBER 2 Editor Kevin Whitton Contributing Writers Dr. Summer Baptist, Stuart Coleman, Amanda Corby, Beau Flemister, Margaret Haapoja, Jack Kittinger, Lani Lee, Ashley Lukens, Nicole Milne, Noa Myers, Sarah Ruppenthal, Dr. Mark Shigeoka, Aubrey Yee Art Director Kyle Tanaka Staff Photographers Willi Edwards, Michelle Whitton Contributing Photographers Beau Flemister, Isaac Frazer, Ian Gillespie, Nicole Milne, Mark Ralph, Kevin Whitton, Aubrey Yee Contributing Illustrators Nicolette Davenport, Orthreb Arios Intern Jessie Schiewe General Inquries info@greenmagazinehawaii.com Marketing Director and Sales Amanda Corby amanda@greenmagazinehawaii.com Sales Representative - Oahu Gisele Hetu gisele@greenmagazinehawaii.com Sales Representative - Maui Mark Ralph mark@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. To subscribe to GREEN, please contact us at info@greenmagazinehawaii.com 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 GREEN is trademarked and tradename registered in the state of Hawai‘i. All contents of this issue of GREEN are copyrighted by Little Tree Publications, 2010. All rights reserved. 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.
CONTRIBUTORS
Ashley Lukens
Jan Becket
Sarah Ruppenthal
Ashley Lukens Ashley Lukens attended Vassar College where she graduated with a B.A. in women studies and economics. She is currently a Ph.D. student in the department of political science at University of Hawai‘i at Ma- noa. Her research focuses on the politics of food, grassroots social movements and radical/insurrectional political theory. She is currently writing her dissertation on urban food movements and teaching “The Politics of Food.” Somehow, Ashley finds the time to co-own and operate Baby Awearness, a natural parenting and eco-friendly baby store in Ma- noa Valley; a labor of love born from her passion to inform and empower mothers to make choices that are good for their children, their communities and the Earth. When she is not running the store, taking care of her daughter, writing for GREEN or going to school, she is sleeping.
Jan Becket Jan Becket’s camera is always focused in two directions at once, strategically aimed at the present while opening a window to the past. He is a self-described forensic photographer, documenting archaeological sites in Hawai‘i. The Hawai‘i native, a graduate of Roosevelt High School, currently teaches English at Kamehameha School, Kapalama, and has a penchant for photographing heiau and other stone structures. His trained eye for sacred enclosures and their link to highly-ritualized host cultures has led him to stone circles in Ireland and Scotland, also part of his expansive portfolio. Some of his best work has been arranged in his photographic book Pana O‘ahu: Sacred Stones, Sacred Land, from University of Hawai‘i Press. His images of Makua Valley were recently displayed in the biennial French exhibit, Photoquai 2009.
Sarah Ruppenthal Diploma in hand, Sarah Ruppenthal waved goodbye to a soggy college campus in Seattle, Washington seven years ago and boarded a one-way flight to Maui, searching for work and some much-needed Vitamin D. Today, she is an award-winning journalist, freelance writer and English instructor at University of Hawai‘i, Maui College. Sarah says she has discovered an endless supply of fascinating people, places and things in Hawai‘i—a writer’s dream come true. When she’s not hunched over her laptop working on a story, Sarah is relaxing at home on Maui’s iconic north shore with her husband and 115-pound puppy, Odie.
Photo Credits L to R: Matthew Shannon, Nikki Rapozo, Jessica Pearl
THE WORD
Photo: Aubrey Yee
Founding member of Hawai‘i’s Green Party, the late Ira Rohter’s book specifically outlines the problems and solutions for a sustainable Hawai‘i, long before going green was on the tip of everyone’s tongue.
A Green Hawai‘i The heart and soul of Ira Rohter’s A Green Hawai‘i: Sourcebook for Development Alternatives lies within these lines, “The people of planet Earth began, in the 21st century, to create a wide-ranging public discussion emphasizing the interrelationship between environment, energy, food production, population, and more democratic institutions and political forms. Hawai‘i was at the forefront of this profound change in consciousness.” Written in 1992, Rohter’s eloquent and profoundly hopeful manifesto was clearly ahead of its time. Envisioning an alternate future for the Hawai‘i of 2010, A Green Hawai‘i is an important wake up call, demonstrating how far we are from where visionaries, like Ira Rohter, hoped we would be today. A beloved professor in the University of Hawai‘i’s Political Science Department and a founding member of Hawai‘i’s Green Party, Ira Rohter passed away suddenly last summer, leaving behind a valuable legacy of ideas and clear visions for a better future for our island home. The opening chapter, “Hawai‘i’s Future, Over Developed Tourist Mecca” outlines, in sometimes eerie accuracy, an imagined dystopian Hawai‘i of 2010 in which, “Resorts, condominiums and palatial shorefront estates now front O‘ahu’s North Shore beaches from Kahuku to Mokuleia,” and “The Big Island’s North Kohala coast has filled with new resorts, and its hillsides are speckled with several-acre ‘ranchettes’ appealing to wealthy gentlemen horse-fanciers.” Reading these vignettes, it’s easy to forget that this was his imagined future, because much of it has come to pass. Rohter’s examination of the tourism industry in Hawai‘i is extremely compelling. He explains that the majority of Hawai‘i’s tourism is based in mainland and foreign owned resorts, tour operators and travel agencies. Today we could add chain stores and restaurants to the list. This means that the majority of the tourist dollars coming into our state, as much as eighty cents of every dollar in 1992, leaves just as quickly as they came. It also ensures that most of the locally created jobs in the tourism industry are lower paying, menial jobs. As 12
GRE E N M A G A Z I N E H AWAII.C O M
an alternative scenario, Rohter suggests a shift to smaller, decentralized, worker or community owned tourism that entails more bed and breakfasts and smaller, locally owned tour operators who engage in a more culturally sensitive type of tourism, which respects the beauty and history of Hawai‘i. The true meat of Rohter’s vision lies in his detailed delineation of the preferred future that “could be” for the Hawai‘i of 2010. Using the three areas of Waialua, Pa- lolo and Kapolei as examples of farming, urban and eco-village communities to paint the vision of a green Hawai‘i, Rohter imagines diverse, self-reliant economies with community-based governance, affordable housing, local thriving agricultural communities, holistic education and human scale tourism in fine detail. He clearly points out that all of his ideas and his idealism are grounded in real-world programs, systems and societies that already exist in various parts of the world. While most of the book will advance ideas familiar to those in the green movement today, Ira Rohter’s dedication to the idea of participatory democracy is one that has not been as widely discussed of late. Rohter demonstrates convincingly that it will take a true participatory democracy to enact the positive and forward thinking changes that we as a society wish to see in the world. It will take “ordinary citizens” in a process of direct democracy to shift the way we live to a better future. This is truly a paradigm shift from the way our democracy currently operates. In closing, Ira Rohter envisions, “In both the State and the Hawaiian Nation, in 2010, truly: The life of the land continues now that things have been set right again. Ua mau ke ea o ka ‘aina i ka pono.” In 2010, it seems that we have not lived up to Rohter’s ideal. And yet, we can still learn much from his visionary ideas in our earnest quest to build a sustainable Hawai‘i, one that truly speaks to a future where Hawai‘i is balanced and in harmony with the natural world. —Aubrey Yee
Photo: Courtesy MA‘O Organic Farms
THE WORD
MA‘O Organic Farms reusable boxes ready for another week’s worth of produce for their CSA.
Box It Up As our eating and food purchasing habits shift and support flourishes for locally grown food and farmers, so does the manner in which we obtain our produce. A new link between farmer and consumer has developed in Hawai‘i and community supported agriculture (CSA) is taking root with vigor. CSAs are a community of individuals and consumers who pledge support to local farmers, with growers providing the benefits of their food production. Individuals pay a weekly or monthly fee and receive a box of produce every week. This method of obtaining produce does require a different mindset and is best suited for those who enjoy a wide array of vegetables and love to cook at home. The weekly pickup of produce is a hodgepodge of what’s in season and what’s been freshly harvested, usually a variety of cooking greens, salad greens, vegetables, fruits and herbs. Wai‘anae’s MA‘O Farms has spearheaded a high-volume CSA program, offering a weekly 8- to 12-pound box of produce grown at their Lualualei Valley farm. The reusable box of salad and cooking greens, roots, herbs and fruit is designed to feed two to four people for the week. They offer two pick-up locations: LCC Wai‘anae and the V-Lounge in Honolulu. Sign up is offered through their website. Meleanas Farms on the North Shore of O‘ahu is taking a different approach to CSAs by creating a co-op of North Shore growers to bolster the variety of produce in their weekly boxes of food. With the collective network of small farmers, typical boxes include cooking and salad greens, herbs, fruit, vegetables, eggs and value added products like homemade banana bread. The best way to subscribe to the Country-centric CSA is to email Melana Judd at meleanajudd@ gmail.com. shop.maoorganicfarms.org facebook.com/pages/meleanas-farm/360101658786
THE WORD
LEAF lands in Hawai‘i leading up to the Hawai‘i Clean Energy Initiative’s goal of moving towards 70 percent clean energy by 2030. And with a 100-mile range on a full charge and no tailpipe emissions, the benefits are staggering. For example, at $3.50 per gallon of gasoline, a car that gets 25 miles per gallon has a fuel cost of 14 cents per mile. At 23 cents per kilowatt-hour electricity rate, the Nissan LEAF has a fuel cost of 5 cents per mile, without using a drop of gasoline. The LEAF has a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $32,780 and is fully eligible for a federal tax credit of $7,500. The state of Hawai‘i is offering its own rebate of up to $4,500 for the purchase of a full-speed, commercially available electric vehicle, and up to $500 for electric vehicle chargers. The lease price for the Nissan LEAF begins at $349 per month. If you’re interested in being the recipient of one of the first LEAFs that roll off the dock in Honolulu, you must register online for this high-demand vehicle. nissanusa.com
With a 100-mile range on a full charge, zero tailpipe emissions and speeds up to 90 mph, the 5-passenger, 5-door 100 percent electric Nissan LEAF is a breath of fresh air for Hawai‘i’s oil-dependency woes.
14
GRE E N M A G A Z I N E H AWAII.C O M
Photo: Courtesy Nissan
The push to bring electric vehicles to Hawai‘i’s roadways has been somewhat of a “chicken or the egg” conundrum. Before electric vehicles were readily available to the public, entrepreneurs considered installing a charging network to service electric vehicles, but the charging network was a hard sell without electric vehicles on the road to utilize them. Fortunately, Nissan came to the table with a mass-produced electric vehicle: the egg is about to hatch. Nissan has selected Hawai‘i to be one of its initial launch markets in the U.S. for the highly anticipated Nissan LEAF, beginning in early 2011. The LEAF is powered by a lithium-ion battery pack instead of an internal combustion engine. “Through its work in fostering zero-emissions mobility throughout the state, Hawai‘i is demonstrating that it is EV-ready,” said Brian Carolin, senior vice president, sales and marketing, Nissan North America. “These efforts, along with strong consumer interest, led us to name Hawai‘i as an early launch market for the Nissan LEAF.” The introduction of a highway-rated, mass-produced electric vehicle is a crucial piece of the puzzle
Photo: Kevin Whitton
THE WORD
When it comes to sustainability, this brew is guilt free.
Solar Brewery Kona Brewing Company, a Hawai‘i-born and Hawai‘i-based craft brewery, has always had sustainability in mind: brewing the freshest beer closest to market, which helps to minimize its carbon footprint by reducing shipping of raw materials, finished beer and wasteful packaging materials. In recent months Kona Brewing Company has seen several of its environmental initiatives reach fruition. In October, both of its pubs on the Big Island and O‘ahu became Certified Green Restaurants by the Green Restaurant Association and in December the brewery made Hawai‘i’s first certified organic beer. Now they can boast that their Kailua-Kona brewery and pub is the first beer production facility in Hawai‘i to go solar. The brewery teamed up with Sunetric, the largest Hawaii-owned and operated commercial solar energy contractor, and installed a 229-kilowatt solar energy generating system, which went online in May. The roof-mounted grid-tied photovoltaic system is estimated to produce an average of 900 kilowatts of electricity each day, which will allow Kona Brewing Company to offset 60 percent of its current electricity usage, a savings of more than $100,000 in electricity expenditures per year at the current commercial retail electricity rate. It will include 880 260-watt solar modules on the brewery’s rooftop space and a real-time monitor to show how much energy the solar system is generating at the entrance to the restaurant. “In the long run, the cost savings in utilizing solar power are obvious,” said Kona Brewing Company President and CEO Mattson Davis. “But even more important, our system will provide improved environmental performance and reduced carbon emissions. We feel we have a responsibility to take a leadership role in establishing production methods that minimize taxing our environment. It makes economic sense and it is the right thing to do. It’s not just good business, it’s our way of life.” Over the next 30 years Sunetric estimates Kona Brewing Company’s PV system will prevent approximately 7,730 tons of carbon dioxide emissions from entering the atmosphere annually, or about 5 million car trips to a local grocery store, and the solar array offsets 16,425 barrels of oil that would otherwise be burned to make electricity.
THE WORD
Liparis hawaiensis, a native orchid known as ‘awapuhiakanaloa, has tiny green flowers and is one of many native plants and insects that will benefit from the conservation efforts.
The Department of Land and Natural Resources formalized a new partnership with public and private landowners to form the Wai‘anae Mountains Watershed Partnership, a joint effort to protect, restore and enhance the Wai‘anae Mountains watershed from the ridge to the sea while incorporating traditional, cultural and community values. The members include DLNR, Honolulu Board of Water Supply, Gill-Olson Joint Venture, Ka‘ala Farm, MA‘O Organic Farms and the United States Army Garrison, Hawai‘i and United States Navy Region. The unique partnership is focusing on more effective coordination between partners and community members to address current management challenges in the Wai‘anae Mountains. The challenges are many: habitat improvement, restoration and protection, invasive species management and control, water resource management and protection, compatible recreational use and access, promotion of sustainable agriculture and cultural resource protection and awareness. “The partnership will bring people together to cooperatively develop and implement management strategies for watershed areas, native species and their habitats,” said DLNR chairperson Laura H. Thielen, “and historical, cultural and socio-economic resources for all who benefit from the continued health of all of the Wai‘anae Mountains ahupua‘a.” Since 1991, DLNR has become a member of 10 voluntary watershed partnerships recognized by the Hawai‘i Association for Watershed Partnerships, all of which were created between public and private landowners to collaboratively work together towards the common goals of conservation, preservation and management of Hawai‘i’s precious natural and cultural resources.
16
GRE E N M A G A Z I N E H AWAII.C O M
Photo: Yumi Miyata, DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife
Watershed Partnership
Photo: Willi Edwards
THE WORD
Day-use mooring buoys have proven to be an effective tool around the world in reducing damage to coral reefs caused by anchors.
Reef Protection When the Kai Kanani was found anchored on a damaged section of coral and live rock reef in 2007, the owners of the boat, Makena Boat Patners, were found liable for the damage and as part of their settlement, agreed to donate of $130,000 to conservation efforts. The Board of Land and Natural Resource awarded the money to Hawai‘i community environmental groups Makai Watch Program and Malama Kai Foundation. Makai Watch is officially sanctioned by the State of Hawai‘i and works to restore and sustain Hawai‘i’s coastal resources through community involvement. The group was awarded $70,000 to support the development of observation and compliance protocols for volunteers and Department of Land and Natural Resources-assisted trainings for current Makai Watch groups. The remainder of the settlement, $60,000, was awarded to the Malama Kai Foundation, which will be used to install 52 day-use moorings around the state. Day-use mooring buoys are accepted around the world as an effective tool to reduce damage to coral reefs caused by anchors, which can inadvertently damage coral if the anchor drags or if chain or line scrapes the sea floor. The moorings eliminate the need to drop anchors on coral reefs by providing boaters with a safe, convenient means of securing their boats. Malama Kai will give first priority to the island of Maui and will work with its partner, the Maui Reef Fund, for installation of the new day-use moorings. The foundation utilizes trained installers and consults with state biologists prior to mooring installation on each island. malama-kai.org hawaii.gov/dlnr/dar/coral/coral_las_makaiwatch.html
Pete Cooper’s business savvy is cemented in development, finance and law, but his passion for sustainable growth has paved his way.
Photo: Melissa Cooper
BUSINESS
Sustainable Developer Constructing usable spaces that create energy
Poems and notes of encouragement torn from desktop daily calendars are pinned to the bookshelf above the computer monitor. “Attitude.” “Never give up.” “Eat the frog—the rest of your day will be much better.” Even a quote from F. Scott Fitzgerald about finding hope in the hopeless adorns the office space. Above the daily affirmations, architectural books like Design With Climate and Why Buildings Fall Down share shelf space with three-ring white binders filled with state tax code and building ordinances. Pete Cooper is in front of his computer, unassuming wire-frame glasses perched on the end of his nose, working on a financing spreadsheet for a commercial PV installation. Hand-drawn sketches on yellow legal paper of a trellis and retaining walls needed for the high-rise rooftop solar installation are spread across his desk. He is in his element. Pete Cooper cut his teeth in the world of real estate development working for corporate giants, but found something lacking, even detrimental, in their unending 18
GRE E N M A G A Z I N E H AWAII.C O M
push to build without regard for future consequences. In 2006, he founded Cooper & Cooper, a real estate development firm focusing on projects with components of sustainability. Shortly thereafter, he started up Sun Energy Solutions with co-owner Jeff Nagashima, to complete his vision of sustainable development by creating usable spaces that create energy. “Growth is going forward, but how do you take care of that need while taking care of the land?” says Cooper. “You have to do both and not many people are in the mindset of straddling both, to be part of solution on both contingents. That’s the foundation of the businesses.” With a degree in finance and real estate, Cooper isn’t afraid to boast that he’s a capitalist, but tempers that with his personal mission to take care of the land in an environmentally conscious manner. In addition to taking on his own business ventures, as president of the Hawai‘i Developers Council in 2006 he saw the need to address sustainable development within the com-
Photo: Eight Inc.
BUSINESS
The Malama Learning Center was designed by Honolulu architectural firm Eight Inc.
munity and formed the council’s Sustainability Committee in 2007. His work to promote sustainable development did not go unnoticed, and he was appointed by Governor Linda Lingle to sit on the state’s Environmental Council, which is concerned with matters in ecology and environmental quality. Cooper’s sister companies have evolved with the synergy of a talented, like-minded team, including LEED AP and Certified Green Professional Architect Steve Anderson and a handful of Cooper’s dedicated relatives, from brother and sister to his own daughter. With a broad skill set of building from the ground up, Cooper classifies himself as not just a PV guy, but also a builder who has learned to incorporate PV into design and structure. As much as Cooper enjoys the process of building, he leans on his experience in tax code and law, finding his true talent and joy on the finance side of the project, plugging numbers into a unique spreadsheet and proprietary software he developed to analyze all facets of a particular job—electricity, PV system size, property value, tax ramifications and loans. He uses the information to give his customers building and installation options to create capital as well as a more sustainable Hawai‘i. “If you understand tax law, then you understand how to make the best deal,” explains Cooper. “Some guys are selling kilowatts. We’re not in the business of selling kilowatts, we’re in the business of creating cash flow for people by understanding what their particular tax ramifications are and then designing a system that serves them. We don’t have to sacrifice quality because we’re not constrained to get the last nickel off the table to win the bid. We can serve people much more effectively.” In addition to residential and commercial projects, Cooper’s companies have teamed up with the non-profit organization Ma-lama Learning Center to manage the overall development of the entire program. The building, which is a teacher in itself, will be constructed adjacent to Kapolei High School in West O‘ahu as an educational extension to the students and a place of community outreach. According to LEED AP Architect Steve Anderson, they are hoping to finish up permitting and break ground on the first of two phases of development in October 2010. When Cooper’s eyes aren’t focused on construction documents or spread sheets, he finds himself absorbed at home in his aquaponic garden, his latest pursuit. In fact, he recently made a trip to the Big Island for an aquaponic gardening seminar. Chances are Pete Cooper isn’t keeping his newfound knowledge locked up in the backyard, but instead is working on way to incorporate personal food production into his model of sustainable building. —Kevin Whitton
Illustration: nicolettedavenport.com
GREEN ECONOMICS
Beach Days 5 ways to live fully, but step lightly
King Kamehameha I was reputed to be an agile surfer. It’s also said that Queen Ka‘ahumanu, his favorite wife, was an avid surfer in her own right. From chief to commoner, the Hawaiian people loved the ocean and respected it as their source of sustenance, reverence and recreation, something that has not been lost on
20
GRE E N M A G A Z I N E H AWAII.C O M
many today that find the same ethereal connection in the water. It’s no wonder that the beach is intimately woven into everyday life in Hawai‘i. And while enjoying the beach is ostensibly one of our greenest pastimes—spending time outdoors, miniscule drain on fossil fuels, healthy activities and a
GREEN ECONOMICS
natural community center—our modern oceanfront habits can actually have a negative impact on the environment. So in the interest of living fully but stepping lightly this summer, here are a few ideas for an ecofriendly day at the beach. —Lani Lee Consider the Bus: Hawai‘i’s roads are overrun with cars. The beaches, landscaped with parked cars, are no exception. A trip to the beach need not start with a car ride. On O‘ahu, The Bus has some great seaside routes. For townies, The Beach Bus runs from Waikı- kı- through Hawai‘i Kai, Sandy Beach and Makapu‘u Beach Park, ending at Sea Life Park. You can even beach hop without the parking grind. Of course, Ala Moana and Magic Island Beach Parks are accessible from all points of town via bus. Enjoy the freedom of a day without the hassles of parking a car. Use mineral-based sunblock: What seemingly protects you can also harm you and it can seriously damage ocean reefs and marine ecosystems. The latest findings reveal that over 80 percent of sunscreen products on the market include chemical ingredients that are unhealthy for human consumption as well as the environment. Benzophenones, PABA, salicylates, cinnamates and parabens are just a few of these widely used chemical ingredients. Not only ineffectual for shielding UV rays, these compounds are washed into the ocean from users, which then disrupt the delicate symbiosis of coral life. These compounds actually hasten the demise of coral reefs by proliferating viruses that kill algae and coral. The entire ocean’s ecology depends on the coral reefs for sustenance. Every year the Environmental Working Group releases a guide on the best and worst sunscreens on the market. Go to: www.ewg. org/2010sunscreen to see how your favorite brand ranks. Ditch plastic toys: Seek out recycled, biodegradable and non-toxic alternatives to the typical plastic beach toys. The toxic chemicals common in most plastics are more likely to seep out of plastic toys in Hawai‘i’s year-round heat. While not as ubiquitous as mainstream brands, eco-friendly toys are available. For example, Green Toys makes a sand play set and tugboats that are perfect for beach play. These toys are made from recycled plastic, milk containers, and other eco-friendly, safe materials. They contain no BPA, no phthalates, use recycled packaging and are completely made in America. You can also pick up reclaimed and lightly used play toys at second-hand stores across the islands. A few pots and pans can keep your keiki busy for hours as you soak up the sea and the sun. Choose Reusable Swim Diapers: No one wants to bump into a dirty diaper bobbing in the shorebreak and disposable swim diapers leak toxic gelling agents into the ocean and force your kids to drag around a pound of water in their pants. Reusable swim diapers are easy to use, saves money and keeps your baby looking cute, a must. Pack a waste-free picnic: Instead of buying your bento, pack your own. Make a picnic using reusable containers and lunch boxes, including canteens for beverages and water. If you don’t have a lunch container or want to avoid carrying a picnic basket, consider using a furoshiki, a type of traditional Japanese cloth often used for wrapping and carrying boxed lunches. A furoshiki cloth can also be used as a table covering. It is reusable and multifunctional.
Jesse Greenleaf, thinking fruit forward.
Photos: Kevin Whitton
IN THE KITCHEN
Local Libations Getting the most out of fresh fruit
As spring slides without hesitation into summer, we find ourselves outdoors all the more often and actively pursuing the fresh air and healthy hobbies that the islands so abundantly provide. In doing so, most of us work up quite an appetite as well as a thirst for a cold and refreshing beverage with substance. Luckily, with the turn of the season, the land gives back two-fold in the form of fresh island fruit. Mangos turn from green to red, apple banana is plentiful and lilikoi vines grow and blossom vigorously. Sometimes it can be a challenge to consume the bounty of summer fruit and it takes a little creativity to incorporate it in enjoyable ways into our diet. The best way to utilize all that fruit that is ripening faster than you can pick it is to blend it into a tasty liquid refreshment. Whether you’re thinking healthy post-workout replenishment or relaxing pau hana libation, fresh fruit is the key to extraordinary flavor. Keep in mind that these recipes are broken down in terms of one drink per serving, so if you’re mixing for two or more friends, double or triple your portions accordingly. And for those of you who might find yourself crafting these cocktails at the proverbial Happy Hour of the day, yes, the proper spirits can be added for further enjoyment. With that being said, there are a few tools you will need to properly produce these fruit-forward elixirs: household blender, mixing tin (cocktail shaker), mixing glass (fits in tin), cutting board, large serrated knife, muddler, citrus squeezer and a cocktail strainer. —Jesse Greenleaf If you like these recipes and are thirsty for more, keep your eyes peeled for Jesse Greenleaf’s and Amie Fujiwara’s upcoming book from Watermark Publishing due out later this year. The book will be a comprehensive cocktail recipe collection featuring original drinks created in Hawai‘i by many of Hawai‘i’s veteran bartenders, including the authors.
IN THE KITCHEN
Is it pau hana yet?
Banango Tango ½ ripe banana ½ cubed mango 2 ounces fresh passion fruit juice 1 ounce freshly pureed strawberries or raspberries ½ cup cubed ice In the blender combine the banana, mango and passion fruit juice with ice. Blend until a rich thickness is achieved. Pour pureed berries into the bottom of your favorite 14-ounce glass. Fill remainder of glass with blended mixture, garnish with an orchid and enjoy. For the pau hana version, add 1ounce spiced rum and 1ounce banana liquor to the blender mix.
Sky Rockets In Flight 1 quartered lime ½ sliced orange 2 ounces fresh passion fruit juice 2 ounces fresh cranberry juice 2 ounces sparkling water (soda water) 1 cup cubed ice In a mixing tin, muddle three lime wedges with three orange slices until fruit is thoroughly pulverized. Pour both juices into tin and add ice. Cover tin with mixing glass and shake contents vigorously for ten seconds. Strain contents into your favorite ice filled 14-ounce glass and top with soda water. Garnish with a lime wedge and orange slice. For the pau hana version, add 1½ ounces of mandarin flavored vodka.
MUSIC
Photo: Kevin Whitton
Jack played some old favorites and jammed some new tunes from his latest album, To The Sea, which was recorded using 100 percent solar energy in Hawai‘i. That’s local.
Jack’s Jammin‘ Kokua Festival lights up The Shell
After a brief year off, the Kokua Hawai‘i Foundation’s highly anticipated Kokua Festival returned to the Waikı- kı- Shell, a culmination of the foundation’s and the community’s Earth Week celebration. Residents and visitors flooded the gates all afternoon on both days of the Friday, Saturday event and were entertained with music, information and a ton of freebies from the vendors. With a selection of local beers on tap and friendly faces putting yogurt, cereal, fruit bars and other tasty snacks in hand, Kokua Village, the half-moon of vendors and sponsors tucked away behind the auditorium, was a packed social arena of academic discourse, green products and initiatives and nonchalant kibitzing. Fresh, prepared food was also on tap and the lines for a salad or a slice of pizza were a testament to the savory dishes on offer. The earth-friendly infrastructure of the event is a noteworthy model of sustainability on a large scale: water stations for filling reusable containers diverted over 8,000 plastic water bottles from the waste stream; around 300 cars were taken off the road by fans who road their bikes or used alternative transportation; the generators 24
GRE E N M A G A Z I N E H AWAII.C O M
and production vehicles used at the festival were powered by locally produced biodiesel fuel; zero-waste trash receptacles were employed to separate recyclables from compostables; and to top it off, the CO2 emissions from the production were measured and offset with the purchase of carbon credits. But everyone knows the real reason people flock to concerts is for the music. This year’s lineup featured Anuhea, ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro, Taj Mahal and the Hula Blues Band, the acoustic styling of Ziggy Marley, and of course, the mellowest of all groovy rockers, Jack Johnson. With a strum of Johnson’s guitar, the crowd threw themselves at his feet, screaming and dancing to his simple rhythmic melodies, enraptured by his soothing and buttery, trance-inducing voice. Kokua Fest served to educate and replenish spirits and souls through music and build community around the ever-so important topic of sustainability. Maybe next year, if they would just let people reuse their beer cups, they could really divert some trash from the waste stream. —Kevin Whitton
FENDI • COACH • BCBG • VERA WANG • COLE HAAN • SEIKO TITANIUM • GUESS • QUIKSILVER • CANDIE’S
SAVE $50 off your purchase on a complete set of glasses. Frame and lense purchase required.
1413 South King Street, Suite 203 Honolulu, HI 96814 • 808.955.3532
•
IZOD
BODY & MIND
Photo: Kevin Seid
Stand-up paddle surfing offers a new perspective to the full-body workout—no gym required.
Stand-Up Paddle Surfing A classic pastime and a full-body workout
Surf lineups and calm bays have seen an influx of a new breed of surfer in the last few years. Traditionally, surfers have paddled both long and short boards in a prone or kneeling position. With a return to a classic Waikı- kıtradition, some ocean enthusiasts have integrated a long paddle, much like a canoe paddle, with specially designed longboards, into their ocean-going repertoire. Opting for a more erect approach to paddling, standup paddle surfers stand on their boards with paddle in hand, blade slicing through the water to direct their momentum. Thus began the modern day stand-up paddle surfing movement. More commonly known as SUP, the sport dates back to Duke Kahanamoku’s days as a beach boy. The old-time Waikı- kı- beach boys would take their canoe paddles and use them for paddling around the lineup while surfing their longboards. But the combination didn’t catch on until after the turn of the millennium. 26
GRE E N M A G A Z I N E H AWAII.C O M
And like a fire doused in gasoline, stand-up paddle surfing exploded on the scene across Hawai‘i’s beaches. What first began as merely another way to catch waves has really taken hold in the realm of fitness. Stand-up paddling is now known as a hardcore workout amongst watermen around the world, in addition to its introduction into big-wave surfing and open-ocean racing. Merely to remain standing on the board requires astute balance and sharp reflexes to counteract the inevitable listing from side to side. Factor in paddling and you have a total body workout. According to Dr. Leland Dao, a North Shore kinesiologist, pediatrician and on-site doctor for the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing, “[Stand-up paddle surfing] does seem to have a place as a regular workout activity and emphasizes the arms, legs and core stabilizing muscles. Every stroke of the paddle requires cooperation throughout the body, thus yielding a workout that will leave anybody
BODY & MIND
Photo: Kevin Seid
Paddle, snorkel, dive or test water quality; SUP surfing is as versatile as it comes.
sweating.” Dr. Dao also stresses the importance of proper sun protection and to take it slowly as one would with any new workout regime. With each stroke of the paddle, the core muscles flex as the blade moves through the water. The resistance of the paddle biting the water also works out muscles in the legs, arms and back. Director of Physical Therapy Greg Pacilio of Kauai Veteran Memorial Hospital emphasizes the importance of working out those hard-to-target core muscles. “The stand-up paddling motion targets global muscles systems which include many of the same muscles targeted in typical gym routines, like the triceps, calves and quads. However, what it does that even the most well-rounded gym routine can’t duplicate is it really works the core, or stabilizing muscles, which help stabilize you in everything you do. “Physically, it also has one up on surfing,” Pacilio adds. “The stand-up posture is far better for the neck and spine compared to the prone posture when surfers paddle. The stand-up paddling motion is easier on the shoulders, as well.” What’s caused this new sport to really take hold in Hawai‘i is the fact that it satisfies nature lovers as well as athletes. While inducing a solid sweat, paddlers find a peaceful, soothing sensation as they glides across the open water. The vantage point allows paddlers to peer down over the reef, while the rhythmic paddling motion also promotes control of your breathing, which in turn, puts one in a meditation frame of mind. Some recreational paddlers carry a mask and snorkel to dive while they are en route. Paddling in calm water is the best way to beat the learning curve—the less chop to negotiate, the quicker you can get comfortable with paddling and maneuvering the board—but expert paddlers can also incorporate surfing into their paddle session, depending upon ocean conditions. Keep in mind that there are many different shapes and sizes of stand-up paddle boards, each geared toward a specific aspect of the sport: all-purpose recreational boards, long distance paddle boards and stand-up boards that are shaped for maneuverability while on the waves. Take the time to speak with the people at your local surf shop for the board that best suits your needs. Stand-up paddling is making waves for a legitimate reason. It offers a full-body workout, a way to calm the mind and a connection to the ocean. Whichever element of the sport you decide to pursue, always know the ocean conditions before paddling out and set reasonable distance goals as you build strength in your core, arms and legs. The goal is more than six-pack abs, it’s also to have fun. —Noa Myers
ART
Originally headed to Kaua‘i’s landfill, this pile of glass is ready to be repurposed at 2100 degrees Fahrenheit into beautiful glass art.
Trash To Treasures Last Chance Glass is the first stop in glass recycling
Reduce, reuse, recycle isn’t just lip service at Last Chance Glass—a unique glass shop on Kaua‘i—it’s business. “It’s not just about glass-blowing,” says co-owner of the non-profit, John Norman. “It’s really about recycling, and that is so important, especially on this island. It’s trash to treasures. It’s taking something people view as complete garbage and making something beautiful.” Norman has been blowing glass for forty years. He studied at the Pilchuck Glass School in the state of Washington and worked with fifth- and sixth-generation glass blowers in Germany before moving to Kaua‘i. Located adjoining the Kauai Recycling Center near the Lihue Airport, the shop gets first choice of the discarded glass, which it repurposes into stunning glass art. Unfortunately, Norman’s favorite kinds of glass aren’t recycled because there is no deposit on them. “SKYY vodka is the number one seller for glass—that cobalt blue is hands down the favorite,” explains Nor28
GRE E N M A G A Z I N E H AWAII.C O M
man, “but Heineken is good, too.” He also uses plenty of plate glass from broken jalousie windows. The shop usually has an ample supply of glass piled outside the door. They go through a few hundred pounds every day. Before he can use it, Norman must scrub every piece thoroughly. He brings in forty pounds at a time, puts it in a tray and uses a hammer to break it up. As if recycling glass isn’t sustainable in itself, Norman and shop co-owner Kevin Britt have ordered a 400-pound pot to melt the glass, and plan to build a new furnace that burns vegetable oil. As soon as the county approves their permit to collect used vegetable oil to fuel the furnace, they will save around $4000 a month in propane bills. “Our goal is to be 100 percent green,” says Norman. “Once we have the permit, we can reduce our overhead and concentrate on teaching recycling. Then we can get people in here who want to blow glass and work with artists at an affordable rate.”
Photos: Margaret A. Haapoja
ART
School classes visit Last Chance Glass regularly and Norman loves to see children’s excitement as they watch him work with glass. To demonstrate the importance of recycling, he molds a glass rose, melts it at 2100 degrees Fahrenheit in the glory hole, a small furnace used to reheat glass while working with it, and creates another shape to illustrate that glass is recyclable. As he twirls the molten glass and rolls it on the bench, it glows bright orange. He shapes it into a flower and places it in the annealer where it will cool slowly to prevent cracking. “We want to make this work,” he says. “We want to keep working with the county. Recycling is not an easy road and it’s a road less traveled, but if you choose that road, there is a payoff at the end, for everyone.” —Margaret A. Haapoja
(top left) Blue glass is a favorite find at Last Chance Glass. (bottom left) The glory hole. (right) Under extremely high temperatures, the malleable nature of molten glass lends it to recycling.
GREENM AGAZ INE HAWAII.COM
29
GREEN SCIENCE
Photos: Isaac Frazer
Gary Young has been building ocean crafts with wood practically his entire life, so the Big Island craftsman’s natural progression to shaping bamboo surfboards was inevitable.
Less-toxic Surfboards From wood to foam and back again
One of the greatest gifts Hawai‘i has shown the world is the art of surfing. He‘e nalu, wave sliding, is a natural, fluid and beautiful sport where a rider must become one with their dynamic aquatic environment and wave riding craft. Traditionally, koa wood was the material of choice for the long, heavy original Hawaiian surfboards, which could stand the elements and the test of time. These days, however, with the inevitable competitive drive to go faster, fly higher and ride waves deeper, equipment has for decades been purely synthetic and chemically manufactured, a product of modern-day chemistry. Surfers are still engaging in an incredibly organic act, but ironically, riding boards made from dangerous toxic chemicals. To add insult to injury, as surfboards become lighter and faster, the higher their predilection for break30
GRE E N M A G A Z I N E H AWAII.C O M
ing, so inevitably more and more boards made of foam and resin are pumped into the surf shops and into the water and then into the waste stream. How can we fix this? How can we make surfing more sustainable and environmentally friendly while not compromising the progression of the sport, which utilizes instruments so utterly unsustainable? What are our options? Shapers conscious to the toxic-board, natural-sport conundrum have been working on a solution, beginning over a decade ago. On O‘ahu, renowned North Shore shapers Jeff Bushman and Kyle Bernhardt have been, as their motto goes, “transforming industry from ego to eco.” Shaping and marketing their craft under the label Country Feeling Surfboards, the two shapers have been constructing boards of all kinds with non-artificial,
GREEN SCIENCE
non-uncertain ingredients. Instead of polyurethane foam blanks they use soy-based and sugar-based foams. The deck inlays are made from hemp, organic cotton and bamboo. They use a silk-resin catalyzed by the sun, which prevents 70 percent of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) from escaping during the glassing process. Not to mention the hemp is as strong as fiberglass cloth. On the other side of the pond, Fletcher Chouinard, son of Patagonia owner Yvon, has been creating his own version of the less-toxic board under the FCD (Fletcher Chouinard Designs) label. With his main objective of minimizing the use of toxic and non-renewable materials, Fletcher has been shaping blanks made of extruded polystyrene, EPS, a material similar to common beverage containers. Extruded polystyrene foam also contains no VOCs and has a constant density throughout the blank, thus making the boards stronger and longer lasting. The boards are glassed with an epoxy resin—epoxy being two-and-a-half times stronger than the industry standard polyester resin. If one perspective of sustainability is the capacity to endure, than Fletcher’s durable boards define this lasting antithesis to the myriad fragile, industrial pop-outs manufactured in China. Another homegrown option conceived on the Big Island and rapidly gaining popularity in the surf world is grass—fiber-grass. Actually, it’s bamboo, which is not a tree, but a super grass. Big Islander Gary Young of Bamboo Surfboards Hawaii has been creating surfboards using bamboo and other non-toxic materials for decades. Bamboo, one of most renewable woody resources, is also 15 percent lighter than regular fiberglass. Plus, bamboo floats while fiberglass actually does not. Gary uses a bamboo-epoxy composite to laminate a recyclable, non-toxic polystyrene (hand-shaped) foam core. It resists dings and has the highest strength to weight ratio of any board making materials. Off cuts of bamboo can even be recycled into mulch for packing furniture or landscaping earth fill. Kevin Seid, conscious O‘ahu surfboard shaper and founder of the new company Everpaddle, has applied less-toxic technologies to surfing’s sister sport, standup paddle surfing. His stand-up paddle boards utilize recycled EPS foam, bamboo and hemp cloth, less-toxic epoxy resins and recycled plastic fins. Seid also builds hand-shaped wood paddles with reclaimed hardwoods— mahogany, mango, basswood, even koa—from Hawai‘i wood mills and construction sites, as well as bamboo. Another option, this one from the reuse part of the triangle, is to dive into the online swap meet of used surfboards floating around on Craigslist. For beginners and novice surfers just learning the sport, buying a used board is the best way to be a sustainable surfer. You’ll save money on the purchase price and when you’re just learning the basics, you won’t know the difference between a yellowed, well-ridden Glenn Pang fish and a bright and shiny new Al Merrick pro model. And think of all the history and wisdom that used board has gained over the years; it’s the best teacher money can buy. —Beau Flemister
(top) Young uses a proprietary semigloss film finish for the final coat of his bamboo surfboards. The resilient film is lightweight and waterproof. (bottom) No matter what type of board you ride, there’s a less toxic surfboard that will do the job.
GREENM AGAZ INE HAWAII.COM
31
TECHNOLOGY
By Sarah Ruppenthal Albert Einstein was certainly known for having a bright idea or two. Arguably, one of his brightest ideas, the Photoelectric Effect, not only shed light on the electrifying nature of solar energy, but it also earned him the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921. For those of us who didn’t fare too well in high school physics, the Photoelectric Effect describes the process in which light shines onto a piece of metal, thereby emitting a small current of electricity, which then flows through the metal. Decades later, Einstein’s illuminating theory of light energy has not only intrigued generations of science geeks, but it has also paved the way for a burgeoning solar industry; an industry that strives to revolutionize the way we use power and wean an oil-thirsty nation off of imported fossil fuels in the process.
32
GRE E N M A G A Z I N E H AWAII.C O M
TECHNOLOGY
Photo: Kevin Whitton
With demand for new grid-tied solar installations increasing every year and caps on distributed energy that could be reached by early next year, solar contractors in Maui County and the Big Island are hoping that business, and PV, don’t come to a forced stand still.
For a sun-drenched state like Hawai‘i, power generated from rooftop photovoltaic (PV) systems sounds like a logical solution to a very expensive problem, especially since Hawai‘i has earned itself the dubious distinction of having the highest electricity rates in the nation. Not to mention, the state also relies on imported oil for more than 90 percent of its energy needs—a percentage that causes environmentalists and economists alike to cringe. But while the advent of solar may seem like a welcome remedy to Hawai‘i’s energy woes, the state has yet to fully embrace PV as a renewable energy source. This hesitation has led many to believe that the state’s utility, Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO), parent company of Maui Electric Company (MECO), is muddling efforts to allow more renewable energy distributed generation from PV systems, as well as wind-generated energy, to connect to its electric grid. If you talk to Inter-Island Solar Supply President Rick Reed, you’ll find yourself face-to-face with a “Solar
Guru,” as he has tracked Hawai‘i’s solar industry since it emerged in the early 1970s. According to Reed, around 2008, the industry gained popularity (at the same time the price of oil reached $147 a barrel), which led to a barrage of regulatory issues. “The development of the industry was relatively uniform until caps became an issue,” he explains. “Now it’s become a very complicated issue.” When net metering, the way most residential and small commercial solar systems tie into the grid, was first allowed in 2001, there were only two grid-interconnected PV systems on Maui. In 2008, there were 135 systems installed and in 2009, 298 systems were installed. By the end of 2009, Maui had 581 grid-interconnected PV systems, accounting for 4 MW of generation, or 2.5 percent of the island’s power generation. Citing potential grid reliability concerns for the everincreasing amount of distributed generated energy coming into the grid, MECO set an annual cap of net-metered GREENM AGAZ INE HAWAII.COM
33
TECHNOLOGY
PV systems in Maui County, despite PV’s increasing popularity. Once the annual cap of distributed energy has been met, permits to install new net-meter PV systems cannot be issued. In December 2008, the cap on net-metered systems was increased from 1 to 3 percent. In 2010, the demand to expand the cap on net-metered installations resulted in an increase to 4 percent, which allowed installations of net-metered systems to continue for the duration of the year. However, there is no guarantee that the cap increase will advance after the clock strikes midnight on December 31, 2010 and many believe that the 4 percent limit will be reached sometime in 2011. On Maui, MECO has identified four “high saturation” distributed generation areas on its grids—which includes the densely populated areas of Lahaina, Ka-‘anapali, Kahului and Pukalani—and contends that the overall grid may be getting “full” or “nearly full.” As a result, the utility company says it is uncertain how much more customer-sited intermittent renewable energy it can accept onto the grid without disrupting its ability to reliably provide power to its customers. “Generators have to run twenty-four-seven, so the utility has to use baseload power, because people still want cold beer and hot showers,” says Reed. “The real debate is that the utility could use less of its baseload power and more intermittent renewables—as much as the grid could handle without causing chaos.” In Hawai‘i, baseload power refers to a certain percentage of power generated by the large, diesel-fired generators that run constantly and can be adjusted by a utility system operator to meet increases or decreases in the demand for power on the grid. When it comes to solar, if the systems are small, they should have little or no measurable effect on the grid. With high rates of distribution, if its cloudy on one part of the island, its likely sunny somewhere else. But larger solar farms can create up to a 50 percent power loss in a matter of minutes due to clouding or a system failure. For the utilities sake, a high concentration of small PV distributed systems should be stabilizing to the grid, while larger solar farms can lead to grid fluctuations. Although HECO has made the assumption that there is the potential for chaos, Reed says there is no definitive evidence to support that interconnection will impact grid reliability or stability. Meanwhile, PV installers, such as Maui’s Rising Sun Solar & Electric and HNU Energy, are suffering the consequences of these restrictions, as the total number of PV systems only recently reached a 15 percent distribution circuit limit. These cap limits have forced MECO to tell many of its customers that they could not install any additional PV systems—a huge disappointment for solar customers. Adding fuel to the proverbial fire, in February, HECO announced it had asked the state Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to impose a moratorium on PV installations throughout the state until it could determine how—or if—these systems would impact the reliability of its electric grids. Not surprisingly, this announcement was met by a collective gasp from businesses and residents across the state and within days, the company retracted its announcement, issuing an apology for causing “unnecessary and unintended alarm among PV developers” and assuring its plans to address “reliability concerns… while continuing without interruption to accept more renewable electricity from customer-sited PV systems.” Mark Duda, President of the Hawai‘i Solar Energy Association and a principal in Distributed Energy Partners LLC, says MECO has failed to recognize a changing power dynamic. “The HECO Companies have traditionally taken positions at odds with the rapid deployment of distributed generation,” he says, “We are now at the point
TECHNOLOGY
where enough homeowners and businesses who are aware of the benefits of solar energy are demanding access to the grid.” Duda thinks the utility will eventually shift its policy, but it may take consumer action to facilitate change. “It’s a policy-driven issue, but it’s really about public interest. The utility is now up against not only homeowners and business owners, but also both labor unions and financiers from the capital markets so the usual ‘either, or’ rules don’t apply.” In addition, Duda warns that these grid access limitations could jeopardize Maui County’s—and all of Hawai‘i’s—fledgling green workforce. “Most green jobs in Hawai‘i today are in solar hot water and PV,” he says. “Slowing the growth of the distributed generation will definitely have a negative effect on employment in the renewable sector.” Most importantly, such restrictions imposed by the utility limit a consumer’s right to choose to install a PV system on his or her home or business. Reed agrees that this is one point that is often overlooked. “If people decide they want grid access, there should be no impediment to that,” he says. “They should be able to get the best system they can, but just because you have sun, doesn’t necessarily mean you have a solar industry.” According to HECO, a compromise may soon be on the table. In a statement issued on February 26, 2010 HECO Executive Vice President Robbie Alm promised, “We are continuing to interconnect photovoltaic systems on all islands [and] we have a commitment to meet Hawai‘i’s 70 percent clean energy goal, so it is also in our best interest to ensure we can install as much renewable energy from all sources including solar as quickly as possible.” He also said HECO’s filing with the PUC was not meant as an immediate stop to solar instillations, but instead a signal that the industry and utility need to move promptly to address the issues of grid access to avoid future tough choices. “We are committed to working promptly and openly with the solar developers and with other technical experts to address the potential reliability issue,” said Alm. “What we are saying to the solar industry is, ‘Let’s get to work and together let’s solve this.’” If the offer is on the table, Duda is ready to negotiate. “The solar industry has been and continues to be ready to work with the utility,” he says. “We are reasonable people and we would like to see HECO come meaningfully to the table so we can all move ahead.” Hawai‘i’s solar industry and HECO have already agreed to increase the distributed generation circuit limit from 10 to 15 percent statewide and the net metering limit from 3 to 4 percent on Maui and the Big Island. What does this mean for solar-hungry residents? According to Rising Sun Solar & Electric Founder Brad Albert, “For some time, maybe a year, Hawai‘i residents will continue to have the opportunity to install PV systems, but the larger issues of how much intermittent, what type of renewable and who gets to do what and where, will continue to be debated in the PUC proceedings.” “It won’t happen overnight,” admitted Rick Reed. “Is solar the perfect solution? We might not know for sure until years from now, but you can’t let waiting for that to get in the way of accomplishing something now.” Given the price of imported oil—and not just in terms of dollars—immediate action is imperative, says Reed. “We need to get in the game now. There’s nowhere to go but up.”
Photos: Dave Rezendes
DESIGN
This luxury home is more than a room with a view, it’s a complete model of sustainability for Hawai‘i architects.
Taking the LEED A Kahala luxury home is a model of sustainability
With only a handful of LEED certified homes built thus far in Hawai‘i, the acronym is new to many people and often confused with the Energy Star moniker. The U.S. Green Building Council offers LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) for Homes, a nationally recognized green home building rating system, which uses third-party verification of all sustainable practices applied to the home. LEED for Homes sets benchmark goals of efficiency and sustainability in eight categories—indoor environmental quality, energy efficiency, water efficiency, site selection, site development, materials selection, residents’ awareness and innovation—and a home must meet or exceed baselines in all categories for one of its four coveted levels of certification. 36
GRE E N M A G A Z I N E H AWAII.C O M
Architect and Principal Jeffery Long of Long & Associates was inspired to build a luxury LEED certified home to dispel the myth that sustainable and energy efficient homes are limited in scope and economy; they’re not dark caves. While this “Luxury Contempo” home, more suggestive of a spa retreat than family dwelling, is above most of Hawai‘i’s residents’ means, it is a prime example of the multitude of sustainable principles that must work together to construct a completely sustainable abode, from start to finish. Completed in December of 2009, the work began when the Kahala site was initially chosen for its ample wind and sun exposure and proximity to the beach and a community park. A small, existing dwelling was deconstructed by Reuse Hawai‘i and then construction began
DESIGN
Pocket doors virtually disappear to improve air circulation and create a seamless transition between indoors and the surrounding nature.
The power plant, a 20-panel PV system.
With Energy Star appliances and a gas range, the kitchen is an energy efficient culinary delight.
on the new five-bedroom, four-bathroom home. As the two-level house stands today, skylights and windows abound for ample natural lighting and living area doors slide into pockets for complete indoor/outdoor living. Energy Star fans help circulate the air in every room and an operable skylight opens above the staircase for additional ventilation. A 20-panel PV system powers the home and the Energy Star kitchen, complete with gas range, while a solar hot water heating system, dual-flush toilets (which should be standard in every home) and low-flow fixtures in the kitchen and bathroom account for water efficiency, not to mention the extra savings from water-thrifty landscaping. All the wood used for the project was sourced from renewable resources and the expansive bamboo flooring of the upper level offers cushion without releasing allergens and particulates into the air. And this is just the tip of the iceberg. The multi-million dollar home has yet to find the right buyer, and until then, Long & Associates offers weekly tours to schools, community groups and individuals to educate and bring awareness to the infinite possibilities available for sustainable homes. The Kahala estate was recently awarded a LEED for Homes “Gold” rating, nearly the highest rating possible for a LEED home. In addition, the home also received the Grand Award for design in the Hawai‘i BuiltGreen Division from the Building Industry Association of Hawai‘i. —Kevin Whitton
GREENM AGAZ INE HAWAII.COM
37
OUTDOOR
Photos by Jan Becket // Words by Catherine Mariko Black Wahi pana or military reserve? Public space or political cause? In many ways Makua Valley reflects the conflicting narratives of Hawai‘i’s social and natural history. It is the last major valley of O‘ahu’s Wai‘anae Coast before reaching Ka‘ena Point and is simultaneously claimed by Hawaiians, the U.S. military, environmentalists, community members and historians as an invaluable resource for each independent cause. After decades of serving as an off-limits training ground for combat-scenario Army assault maneuvers, Makua Valley was spared from artillery in 2004 when Earthjustice Environmental Defense Fund successfully sued the U.S. government for an environmental impact statement on behalf of the community group Malama Makua. Over the last decade and in the midst of the U.S. War on Terror, the debate about the best use of Makua Valley is more heated than ever, highlighting a central dilemma in Hawai‘i for centuries: how to manage Hawai‘i’s unique resources for the greatest public good? Photographer Jan Becket has been documenting the many shades of Makua Valley since 1993. His emotional images have captured the myriad dimensions and hidden histories of the valley, as well as its silent injuries and slow but hopeful renewal.
38
GRE E N M A G A Z I N E H AWAII.C O M
OUTDOOR
GREENM AGAZ INE HAWAII.COM
39
OUTDOOR
In ancient times the ahupua‘a of Makua was home to a small Hawaiian population that farmed kalo and ‘uala and fished the rich waters of the Wai‘anae Coast. In the late 19th century a large portion of the valley’s government and kuleana lands were converted into the Lincoln McCandless ranch, before giving way to the Makua Military Reservation. Many of the valley’s currently intact lava rock walls date to this era. Makua Beach is used by the Wai‘anae community as a social and cultural gathering space, especially in recent years as the coast’s homeless population has increased. Since Malama Makua was able to secure regular public access trips in 2002, the valley’s potential as a cultural and environmental learning tool is growing. From the restoration of a previously hidden spring to participation in the clearing of unexploded ordnance, community members are slowly reshaping the valley with a different vision for its future. Makua is rich in mo‘olelo, Hawaiian legends, and is considered by many to be wahi pana, a sacred place. The valley was an important center for the ancient Hawaiian martial art of lua and contains at least three known heiau and over 120 archeological sites.
40
GRE E N M A G A Z I N E H AWAII.C O M
OUTDOOR DESIGN
GREENM AGAZ INE HAWAII.COM
41
OUTDOOR
42
GRE E N M A G A Z I N E H AWAII.C O M
OUTDOOR
Makua valley is home to nearly 50 endangered plant and animal species, including the O‘ahu tree snail and ‘elepaio. During the valley’s paniolo days, introduced cattle and wild pigs disrupted much of the area’s native plant and animal life. But this pales in comparison to the impact that later military activities would cause: thousands of acres burned by accidental fires, toxic soil, water contamination, and open burn and open detonation (OBOD) of military waste. U.S. military use of Makua dates as far back as 1929, but it wasn’t until 1943 that the valley was acquired for joint Army-Navy wartime training and bivouacs, and most residents were forced to leave. In 1964 President Johnson created the Makua Military Reservation under a 65-year lease for the sum of one dollar. The valley has since been the Army’s principal live-fire training site in Hawai‘i, though this was halted in 2004 by Malama Makua’s lawsuit. Artillery pop-up targets and tire enclosures used for grenade practice remain in the valley under the premise of the Army’s return.
janbecket.net
GREENM AGAZ INE HAWAII.COM
43
CONSERVATION
By Ashley Lukens The region of Na- Wai ‘Eha- covers the windward side of Mauna Kahalawai in a lush green blanket. The “Four Great Waters” of Wa-ihe‘e, ‘I ao, Wakapu-, and North and South Waiehu, once fed Hawai‘i’s largest and most productive lo‘i kalo. There, water’s centrality to Hawai‘i’s pre-contact culture and agriculture was most evident. Today, if one turns their back on the arid isthmus of Maui’s sugar-coated central plain, it is almost impossible to imagine that the coming crisis of water shortages, saline aquifers, devastated ecosystems and bone-dry stream beds are almost, if not already, here. The lush greenness of our mauka regions betrays the depleted aquifers that lie beneath our feet and often covers over the now trickling streams that once flowed fiercely and fed the land, the ocean and Hawai‘i’s people in abundance.
44
GRE E N M A G A Z I N E H AWAII.C O M
CONSERVATION
Photo: Courtesy USGS, pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2010/5011
The interface zone of Waiehu Stream, where fresh water meets the ocean, an important ecosystem for ocean and stream dwelling creatures, as well as vegetation.
Maui is a microcosm of much larger water issues looming on our global horizon. Just as a Na- Wai ‘Ehaonce represented all that was possible through a communally managed ahupua‘a, today the future of Hawai‘i is foreshadowed in how we understand and proceed with restoring and protecting Hawai‘i’s publically held stream water at Na- Wai ‘Eha- and beyond. Who Owns the Water? Na Wai ‘Eha and Maui Agriculture’s Tug of War
John Duey is not who you would expect to find on the frontlines of Hawai‘i’s most pressing environmental battle: 71 years old, Tea Party member, Rush Limbaugh devotee and fierce critic of President Obama. As we sat in his office, nestled in ‘I ao Valley, the rushing of the rain and ‘I ao Stream outside, Duey succinctly summed up his position, “I’m a one-issue environmentalist. I’m not a tree-hugger or a crazy zealot. But this is a fight worth fighting.” Duey was one of the founding members of Hui O Na- Wai ‘Eha-, who along with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and Maui Tomorrow, represented by Earthjustice attorneys Kapua Sproat and Isaac Morikawe, filed a petition to the Water Commission for the restoration of Na- Wai ‘Eha-’s stream flow. For over a century the water
flowing down Hawai‘i’s streams have been diverted to feed the water hungry crops of commercial agricultural operations. The infrastructure, developed in the heyday of the plantation era, diverts over 80 percent of Na- Wai ‘Eha-, leaving these streams with little to no water, except during heavy rains. For over a century, Hawaii Commercial & Sugar (HC&S) and Wailuku Water Company (WWC) grew rich off of Na- Wai ‘Eha-'s “free” resources, watering some of Hawai‘i’s most productive sugar fields. While the sugar fields of central Maui remain, the rest quickly morphed into golf courses and real-estate developments, as Wailuku Sugar sold off its land holdings and began delivering its last remaining valuable resource to interested customers under its new name: Wailuku Water Company. While the diversion of water might have been copacetic during the plantation era, the 1978 constitutional convention brought with it a radical provision that designated Hawai‘i’s water resources as a public trust to be responsibly managed and maintained by the installation of a Water Code and the Water Commission. This was reaffirmed in the 2000 Waia-hole ditch case, where the state was once again charged with the duty of protecting Hawai‘i’s publicly held water resources for present and future generations. In both instances, the burden of proof and responsibility was shifted to off-stream users and those who divert water for their own public gain. “Takers now have to GREENM AGAZ INE HAWAII.COM
45
Photo: Courtesy Earthjustice
CONSERVATION
46
GRE E N M A G A Z I N E H AWAII.C O M
Photo: Courtesy Earthjustice
CONSERVATION
Major diversions rape streams of their natural flow, negatively impacting native wildlife and local farmers downstream. The ‘I ao Diversion, hard at work.
GREENM AGAZ INE HAWAII.COM
47
CONSERVATION
Photo: Courtesy USGS, pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2010/5011
Native stream fauna, ‘o‘opu na-kea.
Photo: Ashley Lukens
With the majority of water in West Maui’s streams diverted to water thirsty sugar cane, mauka to makai streams only flow sporadically, during the heaviest of rains.
48
GRE E N M A G A Z I N E H AWAII.C O M
justify their takings, showing not only why they need the water they are taking from the stream, but they are doing so efficiently and that there are no alternative sources,” explained attorney Isaac Morikawe. In the case of Na- Wai ‘Eha-, neither HC&S nor Wailuku Water Company have adequately demonstrated need, efficiency or lack of viable alternatives. HC&S and Wailuku Water Company assert that the diverted water is essential for the economic viability of their businesses and that without maintenance of the current distribution of stream water they would be forced to shut down (Avery Chumbly, president of Wailuku Water Company, declined comment for this article). They have repeatedly maintained that they have the public’s best interest in mind and that they are simply delivering a resource others are demanding. This response has turned this issue on Maui into an environment versus jobs showdown. Yet when the water is not used, it is wasted. During the contested case hearings, Earthjustice attorneys, community members and Na- Wai ‘Eha- residents repeatedly documented instances where water was dumped in ditches, along roadsides and in fallow fields. “HC&S has viable alternatives to destroying these streams, but prefers to use stream water because it is cheap or free,” said Irene Bowie, Executive Director of Maui Tomorrow, in a press release during the contested case process. “There is nothing cheap or free about the priceless natural and cultural value of streams flowing mauka to makai, and private companies aren’t entitled to maximize their profits off of public water.”
Traditional Rights and Practices: Putting the Culture Back in Agriculture Ho-ku-ao Pellegrino and his family have been living on their kuleana land in Waikapu-, the first ahupua‘a of Na- Wai ‘Eha-, for over 150 years. The 12 lo‘i kalo that they are restoring at Noho‘ana Farm are 450 to 500 years old. In the 1930s, however, when Wailuku Sugar was at its peak, his family was forced to stop cultivating kalo, as the stream that fed their land was diverted and ran dry. According to Pellegrino, the ku-puna of Waikapu- say the stream ran dry from as early as the 1900s until the 1980s. It wasn’t until 1998 that Ho-ku-ao started to farm dryland kalo with his father, eventually leading to the restoration of their historical lo‘i and the foundation of Noho‘ana Farm. “When I grew up here, I always remember the river flowing. But ‘flowing’ to me didn’t come with a concept of how water levels compared to what my ancestors remember,” described Pellegrino. “When we started this, I had no idea that the amount of water we would need to re-open all 12 of our lo‘i would be so much more than I was used to seeing in the river.” The diversions, which cut across all of Na- Wai ‘Eha-, threaten the cultural traditions of kanaka maoli and Hawai‘i’s taro farmers. Pellegrino continued, “Hiking up into the mountains, I would always see the diversions but I had no idea what they meant until I started farming kalo and learned more about my heritage and my link to this ‘a-ina and Na- Wai ‘Eha-. It was only then that I discovered that the amount of water I was used to seeing in the Waikapu- stream growing up was only five percent of what originally flowed there. “At the time of the Ma-hele of 1848,” explained Pellegrino, who has done extensive research on Waikapu-, “a conservative estimate of 1,400 lo‘i kalo on roughly 1,000 acres were present. Today there is only enough water to cultivate a total of eight lo‘i on less than one acre at any given time in Waikapu-. It is almost impossible for us to live off
CONSERVATION
Photo: Courtesy USGS, pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2010/5011
A dry streambed in the ‘I ao Stream, caused by upstream diversions.
our land, let alone sustain our community.” Diversions not only reduce the amount of water that reaches downstream users like the Pellegrinos and the other four kalo farmers along Waikapu- stream, but by decreasing the overall volume of water in the stream, diversions lead to overall water warming, which makes kalo, a plant which requires cool, clean flowing water, more difficult to grow. “I am always astonished as I look through old photographs of valleys completely cultivated in lo‘i kalo and the pure ingenuity of our ancestors in managing their water resources in a way that was pono. Kalo cultivation was and still very much is a way of life. It is the reason why we are here today as Hawaiians,” said Pellegrino. Today, the Pellegrino family, one of many families supporting Hui O Na- Wai ‘Eha-, has developed their lo‘i kalo farm into a cultural learning center for people of Hawai‘i and abroad. Over 1,500 children and adults visit the lo‘i every year. Much of the kalo harvested goes towards supporting the Waikapu- community. “We want to sustain the Waikapu- community with ‘ai pono—healthy foods,” stressed Pellegrino. “Our central mission is to put culture back in agriculture. As we restore our cultural landscapes, especially kuleana lands, my hope is that people will be inspired once again to become responsible stewards of our ‘a-ina and learn to understand, value and practice the traditional farming methods of our ancestors.” Just as our fresh water and streams connect our mountains to the sea in an intricate maze of symbiotic ecological relationships, so too does the water link us to Hawai‘i’s past and the practices that underscored
the traditional Hawaiian way of life. “The only way to achieve and continue perpetuating our culture, agriculture and lifestyle rests on restoring Na- Wai ‘Eha-’s stream flow,” opined Pellegrino.
Mauka to Makai: Preserving Ecosystems, Watersheds and Wetlands
Stream diversions have had a devastating impact on the overall health of Maui’s watersheds and the native ecosystems that have evolved to depend on continuous mauka-to-makai stream flow. The ‘o‘opu (gobies), ‘o-pae (crustaceans) and hı- hı- wai (limpet) all spend their larval stages in the brackish waters near shore and return to the streams for the majority of their lives, transforming as they migrate. If there are long dry reaches, like those caused by diversions, native stream species will not be able to migrate up stream or their larvae will not reach the oceans. Further, as diversions decrease the overall stream volume and the water warms, invasive species thrive. Native stream species are a part of a complex interconnected food chain, integral to stream and ecosystem health. The influx of stream water into the ocean also supports fishponds, wetlands and other near-shore ecosystems where the growth of limu is critical to the entire ocean food chain. “As the higher end of the in-stream food chain, these species are a prime indicator of the healthy functioning of the stream ecosystem from top to bottom, GREENM AGAZ INE HAWAII.COM
49
CONSERVATION
like the canary in a coal mine,” explained Isaac Morikawe. “‘O‘opu, ‘o-pae and hı- hı- wai are also valued by native Hawaiians and others as resources for subsistence gathering. These animals are an inseparable part of native Hawaiian culture and are the subject of many ancient Hawaiian stories and legends.” Maui’s water problems are not just about the way their water is managed, or mismanaged for that matter. As the story of Na- Wai ‘Ehademonstrates, the future of our water will also depend upon how we understand what grows and what does not grow on our land and the health of these sensitive ecosystems based on its inhabitants. Na- Wai ‘Eha- and Maui’s watershed are more than the sum of their parts—the value of native species and plant life demand our protection.
David vs. Goliath
Of all the fresh water used on a daily basis around the world, 70 percent is used for agricultural purposes, while only 10 percent is used for personal domestic use (the remaining 20 percent is used for industrial purposes). This sheds new light on the debates surrounding water conservation. Despite the heavy pressure on Maui’s aquifers for residential and commercial domestic use, the fact remains that the majority of Maui’s fresh water ends up in fields growing crops—crops that are water hungry. Sugar is one of the thirstiest crops, needing more than ten thousand gallons of water per day, per acre, and sugar can’t even feed us. Growing commodity crops for export or fuel makes little sense when we import 85 percent of our food, the cost of which rises proportionately with the cost of oil. A sustainably managed watershed is central to the future of agriculture and food security in Hawai‘i. As the supply of readily available potable water decreases, our communities will be forced us to decide whether or not this future will continue to privilege large agricultural operations like the monocultures of Hawai‘i’s plantation past, or if it will turn to the diversified small farming operations which use less water, less pesticides, and produce more food per acre. “Reclaiming the land with perennial cropping systems and animals is our mission,” said Vincent Mina of Maui Aloha ‘Aina and The Hawai‘i Farmer’s Union of Maui County. “We want to restore and create resiliently in our agricultural system, not this monocrop madness that uses extractive fossil-fuel based fertilizers to grow cheap food and biofuels while tightening up the ‘a-ina, depleting it of its structure.” Mina recently demonstrated the inability of sugar cane soil to hold water to Maui’s City Council, advocating for the restoration of soils through permaculture and diversified organic farming. Unfortunately, recommendations like these too often fall on deaf ears, seen as extreme and unrealistic alternatives to industrial agriculture. For years, Big Ag has taken water away from native stream species, small farmers and traditional users. Make no mistake, bio-fuels agriculture will be no different. If Na- Wai ‘Eha- forces us to do anything, it should force us to rethink Hawai‘i’s relationship with agriculture.
Flowing Forward
In April 2009, after a lengthy study commissioned by the Water Commission, Hearings Officer Lawrence Miike once again reaffirmed the mandate of the 1978 Constitutional Convention and Waia-hole ditch case, recommending the restoration of 34.5 million gallons per day
CONSERVATION
282-0477 to Na- Wai ‘Eha-, about half of the total stream flow. Unfortunately, and to the continued detriment of the local community and ecosystem, on June 10, 2010 the Water Commission issued its final ruling. The majority (Commissioner Miike was the only dissenting voice) decided to reduce the amount of restoration to only 12.5 million gallons per day, leaving ‘I ao and Waikapu- Streams in their completely dewatered state. “This is a miscarriage of justice and it will not stand,” said Earthjustice attorney Isaac Moriwake. “In the 21st century, the Commission majority is still letting plantation politics, rather than the law, rule our most precious resource.” Dissenting Commissioner Lawrence Miike issued a detailed and strongly worded opinion criticizing the majority for turning the Commission’s public trust responsibilities “on their heads.” Miike concluded, “By this decision, the majority has failed in its duties under the Constitution and the State Water Code as trustee of the state’s public water resources.” “Hui members are shocked that the Commission majority rewrote the final decision based on politics, not the law, and over the strong objection of the only Commissioner to sit through months of proceedings and review all of the evidence,” said Hui O Na- Wai ‘Eha- President John Duey. “Even though the Commission majority was swayed by plantation pressure, we believe the law and history will vindicate us.” Na- Wai ‘Eha- is also not the only area where water rights are being contested. Citizens of east Maui recently reached a compromise with the Water Commission and the Department of Land and Natural Resources, which restored water to 27 streams there. Like Na- Wai ‘Eha-, however, the process was tedious and lengthy, taking over seven years, a process that the Water Code stipulates should take only 180 days. Community groups in west Maui and on Moloka‘i and Big Island are considering similar moves towards reclaiming the water that once flowed freely in their streams as well. Kapua Sproat, Ka Huli Ao and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs recently published Ola I Ka Wai, a legal primer on the use and management of water resources in Hawai‘i, intended for those wanting to better understand their rights within the current legal framework. As the primer and Na- Wai ‘Eha- demonstrate, Hawai‘i is uniquely positioned to respond to the issues of water rights and privatization: our constitution and Water Code clearly establish that water, and all of Hawai‘i’s natural resources, are publically held and cannot be privately owned. Yet according to Earthjustice attorney Isaac Morikawe, this broad mandate is lacking in “staff, funding, and most importantly, political will.” Our publicly held right to water and other natural resources need to be asserted and protected and Na- Wai ‘Eha- is a powerful example of community and individual involvement. Na- Wai ‘Eha- not only teaches us about the complexity of water—its ecological, historical and cultural importance in Hawai‘i—Na- Wai ‘Eha- is also the story of people and communities coming together to fight for what is lawfully theirs, refusing to take a history of colonial resource exploitation as a roadmap for the future. Na- Wai ‘Eha- is a story of democracy that promises all of us a future where resources can and will be managed by the people and for the people. As Arundhati Roy, internationally renowned anti-globalization activist, wrote, “It is important to remember that our freedoms, such as they are, were never given to us by any government, they have been wrested by us. If we do not test them from time to time, they atrophy. If we do not guard them constantly, they will be taken away from us. If we do not demand more and more, we will be left with less and less.”
www.coolroofhawaii.com
RESIDENTIAL / COMMERCIAL
LIC# C-28824
WE’RE EXPERTS IN COOL ROOFS Offering Small Repairs to Full Roof Replacements Cool Roofing • Traditional Roofing Waterproofing • Repairs • Solar Fans • Skylights Reduces Temperatures At Least 40 - 60 Degrees! • Lowers Your Electric Bill Protects Your Property With A Long Water Leak Warranty • Reduces Global Warming
FREE SOLAR FAN!
Included with a full Cool Roof purchase when mentioning this Ad in Green Magazine. *Offer Ends September 1st 2010 - Some restrictions apply.
MEMBER
MARKETPLACE
The Bike Shop Hawaii
Soléo Organics Sunscreen
POP Worm Bin
From your first charity ride to your first century, the stable performance and heads-up position of the Specialized Sirrus has you covered. This flat-bar road bike makes sure every ride delivers easy speed, low weight and high comfort. Available at our Honolulu, Aiea and Kailua locations. Starting at $519.99 plus tax and license.
Soléo Organics is an organically produced all-natural skin-care solution that is safe for humans and the environment. Soléo has been innovatively formulated without the use of any chemical UV-absorbers, titanium dioxide, or synthetic preservatives. It is biodegradable, neutrally scented, and has a low skin irritation factor.
Recycle with earthworms! Worms convert household garbage to a nutrientrich organic soil amendment quickly, safely, with no odor. Waikiki Worm Company now offers a mini version of its commercial Pipeline worm system – the 5´ x 3´ POP (Piece O’ Pipeline) worm bin is ideal for processing food, paper, and pet waste at home.
The Bike Shop 1149 South King Street Honolulu, Hawaii 96814 808.596.0588 bikeshophawaii.com
Available at: Baby aWEARness Manoa Marketplace, Second Floor 2752 Woodlawn Dr., Suite 5-209 Honolulu, Hawaii 96822
Waikiki Worm Company 1917 South King Street Honolulu, Hawaii 96826 808.945.WORM (9676) waikikiworm.com
ERGObaby Baby Carriers
Socially Responsible & Green Investing
Sierra Dew Designs
The ultimate, ergonomically-designed HandsFree baby carrier for all babies— newborn to toddler—can be worn in the front, back, or hip positions. With a range of carriers and lifestyle products, ERGObaby is the best way to support your baby and your lifestyle. ERGObaby 3390 Old Haleakala Highway Pukalani, Hawaii 96768 1.888.416.4888 ergobaby.com
52
GRE E N M A G A Z I N E H AWAII.C O M
Align your values with your life savings, avoid ethically objectionable industries and practices, and support the transition to the green economy. Since 1985, we’ve helped individuals and institutions nationwide foster social change with their investment accounts. Authors of Investing With Your Values: Making Money and Making a Difference.
A trendsetting, conscious lifestyle brand creating wearable art for the contemporary woman and a socially responsible label promoting consumer awareness. Our garments are made from organic cotton, sweatshop-free, recycled and vintage fabrics and are printed locally in Honolulu. We also create urban clothing and handcrafted jewelry while supporting fare wages and the local economy.
Michael Kramer, AIF® 808.331.0910 michael@naturalinvesting.com naturalinvesting.com
Sierra Dew P.O. Box 5142 Kaneohe, Hawaii 96744 sierradew.com
MARKETPLACE
Ecohashi Every year, 63 billion disposable chopsticks are manufactured, using 25 million trees. Stop the waste! When it’s time to eat, reach for your ecohashi instead of disposable chopsticks or plastic utensils. Ecohashi are fun and fashionable napkins that are used to carry reusable chopsticks. Ecohashi P.O. Box 255 Haleiwa, Hawaii 96712 ecohashi.net
Dewpointe Atmospheric Water Generator The innovative Dewpointe atmospheric water generator is a simple, yet highly effective appliance that creates drinking water out of the abundant supply of moisture in the atmosphere. Serving as a dehumidifier, the Dewpointe features a multi-stage filtration system to produce up to six to eight gallons daily of ultrapure, delicious drinking water for the home, office or condo. Sky Pure Hawaii 808.572.4120 skypurehawaii.com
Dragon’s Eye Natural Farming Workshops One-Day workshops will be led by Dragon’s Eye Learning Center. Learn about Korean Natural Farming systems for plants and animals; make inputs such as Fermented Plant Juice as shown above. O‘ahu workshops will be held at Olomana Gardens, Kahumana Farm and Meleana’s Farm. For information and to register go to dragonseyecenter.org or call us at 808-965-9371. Dragon’s Eye Learning Center info@dragonseyecenter.org dragonseyecenter.org
Nourish Naturally Hawaiian Bath & Body natural skincare is carefully blended with pure essential oils and island-inspired scents to create a skincare line that gently cleanses and moisturizes to retain your skin’s natural beauty. Using natural ingredients for a clean and natural you! www.hawaiianbathbody.com North Shore Soap Factory 67-106 Kealohanui Street Waialua, Hawaii 96791 808.637.8400 hawaiianbathbody.com
Organik Beach Bum
MiNei Designs Hawaii
Carry your beach gear or groceries in this stylish bag made from Kona coffee burlap, recycled inside cloth liner, brass grommets and dock rope handles. Available at WholeFoods, Global Village, Global Creations or BlaineAshley.com.
These one-of-a-kind pieces of art by Katye Killebrew are reconstructed from vintage charms and beads recycled from all over the world. Available exclusively at Mu‘umu‘u Heaven. Custom orders and designs by appointment. www.mineijewelry.com
Organik The Green Room 73-5580 Maiau Street, G Unit Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740 theorganik.com
MiNei Designs Hawaii Katye Killebrew 808.864.6281 katyek@mac.com mineijewelry.com
GREENM AGAZ INE HAWAII.COM
53
MARKETPLACE
The Greener Everpaddle
Maui Thing
55 Pawsh Place
Our eco-friendlier stand-up and OC paddles are made from reclaimed wood from Hawaiian construction sites and wood workshops. Each paddle is unique and artfully handmade, and include hardwoods like koa, mahogany, and curly mango. We can customize the length and blade shape to your needs. From $239.
Clothing with a conscience. We hope to provoke change and positivity through our designs that are inspired by good things on Maui. Clothing that promotes good and does good for those who wear it. We’re stuck on good.
Discover how easy it is for your pup to live a green lifestyle too. Visit us for a wide selection of natural and organic foods, treats, grooming products and more, as well as natural alternatives to keep your pet healthy, active and green.
Maui Thing 7 North Market Street Wailuku, Hawaii 96793 808.249.0215 mauithing.com
55 Pawsh Place 563 Farrington Highway, Suite 105 Kapolei, Hawaii 96707 808.674.2055 facebook.com/55pawshplace
Cool Roof Hawaii
Ho‘ala Salon and Spa
Cool Roof Hawaii is a licensed roofing and waterproofing contractor specializing in Cool Roofs. Cool Roofs reflect up to 90 percent of the sun’s energy, which dramatically drops the interior temperature of your property, in turn lowering your HECO bill with an environmentally friendly waterproof membrane. Cool Roof Hawaii offers affordable, reliable and professional service with long-term waterproofing warranties. (#C-28824)
Feel beautifully cared for at Ho‘ala Salon and Spa. We provide a private spa area, complete salon services, and natural nail care. Aveda’s plant derived products are used exclusively and sold in our retail store. Experience the Ho‘ala difference and reserve your appointment today (808)947-6141.
Luibueno’s Mexican Seafood & Fish Market
Everpaddle P.O. Box 1123 Haleiwa, Hawaii 96712 808.371.9686 everpaddle.com
Cool Roof Hawaii 808.282.0477 coolroofhawaii.com
54
GRE E N M A G A Z I N E H AWAII.C O M
Ho‘ala Salon and Spa 1450 Ala Moana Boulevard #3201 Honolulu, Hawaii 96814 808.947.6141 hoalasalonspa.com
Featuring Mexican and Spanish cuisine focusing on seafood and traditional Baja style dishes made daily with fresh ingredients. A full bar offers Latin cocktails and fresh lime sour Margaritas. A festive, upscale, service oriented dining experience at an affordable price. Luibueno’s Mexican Seafood & Fish Market 66-165 Kamehameha Highway Haleiwa, Hawaii 96712 808.637.7717 luibueno.com
SUSTAINABLE EFFICIENT ADVERTISING.
Advertise your business with GREEN: Hawai‘i’s Sustainable Living Magazine and tap into an emerging market of eco-conscious consumers that proudly support local Hawai‘i businesses offering sustainable products and services.
For more information about advertising opportunities with GREEN, email us at: info@greenmagazinehawaii.com Please included the word “advertising” in the subject line with your email inquiry, or call 808-927-8880. Mahalo!
greenmagazinehawaii.com/advertise
ADVERTISER’S DIRECTORY
Oahu 55 Pawsh Place 563 Farrington Hwy, Suite 105 Kapolei, Hawaii 96707 808.674.2055 facebook.com/55pawshplace Aloha Air Cargo 808.836.4191 alohaaircargo.com Baby aWEARness 2752 Woodlawn Dr., 2nd Floor Honolulu, Hawaii 96821 808.988.0010 babyawearness.com Book Ends 600 Kailua Road Kailua, HI 96734 808.261.1996 Cool Roof Hawaii 808.282.0477 coolroofhawaii.com Defend Oahu Coalition defendoahucoalition.org Details International 560 N. Nimitz Highway, #104 Honolulu, Hawaii 96817 808.521.7424 details-international.com Distinctive Homes Hawaii John Keoni Welch R-GRI P.O. Box 161047 Honolulu, Hawaii 96816 808.923.9099 dhhre.com Down To Earth 2525 South King Street Honolulu, Hawaii 96826 808.947.7678 201 Hamakua Drive Kailua, Hawaii 96734 808.262.3838 98-129 Kaonohi Street Aiea, Hawaii 96701 808.488.1375 downtoearth.org Dragon’s Eye Learning Center info@dragonseyecenter.org dragonseyecenter.org
56
ERGObaby 3390 Old Haleakala Highway Pukalani, Hawaii 96768 1.888.416.4888 ergobaby.com Everpaddle P.O. Box 1123 Haleiwa, Hawaii 96712 808.371.9686 everpaddle.com Hale‘iwa Farmers’ Market North Shore, O‘ahu haleiwafarmersmarket.com Hawai‘i Conservation Alliance 1151 Punchbowl St., Rm 224 Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 808.586.0916 hawaiiconservation.org Hawaii Skylights and Solar Fans P.O. Box 1169 Kapaau, Hawaii 96755 808.847.6527 hawaiiskylights.com Hawaiian Electric Co. heco.com Hawaiian Hydroponics 4224 Waialae Avenue Honolulu, Hawaii 96816 808.735.8665 hawaiianhydroshop.com Hoala Salon and Spa 1450 Ala Moana Blvd., #3201 Honolulu, Hawaii 96814 808.947.6141 hoalasalonspa.com Honolulu Board of Water Supply boardofwatersupply.com Hui Ku Maoli Ola Hawaiian Plant Specialists 46-403 Haiku Road Kaneohe, Hawaii 96744 808.295.7777 plantnativehawaii.com Inter-Island Solar Supply 761 Ahua Street Honolulu, Hawaii 96819 808.523.0711 Oahu 808.329.7890 Kona 808.871.1030 Maui solarsupply.com
Ecohashi P.O. Box 255 Haleiwa, Hawaii 96712 ecohashi.net
Jamba Juice jambajuicehawaii.com
Support Our Advertisers
When contacting our advertisers, please be sure to mention that you saw their ad in GREEN. Mahalo!
GRE E N M A G A Z I N E H AWAII.C O M
Joy of Pilates Haleiwa, O‘ahu 808.294.0605 joyofpilateshawaii.com Kai Ku Hale 66-145 Kamehameha Hwy. Haleiwa, Hawaii 96712 808.636.2244 kaikuhale.com King Windward Nissan 45-568 Kamehameha Hwy. Kaneohe, Hawaii 96744 1.888.385.3203 kingwindwardnissan.com Kokua Hawaii Foundation kokuahawaiifoundation.org Koolau Farmers 1199 Dillingham Blvd # C109 Honolulu, Hawaii 96817 808.843.0436 45-580 Kamehameha Highway Kaneohe, Hawaii 96744 808.247.3911 1127 Kailua Road Kailua, Hawaii 96734 808.263.4414 Luibueno's Mexican & Seafood Restaurant 66-165 Kamehameha Highway Haleiwa, Hawaii 96712 808.637.7717 luibueno.com Makeke O Maunalua Farmers' Market Hawaii Kai, O‘ahu haleiwafarmersmarket.com Maui Thing 7 North Market Street Wailuku, Hawaii 96793 808.249.0215 mauithing.com
Natural Investments 808.331.0910 naturalinvesting.com North Shore Soap Factory 67-106 Kealohanui Street Waialua, Hawaii 96791 808.637.8400 hawaiianbathbody.com Organik Clothing P.O. Box 4710 Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96745 theorganik.com Pacific Corporate Solutions 99-1305 B Koaha Place Aiea, Hawaii 96701 808.488.8870 ewastehawaii.com Pacific Home 420 Ward Avenue Honolulu, Hawaii 96814 808.596.9338 pacific-home.com Paradise Eyewear 1413 South King Street, 203 Honolulu, Hawaii 96814 808.955.3532 Red Ginger Cafe & Gift Shop 2752 Woodlawn Drive 2nd Floor Honolulu, Hawaii 96822 808.988.0588 redgingercafemanoa.com Sierra Dew Designs P.O. Box 5142 Kaneohe, Hawaii 96744 sierradew.com Simplicity Imports 808.306.2382 simplicityimportsdesign.com Sky Pure Hawaii 808.572.4120 skypurehawaii.com
MiNei Hawaii 2140 Aha Niu Place Honolulu, Hawaii 96821 808.734.3499 mineijewelry.com
So’Mace 1115 Young Street Honolulu, Hawaii 96814 808.593.8780 somacedesign.com
Native Books 1050 Ala Moana Blvd., #1000 Honolulu, Hawaii 96814 808.596.8885 nativebookshawaii.com
Summer Baptist, ND 1188 Bishop Street, Suite 1509 Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 808.783.0361 sacredhealingarts.info
ADVERTISER’S DIRECTORY
Sun Energy Solutions 1124 Fort Street Mall, Suite 204 Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 808.587.8312 sunenergyhi.com Surfrider Foundation surfrider.org/oahu surfrider.org/maui surfriderkauai.ning.com Sustainable Marketplace of the Pacific 925 Bethel Street, Suite 100 Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 sustainablemarketplacepacific. com The Bike Shop 1149 South King Street Honolulu, Hawaii 96814 808.591.9162 98-019 Kamehameha Highway Aiea, Hawaii 96701 808.487.3615 270 Kuulei Road Kailua, Hawaii 96734 808.261.1553 bikeshophawaii.com The Green House 224 Pakohana Street Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 808.524.8427 thegreenhousehawaii.com The Wiki Garden 808.396.9454 thewikigarden.com Waikiki Worm Company 1917 South King Street Honolulu, Hawaii 96826 808.945.9676 waikikiworm.com Wellness Lifestyles 2111 South Beretania St., #102 Honolulu, Hawaii 96826 808.941.7676 wellnesslifestyleshawaii.com Woodstock Properties, Inc. Brett Schenk 98-211 Pali Momi Street, #430 Aiea, Hawaii 96701 808.488.1588 brettschenk.com
Maui Ace Hardware Lahaina Square 840 Wainee Street, Unit A Lahaina, Hawaii 96761 808.667.5883 1280 South Kihei Road Kihei, Hawaii 96753 808.879.7060 Pukalani Terrace Center 55 Pukalani Street Pukalani, Hawaii 96768 808.572.5566 Bamboo Living Homes P.O. Box 792168 Paia, Hawaii 96779 877.857.0057 bambooliving.com Down to Earth 305 Dairy Road Kahului, Hawaii 96732 808.877.2661 downtoearth.org Hawaiian Moons Natural Foods 2411 South Kihei Road Kihei, Hawaii 96753 808.875.4356 hawaiianmoons.com Lahaina Design Center 75 Kupuohi Street, #103 Lahaina, Hawaii 96761 Mana Foods 49 Baldwin Avenue Paia, Hawaii 96779 808.579.8078 manafoodsmaui.com Pacific Home Lahaina Design Center 75 Kupuohi Street, #103 Lahaina, Hawaii 96761 pacific-home.com Rising Sun Solar 810 Kokomo Road, Suite 160 Haiku, Hawaii 96708 808.579.8287 risingsunsolar.com Sky Pure Hawaii 808.572.4120 skypurehawaii.com
Community gardens offer those without the necessary real estate to grow their own food the opportunity to plant a garden.
Grow Your Own
A sustainable Hawai‘i starts with local food production
Food is more than just sustenance, it’s a reflection of our heritage and the health of our communities. Awareness is building to the importance of growing our own food and supporting local agriculture. In the Fall Issue, 2010, GREEN examines how our communities are building resilience, self-sufficiency and food security through food literacy, where schools around the state are teaching students how to grow their own food and connect to Hawai‘i through school garden programs. Also featured in the next issue, deconstruction is often overlooked as a part of sustainable building, but there’s
58
GRE E N M A G A Z I N E H AWAII.C O M
a new trend and growing push to reuse building materials. Also coming up, take a closer look at the myriad and relatively unknown breadth of Hawai‘i’s native ferns and take a tour of an upcountry Maui home constructed of bamboo. Look for the Fall Issue at local retailers starting October 1, 2010. Check greenmagazinehawaii.com for a distributor near you. Email info@greenmagazinehawaii. com and request the Ezine, the complete online version of GREEN, delivered directly to your inbox each quarter for free.
Photo: Kevin Whitton
COMING NEXT ISSUE
HOW TO SAVE BIG AT HOME AND WORK.
TO SAVE ENERGY AT HOME, A GOOD PLACE TO START IS WITH YOUR BIG ENERGY USERS.
SMALL BUSINESSES AND RESTAURANTS HAVE MANY OPTIONS FOR SAVING ENERGY.
For more money-saving energy
Smart energy use can make
tips, download our free Power
a big difference in your
to Save Guide for Your Home
bottom line. Download our
at hawaiisenergyfuture.com.
free Power to Save Guide for Small Business at hawaiisenergyfuture.com.
Click on our Clean Energy “Apps” at hawaiisenergyfuture.com