Green Magazine Hawaii

SUSTAINABLE TOURISM

PINK IS THE NEW GREEN AT THE ROYAL HAWAIIAN

-ALAMA HONUA M r o f e g a y o v de i w d l r o w A

greenmagazinehawaii.com OCT/NOV/DEC 2014

Vol. 6 #4

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Since ’95, The Arbor Collective has been a growing cooperative of designers, artists and friends, whose shared goal is building rideable and wearable things from the best stuff possible. From day one, it’s been good times, all day, everyday, almost without fail. Along the way we’ve managed to combine a little forward thinking design and old school craftsmanship, with a serious commitment to the environment. We were determined to build a brand of snowboards and skateboards with a more appreciable use of beneficial materials such as wood, bamboo, and other sustainable components. The goal was to match the riding experience, improve performance, and highlight art that reinforces the Arbor story.

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For us, the desire to protect the planet comes from time spent out in the environment – on the hill, in the surf, on the road. This compels us to design responsibly whenever and wherever possible.

Since day one, it has been the inspiration behind the brand – give back, plant trees. The Latin name for tree is Arbor. To that end, a portion of every sale is donated to groups that plant trees. Today our principal partner is Hawaiian Legacy Reforestation Initiative. We are committed to supporting their efforts to restore forest ecosystems in Hawaii. Hawaii just happens to be where it all started. www.arborcollective.com www.LegacyTrees.org

“We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.” - Ancient Indian Proverb “One thing that continues to amaze me, is the incredible influence the Y has had in people’s lives,” reflected Michael Broderick, President and CEO of the YMCA of Honolulu. “I don’t think that a day has gone by that somebody hasn’t told me that the Y changed their life in some significant way. Everyday, somebody tells me that they learned about leadership at the Y, or they learned how to swim at the Y, or the Y was their second home growing up, or they rehabbed from a stroke at the Y. One of my most memorable ‘at-the-Y stories’ was when a young man came up to me after I gave a speech. He reminded me how we had first met in Court under less desirable circumstances when I was serving as a Family Court Judge. He said my words of encouragement back then led him to the Kalihi Y teen leadership program. Surrounded by role models, he opened up, gained confidence and enrolled in college. Today, he is now a part-time employee with our Y’s at-risk Ho’okupa’a program, working with teens to develop leadership and teamwork skills.”

And that’s what the Y is all about – helping people of all ages, backgrounds and needs achieve a level of health in mind, spirit and body that allows us to lead our fullest lives possible and have hope for the future.

From keiki to kupuna, the Y offers a wealth of signature Y programs to meet the critical needs of our community through three areas of focus: Youth Development, Healthy Living and Social Responsibility.

In the area of youth development, as just one example, the Y provides A-Plus services at more than 50 schools, helping to shape the minds and hearts of approximately 7,000 children. As for healthy living, the Y offers specialty programs for people living with chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, Parkinson and arthritis. Regarding social responsibility, the Y raises $1 million dollars a year and then turns around and gives it away in financial aid to make sure that everybody can benefit from the Y’s programs and services regardless of their ability to pay.

And now, in a new partnership between the YMCA of Honolulu and Hawaiian Legacy Hardwoods (HLH), you can support both the Y’s efforts in strengthening our community and Hawaiian Legacy Hardwoods’ efforts to restore our majestic koa forests.

The Hawaiian Legacy Reforestation Initiative (HLRI) is a non-profit organized by the founders of HLH. Together with more than sixty greenminded partners nationwide, they have planted more than 250,000 endemic koa, sandalwood and other endangered Hawaiian species across more than 700 acres on the slopes of Mauna Kea. You can join in by sponsoring the planting of a Koa Legacy Tree for $60, of which $20 of it can be designated to go the YMCA of Honolulu. You have the power to make a difference in the environment and your communityall by sponsoring the planting of a native tree!

To sponsor or plant your own Legacy Tree visit: www.LegacyTrees.org.

For more information about the YMCA of Honolulu, visit: www.ymcahonolulu.org.

CONTENTS Volume 6 Number 4 // October/November/December 2014

FEATURES _________________________________________________________________________

16 Protecting Natives

Fencing out invasive species at Kaua‘i’s Hono O Na- Pali Reserve

20 Mālama Honua

The Polynesian Voyaging Society’s worldwide voyage for global sustainability

26 Making pink the new green

Rebranding paradise at The Royal Hawaiian

32 Get Off The Bus

Sustainable tourism is saving Hawai‘i from mass tourism homogenization

BUILD + DESIGN __________________________________________________________________

08 The Bullitt Center

The world's greenest commercial building

NOW __________________________________________________________________

36 O‘ahu 43 Maui 44 Big Island 45 Kaua‘i PEOPLE ____________________________________________________

Photo: Hawaii Forest & Trail

47 Gail Slawson-Eich and

Michelle Eich

Red ‘i‘iwi on ‘o-hi‘a lehua, Big Island

BOLD EXTERIOR DESIGN

ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY

40 MPG2 COMBINED

Uncompromising exterior that is bold, yet refined

Simplifies, informs and keeps you safe with Intelligent Touch Controls, Multi-Information Display and available Blind Spot Monitor w/ Rear Cross-Traffic Alert1

Class-leading3 fuel economy with Toyota’s proven Hybrid Synergy Drive® technology

Learn more and build your Avalon Hybrid at ToyotaHawaii.com.

Included option on 2014 Avalon Hybrid Touring. Standard on 2014 Avalon Hybrid Limited. 22014 EPA-estimated mileage. Actual mileage will vary. See fueleconomy.gov for details. 3Based on manufacturers’ data for premium midsize segment. †Toyota Hawaii Care is complimentary with any new Toyota vehicle purchased. Covers normal factory-scheduled service for 2 years or 20,000 miles, whichever occurs first. Subject to change without notice. Toyota vehicle may not be part of a rental or commercial/government fleet or a taxi vehicle. See a Toyota Hawaii Dealer for additional details.

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EDITOR’S NOTE

hanG up The Keys and Turn off The CoMpuTer

Published by Element Media, Inc. VOLUME 6 :: NUMBER 4 :: OCTOBER/NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014 Publishers Jamie & Naomi Giambrone

What makes a vacation sustainable? Is it purchasing carbon credits to feel better about the negative impacts of the plane flight? Is it turning off the air conditioning when you slide into your hotel room? How about choosing to eat at restaurants that source their meat and produce locally? Do you change out the towels everyday or keep the same towel in the name of water conservation?

I went on vacation with the fam this summer—wifey, two girls.

We took a four-day trip to Kaua‘i. We love the laid-back, low-key vibe, the beaches, the funky little towns, good food and good friends. We escape to Kaua‘i often to get away, usually staying on the north shore, but decided to mix it up this time, so we posted up in Po‘ipû. There was south swell in the water and rain in the forecast, so the south shore seemed the obvious choice for this beach-going family. It’s always sunny in Po‘ipû, right?

Quality family time always recharges my battery. We were in the water everyday. My six-year-old recently started snorkeling and couldn’t get enough all weekend. She was swimming laps in this little cove, pointing at the fish. I could hear her giggling through the snorkel. My wife was happy to relax with the kids and soak up the sun. Wai‘ohai was breaking and the surf was fun our entire stay.

Good stuff.

Where’s the sustainability contingent you might ask? I’ll be the first to admit, no, I did not offset my airplane flight with carbon credits. What I found most impactful during our stay was something that was very easy to do. Other than driving from the airport to the condo and back, I didn’t drive the rest of the time.

For me, this is a big deal. I drive everyday, whether it’s to work, to the beach, taking the kids to school or soccer or piano lessons— being in the car is a part of daily life, taken-for-granted locomotion.

To break that cycle, even if only for a few days, felt so good. To bring life back into a bubble that stretched from the beach to the coffee shop across the street was rejuvenating for my soul. I don’t think I’ve ever been on vacation and used less than a quarter tank of gas for an entire week.

Most important of all, more than turning on the fans and turning off the air conditioning, more than eating at establishments that source local food, more than not throwing the towels on the floor everyday for a fresh set, the uninterrupted time with the family is when the seeds of sustainability are planted. Snorkeling over the reef, collecting wiliwili seeds with the kids, walking to the beach, sharing good times—that’s the beauty of living simply, out of the car, away from the computer, perfectly sustainable.

—Kevin Whitton

Associate Publisher E. S. Adler Managing Editor Kevin Whitton, kevin@elementmediahi.com Staff Writer Alyssa Fukumoto Lauren McNally Contributing Writers Rafael Bergstrom, Stuart H. Coleman, Tiffany Hervey, Lindsey Kesel, Alyssa S. Navares Myers Art Director Keith Usher Contributing Photographers Dave Miyamoto, Kevin Whitton Administration Kathy Bell, Sally Shaner Publishers' Assistant Chelsea Tsuchida Advertising Inquiries esadler@elementmediahi.com Advisory Board Stuart H. Coleman, Hawaii Coordinator Surfrider Foundation Mike Fairall, Principal RME Mokulua High Performance Builder Alan Hornstein, President Lenox Metals

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

ON THE COVER There are thousands of great shots of the ho-ku- le‘a. We purposely departed from the ubiquitous shot—sails raised, hulls cutting though the water—to focus in on the crew as well as canoe. Afterall, without the knowledgeable and dedicated crew, without the shared purpose of spreading sustainability around the world, it’s just another canoe.

Cover Photo: © 2014 Polynesian Voyaging Society/‘Oiwi TV. Maui Tauotaha

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Leading the nation in solar energy.

Percentage of customers in Hawai‘i with solar

Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative

6.1%*

Hawaiian Electric

11.0%*

Maui Electric

0.5%**

9.0%*

Hawai‘i Electric Light

8.0%* * As of 6/30/14 ** As of 12/31/13 National data courtesy of Solar Electric Power Association

Rooftop solar has grown dramatically in Hawai‘i in the past several years. Hawai‘i is now first in the nation for installed solar PV systems per customer.

Solar power, both utility-scale and rooftop systems, is part of our state’s diverse clean energy portfolio. With energy from solar, wind, waste-to-energy, biofuels, hydro and geothermal facilities, Hawai‘i receives 19% of its energy from renewable sources.

Through continued renewable growth and increased energy efficiency, our goals for 2030 are to: • Triple the amount of distributed solar power • Achieve more than 65% renewable energy Hawai‘i is setting new standards for others to follow, so that future generations can live in a cleaner, more sustainable world.

Find out more at www.hawaiianelectric.com.

The Bullitt Center Taking notes on the world’s greenest commercial building

By Kevin Whitton

“One building off by itself has zero impact on the world’s climate, but a building that is influential and begins to change the way that architects, engineers, contractors, developers and financial institutions shape the built environment, that’s a building that was worth building,” says Denis Hayes, CEO of the Bullitt Foundation.

The Bullitt Foundation is the owner of the Bullitt Center in Seattle, Washington, a beacon of sustainable design and construction. According to Hayes, it is “a bold attempt to do everything right.”

With a new wave of construction washing over Honolulu, Hawai‘i architects and builders need to look beyond island shores for ideas and inspiration in sustainable design, residentially and commercially. The Bullitt Center is a shining example of what can be accomplished. Built to make sense 250 years from now, the urban in-fill commercial building is net-zero energy, net-zero water, touts onsite sewage treatment and was constructed without toxic or dangerous “Red List” chemicals. To achieve this goal, once again proving that demand dictates markets, the builders persuaded manufacturers to redesign their products without harmful chemicals like phthalates and PVC. This innovative co-working space is a six-story, 50,000-square foot building naturally day lit and ventilated.

Practically living and breathing, the building’s windows open and close autonomously to maintain a healthy and comfortable indoor environment. In addition to office space, the Bullitt

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Photos: Nic Lehoux

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Center houses an open classroom, exhibition space and research laboratory. In a bold attempt to reduce the environmental and social impact of single occupancy vehicles and traffic congestion, the building promotes car-free living with onsite parking for bicycles only.

For its efforts, the Bullitt Center is seeking Living Building certification as part of the Living Building Challenge, which defines priorities on a technical level and as a set of core values. Created and built with the hope that future buildings will surpass the standards set by the Bullitt Center, Hawai‘i architects and builders have the chance to learn and build upon the solid foundation that the Bullitt Center has laid, so that Honolulu’s urban environment can be a place its residents are proud to be a part of.

The Bullitt Center’s modern staircase, with automated glass panels that open and close independently for natural ventilation, is one of many groundbreaking features that makes this building net-zero energy, net-zero water and one of a kind.

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reClaiMed Wood TaBles Giving new life and function to discarded materials Reclaimed wood furniture is one of the best ways to bring environmental consciousness to interior design. The patina and texture that repurposed wood brings is perfect for a casual, coastal style. The furniture surface will Joanne Gomez blends have signs of weathering and use, eco-friendly design with a which adds to its rough appeal and contemporary aesthetic. Her distinct look. For example, pieces background is in environmental that use boat teakwood will often science and she holds a fine have fossilized barnacles on its arts degree. surface; some wood planks have unique surprises like carved writing or nail holes. Raw, distressed tabletops with great color variation are visually interesting yet not too precious for everyday use, particularly for families with children.

The most commonly used reclaimed woods are elm, pine and teak.

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Choose reclaimed wood furniture certified by the Rainforest Alliance and the Forest Stewardship Council, which ensures the wood used in the manufacturing process is previously discarded material. Pieces made from salvaged lumber are usually handmade and inevitably one-of-a-kind because there can never be a standardized production method when the source is so varied. One of the biggest reclaimed furniture manufacturers in the United States describes furniture made from reclaimed timber as having “unique characteristics defined by the geographic region from which the timbers originate.” These pieces are imbued with the spirit and marks of their previous lives.

The beauty of having a reclaimed wood table in your home lies in the knowledge that the piece's raw material used to be something else: an old building in India, a fishing boat in Thailand or a barn in the heartland of America. It’s upcycling at its best. —Joanne Gomez pacific-home.com

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Answer Me These Questions Three Chuck Priest CEO of Hawaii Energy Efficiency 1 How does Hawaii Energy Efficiency incorporate the natural environment into its design considerations for clients?

Hawai‘i Energy Efficiency is a solutionoriented, LED lighting provider, yet we incorporate the usage and consideration of natural lighting with every client, like the use of external diver systems when in direct sunlight and in most non-climate-controlled environments.

2 What are the ways in which Hawaii Energy Efficiency strives to make its work sustainable?

Hawaii Energy Efficiency sources and provides Hawai‘i’s commercial, industrial and residential businesses with the best in energy-saving LED lighting technology. LED lighting uses 45 to 75 percent less energy than standard existing lighting found in most buildings, homes, parking lots and roadways

LED Lighting Solution Specialists

WAITING IS EXPENSIVE! Save 45-80% every Month Reduce Maintenance Eco-Responsible Superior Light Quality

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and its long lamp life nearly eliminates typically required maintenance. This is assured through the rigorous performance testing which all our LED products must meet.

3 How do you pick which products to use for custom design?

Hawaii Energy Efficiency chooses from topquality, vetted LED lighting products, which meet our requirements as well as qualify for local rebates and federal tax deductions. We customize each project based on four important criteria: the existing restrictions, the client’s needs, our client's specific requests and the budgetary restrictions we must meet. By addressing these criteria, we are able to provide our clients with the most appropriate LED lighting solution, a cost and savings analysis, a five-year financial statement and photo images of existing and recommended replacement lights, all profiled in our LED lighting solution proposal.

We Mean Green MOKULUA High Performance Builder is a Kailua-based, fully licensed and insured general contractor, known as Hawai‘i’s premier green builder and remodeler. Having received numerous local and national accolades for its cutting edge sustainable construction, MOKULUA HPB continues to push the envelope for residential builders by being the only Energy Star builder-partner with the EPA in Hawai‘i, which means a 100 percent commitment to Energy Star certification and a third-party inspection process by accredited inspectors.

At the core of MOKULUA HPB’s philosophy is a commitment to providing affordable services

to clients centered on the highest quality of craftsmanship and durability, delivering a peace of mind that is more than just a one-year warranty.

It’s a lifetime of comfort and caring for every project MOKULUA HPB completes. By way of a thought-out approach to energy efficiency, water conservation, indoor environmental health and sustainable construction practices, MOKULUA HPB has internally covered all the areas that

contribute to a high performance home so the homeowner can truly have peace of mind. Supplementing that approach, all of MOKULUA HPB’s homes are held to third-party performance inspections, not just standard building code as required by Energy Star and LEED for Homes.

MOKULUA HPB stands for something bigger than building homes—they stand for a commitment to the ‘A ina and the people that live in Hawai‘i, protecting the environment and improving construction industry standards within impact fellow professionals to do the same.

luxury home designs Archipelago Hawaii provides Hawai‘i’s residents with luxury home designs fit for their relaxed yet sophisticated island lifestyles.

With exquisitely imaginative taste and strong collaborative teamwork, Archipelago Hawaii strives to fulfill the wishes of homeowners from start to finish by creating the home of their dreams.

Award-winning designer Tiare Noelani Pinto (CKD, Allied ASID, CGP) leads the team at Archipelago Hawaii in creating beautiful and functional spaces. The process is achieved through a team approach that brings together the designer, structural engineer, general contractor and any other specialists necessary for each project. With Archipelago Hawaii leading the way, working as a team from the inception of the project has proven to create a more cohesive process and avoids costly changes and oversights.

Archipelago Hawaii proudly carries Crystal, Irpinia, Sollera, Design Craft cabinets and Sub-Zero/Wolf and Miele appliances.

With exceptional design expertise and knowledge of the latest products, Archipelago Hawaii’s team provides a complete resource for the homeowner.

Fencing Out Invasive-Species at Kaua‘i’s Hono O Na Pali Reserve

By Tiffany Hervey Magicians and entertainers wouldn’t use fog machines in their performances if there were not something spellbinding about the effect. When fog engulfs you in nature, your senses thrive because the sounds and smells around you are mysteries behind a sheer curtain—it is indeed mystical. This is what it’s like to walk through Kaua‘i’s Hono O Na- Pali Reserve. An enchanting trip back in time to a native Hawaiian forest, the reserve stretches along the picturesque Na- Pali coast, from sea level up to the Alaka‘i plateau at 4,284 feet.

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Photos: DLNR/Dan Dennison

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There are three major ecosystems found in the reserve: lowland mesic, lowland wet and montane wet. Hikers can experience the reserve on the Alaka‘i Swamp trail boardwalk.

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The ancient Hawaiian proverb “Hahai no ka ua i ka ulula‘au” (“The rain follows the forest”) shows how early Hawaiians clearly understood that water—and their survival—depended on forests.

Native forests act as a sponge, absorbing rain and fog moisture from passing clouds while reducing runoff. The Rain Follows the Forest initiative, enacted by Hawai‘i’s Department of Land and Natural Resources, recognizes that certain areas need to be protected in order to safeguard Hawai‘i’s watershed forests, which are the source of our population’s fresh water supply. In 1983, Hono O Na- Pali Reserve was established as part of the Division of Forestry and Wildlife’s Natural Area Reserves System, a program created in 1971 to protect the state’s unique ecosystems.

Hono O Na- Pali occupies 3,580 acres of native forests in the Hanalei and Waimea districts of Kaua‘i and has its own suite of rare and common native species that make up an ecosystem found nowhere else in the world. “By keeping these areas as intact as possible, the idea is that we will be able to keep recharging the water table,” Kaua‘i Natural Area Reserves System Manager Chris Mottley explains. “When watershed forests disappear, you’re ruining your resource and your water supply disappears.”

A big development is happening at Hono O Na- Pali.

Construction has begun on a 3.3-mile, four-foot-high fence from Pihea to Kilohana on the Alaka‘i plateau. The fence, made of steel wire fabric, will keep out feral goats and pigs from 2,290 acres of high elevation forests. One-way gates will be installed in the fence to allow animals to leave the protected area, but not re-enter. “The fence is one of the longest we’ve ever had here in Hawai‘i and will help to keep invasive animals and predators out of these native forests,” Mottley relates. These animals include feral ungulates (hoofed animals such as pigs, goats and deer) that threaten rare plants, degrade forest habitat, increase erosion, spread invasive weeds and create bare grounds, which are gateways for invasive plant species. Predators include feral cats, rats and barn owls that pray on native forest birds and seabirds. The reserve protects federally listed endangered species including 48 species of plants, three species of forest birds, three seabird species and one species of the Hawaiian picture-wing fly. It also provides a habitat for the endangered ‘o-pe‘ape‘a, the Hawaiian hoary bat.

Looking out for plants like ‘o-hi‘a and ‘ie‘ie to use for native restoration is one of Mapuana O’Sullivan’s daily tasks. The Kaua‘i Natural Area Reserves System specialist explains that invasive plant species like the Australian tree fern, strawberry guava, Clidemia and Himalayan ginger, which degrade habitat and reduce biodiversity, will also be kept out by the fence. “This area contains one of the most intact remaining native forests on Kaua‘i,” O’Sullivan says. “By picking select areas like this and preserving the habitat and diversity, you can show people what native forests with 200 native species within a 10-acre area look like.”

Three major ecosystems are found here: lowland mesic, lowland wet and montane wet. The reserve’s lowland wet ecosystems are a variety of grasslands, shrublands and forests dominated by kukui. The upper plateau is a series of ridges and valleys covered with ‘o-hi‘a and a variety of bog-adapted, low-

growing shrubs, herbs and sedges. Native trees here include lapalapa, o-lapa, ka-wa‘u, ko-lea and ‘ohe.

While most conservation projects are in very remote areas, this project can educate visitors about Hawai‘i’s natural resources and conservation needs as public access is allowed in the reserve for recreational and cultural uses. Hikers can experience the mistshrouded forests by hiking on the Alaka‘i Swamp trail boardwalk.

Gates and step-overs are being installed at trails and access points along the fence to facilitate access for hikers, hunters, gatherers and others who use the area.

“The fence is directly in the view of the public eye since it’s right on the boardwalk,” Mottley describes. “We expect to have heavy traffic near the fence so visitors will be able to experience this unique ecosystem—many of the plants and bird species seen along the trail only exist on Kaua‘i.” Species unique to Hono O Na- Pali include the Hawaiian duck, or koloa, which is known to nest in the reserve. Seabirds, such as the threatened ‘a‘o (Newell’s

shearwater) and the endangered ‘ua‘u (Hawaiian petrel) rely on the area as an important nesting location. Many of the bird species in the reserve are endangered and federally protected.

Protecting this area not only helps maintain fresh water supplies, but also helps to protect coral reefs from erosion in the north Kaua‘i region. The protection of forests is also critical for reducing Hawai‘i’s greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating the effects of climate change. The fence’s big-picture effort is to enhance the protection of this unique ecosystem that provides a wide range of benefits to the community today and for future generations. Department of Land and Natural Resources Chair William Aila Jr. sums it up, “It is our kuleana to make sure that our future generations are able to experience and enjoy the incredible plants and animals that are only found in these islands.

By protecting the Hono O Na- Pali Natural Area Reserve, we protect what makes Kaua‘i unique.”

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Photo : Kaipo Ki‘aha

Malama Honua

By Stuart H. Coleman

Photo: Scott Kanda

Photo: Maui Tauotaha

Photo: Ken Chong

Photo: Scott Kanda

Photo: Scott Kanda

Photo: Maui Tauotaha

W

hen Nainoa Thompson wanted to learn the lost art of celestial navigation, he had to travel all the way to a remote Micronesian island to seek guidance from Mau Piailug, one of the last traditional wayfinders in the world.

Mau returned with Nainoa to Honolulu to teach a select few how to navigate using only the stars, swells, seabirds and other natural signs. Under Mau’s mentorship, Nainoa guided the voyaging canoe Ho-ku-le‘a across the Pacific to Tahiti in 1980, becoming the first Hawaiian in almost 800 years to sail in the wake of his ancestors.

This historic voyage and the many others that followed inspired a rebirth in traditional voyaging and a cultural revival that spread across Polynesia. Mau once worried that his ancient knowledge would die with him, so he took pride that Nainoa and fellow navigators like Bruce Blankenfeld and Chad Babayan were perpetuating his teachings about wayfinding. Toward the end Mau’s life, he conferred on each of these men the title of Pwo, or Master Navigator. During the ceremony, the nearly blind wayfinder told them that the navigator’s job is to find a way out of the storm and help people reach their destination.

Before he passed on, Mau told Nainoa, “When my people put me in the dirt, it’s okay because in Hawai‘i I put the seed in the ground and let the tree grow. When my people want to know about me, they can come to Hawai‘i and talk to my students.”

Now, as president of the Polynesian Voyaging Society, Nainoa has worked with other master navigators, hundreds of crewmembers and legions of supporters to plan one of the most unique voyaging expeditions in maritime history. With the launch of the Worldwide Voyage this summer, a new generation of young navigators is learning to guide Ho-ku-le‘a across the world’s oceans over the next three years. The Polynesian Voyaging

Society crews will sail more than 47,000 nautical miles to 85 ports across 26 countries.

The crews will also be working with local communities, nonprofit groups and government leaders at each destination, inviting local representatives on board to sail with them. “It’s a voyage to collect other voyagers around the planet who have a common mission and set of values and want to do something about protecting the earth and know the importance of education,” Nainoa says.

“It’s like getting our canoe to sew a lei of humanity together.”

Nainoa and his fellow navigators bear the responsibility of guiding the young crewmembers of the Ho-ku-le‘a and her escort canoe, Hikianalia, around the planet in the hopes of building a global sustainability movement. “The canoe is a metaphor for the earth, which is an island in an immense ocean of space,” he says. Because we haven’t been taking care of our island home, the core message of the Worldwide Voyage is “to ma-lama honua, to care for our Earth, our natural environment, our children and all humankind.”

As symbols of indigenous wisdom and sustainability, the Ho-ku-le‘a and Hikianalia have been recognized by some of the world’s greatest spiritual leaders. During their visits to Hawai‘i, both the Dalai Lama and Bishop Desmond Tutu blessed the canoes and the ecological mission of the Worldwide Voyage. “We all share the same planet,” the Dalai Lama said. “If you look, there are no natural boundaries.”

There is only one ocean that connects all of the world’s lands and people.

Each of the canoes embody different aspects of the Worldwide Voyage. “Ho-kule‘a is the traditional navigation platform and the mother of the canoes that have been born since 1976,” says Jenna Ishii, the education coordinator for the Worldwide Voyage. “She carries with her all that mana and wisdom and spirit and she’s leading the way around the world.”

For the sake of safety and

communications, the escort canoe will accompany Ho-ku-le‘a on her voyage.

Donated by a group called the Pacific Voyagers, Hikianalia is a double-hulled canoe that is similar in design but equipped with computers, photovoltaic panels and solar-powered electric engines.

Because the escort canoe is powered by the sun, wind and modern technology, Nainoa says, “It’s the perfect child of Ho-ku-le‘a.”

Often referred to by their nicknames, Hoku represents traditional indigenous wisdom and cultural revival, while Hiki is a platform for modern technology and environmental research. Their crews are working with researchers at the University of Hawai‘i and students across the state to conduct six scientific experiments: analysis of plankton samples, identification and dissection of fish caught on the voyage, marine mammal acoustic experiments to record the songs of whales and other marine animals, hydroponics experiments to see which plants grow best at sea, water quality experiments and marine debris documentation to measure plastic pollution at sea.

Nainoa hopes the voyage will raise awareness of the serious environmental threats coming our way. He shares Mau’s belief that it is the navigator’s duty to find a way out of the storm, whether it’s literal squalls at sea or a more figurative storm like climate change. Threats include sea level rise, ocean acidification, marine plastic pollution and other problems caused by the world’s addiction to oil, fossil fuels and petro-chemical products.

As a master navigator, Nainoa must always know where the canoe has been, its current position and where it is headed.

Using the lessons he learned from Mau, he draws on the ancient cultural wisdom that once guided his ancestors across the Pacific to Hawai‘i. But like his own hapahaole heritage, Thompson’s methods are a blend of indigenous wayfinding practices and his modern Western astronomy studies. This allowed him to create his own hybrid star-compass system, which is used throughout Polynesia. He is currently

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recruiting young researchers, scientists and environmentalists to help chart a more sustainable course for the future.

ne of his top recruits was Jenna Ishii, who grew up in Hawai‘i hearing about the Hokule‘a. In the third grade, she learned about Polynesian voyaging and even built a model of the voyaging canoe, which they navigated across the kickball field. Twentysomething years later, Jenna was living in Japan when she learned that the Ho-ku-le‘a was coming to the little fishing village in Okinawa where she was teaching English.

Suddenly homesick, she felt the canoe was calling her back to Hawai‘i.

Jenna met Nainoa and the other voyagers and volunteered to help out at each port, following them throughout Japan. Having left Hawai‘i to explore the world, she became enthralled with the voyaging canoe and realized she wanted to learn more about Hawaiian culture. She returned to Honolulu and later started volunteering for the Polynesian Voyaging Society. After training for a few years, Jenna was asked to became the nonprofit’s education coordinator and Nainoa’s chief

assistant.

On the first leg of the Worldwide Voyage, Jenna was selected as one of only three young sailors to study navigation under Nainoa. In June of 2014, she set sail on Ho-ku-le‘a’s 2,500-mile journey from Hawai‘i to Tahiti. But after many hectic months of preparation and planning, she came down with a cold and a bad case of seasickness on the open ocean. She could barely eat or stay alert during the long, cold nights as she tried to navigate by the stars. Tired and sick, she longed to be back home in her own bed.

During her worst moments, Jenna wondered if she could make the entire voyage and felt like a liability to her fellow sailors. Physically and psychologically, she didn’t know how much further she could go. “Nothing in my life had brought me to that moment,” Ishii confesses. “There’s a point when you think, I don’t know if I can do this.” Nainoa had told her that learning the art of wayfinding and celestial navigation requires a special breed. In fact, in over 40 years of teaching, only about a dozen gifted individuals have been given the designation of Master Navigator.

At her lowest point during the voyage, Jenna Ishii remembered something

Nainoa had told her: “Navigation will take you to your bone and show you who you are.” Only then did Jenna realize that the mindset of the navigator was about transcending her own needs and taking responsibility for the whole crew to make sure they reached their destination. She summoned the strength to overcome her sickness, fears and exhaustion. Staring at the stars, she began to see a deeper side of herself and her role on the canoe and in the community.

As a navigator-in-training, Jenna observed her mentor Nainoa on the canoe and was amazed at his level of commitment and focus. He hardly slept during the voyage, taking catnaps during the day and staying up most of the night.

“He’s a very quiet and spiritual person,” Ishii observes. “He looks so relaxed, so calm and connected, yet so fierce.”

Nainoa had to be fierce because he knew that the lives of his crew were on the line. During the voyage, he quietly took in every nuance of the wind, waves and weather. Sharing these observations with the young sailors and navigators, the seasoned navigator hoped to teach them the language of the ocean and how these subtle signs in nature would show them the way. “That’s the spiritual level I want to get to,” Ishii says. “It’s not about talking, but just listening and observing and getting to the point where you can predict what’s going to happen.”

During their three weeks at sea, Jenna says Nainoa predicted squalls long before they hit. He instinctively knew where the storms were headed, even in the chaotic winds and currents of the doldrums.

“Nature can you show you anything you need to know,” she says. “But you have to pay attention.”

Photo: ‘Aina Paikai

Hikianalia, Ho-ku-le‘a’s escort canoe, is a double-hulled canoe that is similar in design but equipped with computers, photovoltaic panels and solar-powered electric engines.

The new voyaging canoe is the bridge between ancient wisdom and modern technology.

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Photo: Kai-po Ki‘aha

igns in nature serve as guides as well as warnings. While the navigators study immediate weather conditions to find the right course, the researchers on board study the long-term climate change that can be documented in the ocean’s rising temperature and level of acidity. Whether through the decimation of large pelagic fish populations or the steep increase in marine plastic pollution, scientific data and common sense suggest that the world’s oceans and ecosystems are in decline. Is this nature’s way of telling us we’re headed in the wrong direction?

Along with navigating the canoes on the Worldwide Voyage, master navigators like Nainoa are trying to steer people in a more sustainable direction away from the rocks of ecological collapse. They hope the United States and countries around the world will deal with the threats of global warming and sea level rise by reducing their addictions to oil, coal, natural gas and other fossil fuels. Instead of focusing on short-term profits or the next election cycle, business leaders and politicians need to start making long-term plans for the inevitable clash between the world’s rising population and the planet’s decreasing natural resources.

Whether sailing at sea or giving presentations on land, Jenna hopes to learn the mindset of a navigator so she and her peers can take better care of their extended ‘ohana and the communities they bid farewell to at each port. The mission of the Worldwide Voyage expands that responsibility to all the people, animals and ecosystems on the planet. Crewmembers generally don’t talk about their religious beliefs on the voyage because “the canoe is our temple and everyone comes with their different backgrounds,” Jenna says. But the navigator’s lessons convey a certain spiritual outlook on life.

At a special prayer service held at Kawaiaha‘o Church before the launch of the Worldwide Voyage, a group of kids gave the voyagers a flag representing all of the world’s religions and people. “It’s awesome to know that we’re in their

prayers,” Jenna says. Everywhere they’ve sailed, people have reassured them, held their hands, saying, “We’re with you, we’re thinking about you.” When Jenna was sick, cold and tired on her voyage, she recalls feeling thousands of people praying for the crew. “That’s the kind of spiritual power I felt on the canoe,” she continues.

“Our ancestors and our kupuna who have been on the canoe are with us and you can feel that the entire time.”

aving completed the voyage to Tahiti, Jenna looks forward to sailing the canoes to New Zealand in mid-November. The southernmost corner of the Polynesian Triangle, New Zealand will be a special destination on the Worldwide Voyage because Ho-ku-le‘a will return to fulfill a special mission 30 years in the making.

When Ho-ku-le‘a first sailed to New Zealand in 1985, the community leaders were so moved by the arrival of the canoe and the revival of Polynesian voyaging that they made them honorary members of their tribal family. Most of the Maori people can trace their ancestral lineage back to the original voyaging canoes and the five tribes of indigenous people who first landed there. The Maori leaders told Nainoa and his father Pinky Thompson

(Polynesian Voyaging Society’s president at the time) that Ho-ku-le‘a and its voyagers were now the sixth tribe. To commemorate the occasion, the leaders gave them land to build a sixth marae, or sacred monument, to join the other tribal monuments. But the heavy task was never completed.

Three decades later, Polynesian Voyaging Society leaders will finally fulfill that mission during the Worldwide Voyage. To celebrate their return and the revival of wayfinding, Hector Busby, the eldest of the master navigators, is also building a navigation center with a huge star compass based on Nainoa’s design.

There, at their ancestral home, Nainoa and the other master navigators will pay tribute to Mau and continue teaching young sailors the art of celestial navigation.

In passing on the traditional knowledge of wayfinding, they hope these future leaders will find a way to steer their voyaging canoes and our communities toward a more sustainable future.

Stuart H. Coleman is the award-winning author of Eddie Would Go and Fierce Heart. He is the Hawai‘i Manager of the Surfrider Foundation.

All images © 2014 Polynesian Voyaging Society/‘O iwi TV GREENMAGAZINEHAWAII.COM

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Rebranding paradise at The Royal Hawaiian

By Lauren McNally

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Royal Hawaiian, but for the first time, it has a name and an unmistakable message.

Since opening in 1927, the hotel has enchanted visitors from around the world with its portrait of luxury and promise of escape, immersing guests in services and amenities evocative of the island’s tropical splendor. An optimistic program with a rosy title to match, “Pink is the New Green” serves the key function of articulating The Royal Hawaiian’s renewed commitment to honoring the iconic setting and rich history for which it is known.

“Pink is the New Green gives The Royal’s ambassadors and guests an easy and very direct mission statement for sustainability,” says Kelly Hoen, the resort’s general manager. Owned by Kyo-ya Hotels & Resorts and operated by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, The Royal Hawaiian is Energy Star-certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy, placing it in the top 25 percent of comparable buildings across the nation for energy efficiency. Pink is the New Green outlines continued environmental action strategies in support of Starwood’s vision for global citizenship and meeting the triple bottom line of people, planet and profits.

Starwood aims to establish a brand standard for energy efficient technology, sustainable practices and proactive facility maintenance through initiatives addressing issues of water, energy, emissions, waste, supply chain and indoor environmental quality. The initial phase, dubbed “30/20 by 20,” dictates that all properties under the extensive Starwood umbrella pursue a 30 percent reduction in energy consumption and a 20 percent reduction in water consumption by 2020. Monthly internal evaluations and publicly available annual reports monitor location-specific progress toward 30/20 by 20 against a 2008 baseline. Hotel ambassadors can view compiled data from any of Starwood’s other properties and access relevant tools and information via an online sustainability resource center. The Royal Hawaiian’s strategy consists of targeted efforts in

Photos: Starwood Hotels & Resorts Hawaii

Sustainability isn’t a new concept at The

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(left) The Ritter Solar Thermal Hot Water System is composed of 40 roof-mounted evacuated tube collectors with concentrating parabolic mirrors. These collectors produce more thermal energy per square foot across a wide range of weather conditions than any other certified solar thermal collector. The system is estimated to displace the need for an estimated 9,500 Therms of natural gas, while saving approximately $40,000 in energy costs. (above & right) From clean sheets to landscaping, the Pink is the New Green initiative emphasizes water and energy conservation.

water and energy conservation toward the 30/20 by 20 mandate as well as further initiatives involving waste reduction and ocean preservation.

Kyo-ya’s billion-dollar reinvestment in its Waik k properties involved reinterpretation of The Royal Hawaiian’s paradigm of luxury travel, with renovations beginning in June 2008. Seven months and $60 million later, The Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort, debuted a renewed aesthetic faithful to its

prevailing identity and an updated service platform geared toward innovation and sustainability. An additional multi-million dollar renovation to the resort’s Royal Tower completed the transformation.

Ocean-to-table restaurant Azure forms the centerpiece in the hotel’s overhaul of food and beverage services. Azure’s menu features local produce and seafood selected fresh each morning from the Honolulu Fish Auction at Pier 38, where the United Fishing Agency enforces quality control and

strict regulations on harvesting methods, fish populations and aquatic ecosystems.

Prior to the renovation, locally sourced ingredients accounted for 30 percent of The Royal’s food and beverage offerings.

Now, 80 percent of the hotel’s fare arrives fresh from Hawai‘i farms and fisheries.

Technologies implemented during the renovation—a smart irrigation system, for example, that employs sensors to curtail excess water use—paved the way for subsequent product innovations. Earlier

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(above) Offshore seawater is a renewable resource that could be used for seawater air conditioning. (left) Azure restaurant sources its ocean-to-table and farm-to-table ingredients from local farms and the Honolulu Fish Auction.

this year, The Royal Hawaiian installed a rooftop Ritter solar thermal system on the 17-story Royal Beach Tower to heat the resort pool and meet the tower’s domestic hot water demands. Ritter XL solar systems use water instead of glycol as a heat transfer medium, eliminating many of the maintenance requirements and functional complications of glycol systems. Parabolic mirrors concentrate

sunlight on the system’s evacuated tube collectors to maximize available solar energy. The system is projected to reduce energy consumption by 60 percent and save roughly $40,000 in annual energy costs. Upgrades to more energy-efficient devices in other areas throughout the resort yield additional energy savings. In the years since reopening, the hotel swapped out old hallway ice machines for newer, more efficient models and converted all 529 guest rooms and suites to LED lighting.

Five of the state’s first electric vehicle charge stations were installed in the Sheraton Waikiki/Royal Hawaiian parking garage in 2011. Funded in part by the U.S. Department of Energy and launched in collaboration with Hawaiian Electric and the EV network provider Better Place, the $1.1 million pilot project deployed seven Chevy Volts in conjunction with the infrastructure installations, two of which joined Kyo-ya’s shuttle fleet. OpConnect has since assumed operation of Better Place’s local network, including the now-

public hotel charge stations. Electric vehicle drivers can recharge their cars through valet service with the Sheraton Waikiki or The Royal Hawaiian, regardless of whether or not they are hotel guests.

The Royal Hawaiian also facilitates sustainable meeting practices like removing bottled water, table linens and superfluous notepads from the meeting place. Available resources include paperless supplies, recycled-content products, eco-friendly transportation and room temperature controls. Hosts can request impact reports that illustrate the cumulative offset of the sustainable measures executed during their meetings. Besides minimizing impact, The Royal’s sustainable meeting practices drive awareness and enable environmentally conscious businesses to conduct meetings in a setting consistent with their corporate ideals.

The hotel also presents the option of foregoing daily towel and linen replenishment in efforts to conserve water and energy and protect the environment

from harsh chemicals like chlorine. Five percent of guests participated in the green room program when it was first introduced at the hotel’s reopening; 30 to 50 percent now opt out of daily laundering in the interest of sustainability. “With the initiatives going on globally and environmental awareness, the messaging is working and I’ve seen a big trend change,” Hoen reported in a forum at the Hawaii Conservation Conference last year. “The clients, the guests, the visitors, they’re asking for it. Guests are looking for sustainable fish on our menus, they’re looking at the farming practices of the food we’re serving. We’re seeing volunteerism.

More and more groups and conventions coming to The Royal are asking to participate in initiatives here in Hawai‘i.”

Community service is an integral component of The Royal Hawaiian’s approach to ocean sustainability.

Opportunities through partner organizations dedicated to preserving aquatic ecosystems offer hands-on experiences at Hawai‘i’s world-class beaches. Through Starwood Hawaii’s Events with Aloha program, hotel guests and ambassadors can restore the watershed

with Hui O Ko‘olaupoko, remove invasive algae from Maunalua Bay with Ma-lama Maunalua or take advantage of other opportunities through organizations like The Nature Conservancy and the Surfrider Foundation.

Activities and entertainment at The Royal Hawaiian advocate environmental awareness. Honu by the Sea, a live musical staged in the resort’s Monarch Ballroom, takes audiences on a journey under the sea to communicate the importance of protecting the oceans and reefs. Onsite beach concession Waikiki Beach Services promotes ocean appreciation through surf instruction and outrigger canoe rides in the spirit of the early twentieth-century Waikiki Beach Boys, Hawai‘i’s famed proponents of living in harmony with nature.

The Royal Hawaiian may soon be taking the harmonious relationship to the next level. The resort has signed a letter of intent expressing interest in Kaiuli Energy’s Waikiki Seawater Air Conditioning Project, the second large-scale seawater air conditioning system proposed for commercial districts in Hawai‘i (the first is scheduled to begin construction later this year to cool office buildings throughout

downtown Honolulu). Utilizing naturally cold ocean water pumped from offshore depths, seawater air conditioning consumes up to 85 percent less electricity than traditional refrigeration systems, which typically constitute 42 percent of energy use at Hawai‘i hotels. This and the high rate of consumption and emissions associated with the visitor industry make Waik k a particularly important site for renewable energy development.

Addressing its responsibility to the land, the ocean, its guests and its legacy, The Royal Hawaiian is committed to redefining modern luxury, service and innovation.

“Everyone that is a part of The Royal is a part of the Pink is the New Green initiative,” says Hoen. “From the important gesture of turning off a light to the major installation of a solar system, all of The Royal ‘ohana are a part of keeping our island home sustainable.” Pink is the New Green turns an abstract initiative into everyday practice as it sets a standard for sustainability in keeping with The Royal Hawaiian’s historic presentation of paradise.

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get off the bus Sustainable tourism is saving Hawai‘i from mass tourism homogenization

By Kevin Whitton

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People have traveled the globe for millennia. People migrated to find better soil to tend and greener fields for their livestock. They traveled to faraway villages, cities and countries to establish trade routes. They explored the globe on ship, horseback and foot to expand their territories and their riches. Travel for purpose morphed into travel for leisure during the Industrial Revolution in the United Kingdom, the first country to promote leisure time to a growing class of factory owners and traders.

Photo: Hawaii Forest & Trail

Leisure travel by the wealthy and elite took hold in Hawai‘i at the turn of the twentieth century, but it wasn’t until Pan American Airways’ iconic flying clipper ships allowed a growing middle class to travel for a shorter, more economical period of time. By 1975, mass tourism was in full swing. Hotels swamped beaches, tourists trampled reefs and tour operators marginalized the Hawai‘i experience to a mere sun and sand destination.

Before this boom in tourism, Hawai‘i was an experience-oriented destination and visitors were welcomed with a combination of culture and natural environment found nowhere else on Earth. With an average of 7.36 million visitors a year over the past ten years flocking to Hawai‘i, we must consider the environmental and social impact of mass tourism and seek a better model to keep Hawai‘i’s number one economic industry from swallowing its identity and culture, only to regurgitate a pre-packaged, Disneyfied version of what Hawai‘i once was.

Tourism has been Hawai‘i’s largest economic sector since the early 1960s. After three decades of mass tourism in Hawai‘i, people could see how it isolated visitors from Hawai‘i’s true local culture and degraded the environment. Ecotourism soon became a buzzword—a solution that entailed an environmentally friendly and culturally protective approach to tourism. At the statewide Conference on Ecotourism held in Waik k in October 1994, a coalition of concerned residents loosely formed the Hawaii Ecotourism Association, which was officially founded in 1995 and incorporated in 1996. Their mission was two-fold: to protect Hawai‘i’s natural environment and host culture through the promotion of sustainable tourism for tour operators and to educate the independent traveler about the benefits of sustainable tourism.

According to a 2008 academic report by Dr. Linda Cox, Melanie Saucier, John Cusick, Harold Richins and Bixler McClure entitled “Achieving Sustainable Tourism in Hawaii Using a Sustainable Evaluation System,” the number of visitors that support environmentally and socially responsible tourism is increasing, but the state continues to face soaring energy costs, degradation of natural habitats and a public sensitivity to the state’s economic dependency on tourism. The report prescribed several steps to promote sustainable tourism, maximizing the social and economic benefits for Hawai‘i’s communities and businesses while preserving GREENMAGAZINEHAWAII.COM

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Photo: Hawaii State Archive

The flying clipper ship transformed Hawai‘i from an isolated island chain to a vacation destination. Today, tourism is the state's biggest industry with over seven million visitors a year making the trip to the islands.

and enhancing Hawai‘i’s culture and environment. The cornerstone of the plan relied heavily on an evaluation system, in which businesses practicing sustainable tourism are certified and marketed as top choices among competing tour providers.

In 2009, the Hawaii Ecotourism Association was awarded a grant from the Hawaii Tourism Authority Natural Resources Award Program to develop a pilot ecotourism certification program. By 2011, the Hawaii Ecotourism Association certified 13 local ecotour operators.

“Third party certification adds more validity because peers and consumers identify people engaged in best practices versus those simply marketing best

practices,” explains Chris Barzman, Hawaii Ecotourism Association certification committee chair and board member.

The Hawaii Ecotourism Association received more funding from the Hawaii Tourism Authority in 2013, allowing them to rebrand the certification program as the Sustainable Tourism Certification Program, develop an integrated marketing communications plan to raise public awareness, incorporate a funding mechanism into the program and provide economic incentives for tour operators to participate. “The [tourism] industry is in line with sustainable tourism. They recognize that Hawai‘i culture and natural resources are very valuable to tourism here,”

says Barzman. “The companies are very much interested and want to engage, but there must be a financial incentive because these companies are for-profit.”

There are now 21 Sustainable Tourism Certified Tour Operators across the state and many more businesses are active Hawaii Ecotourism Association members.

Barzman spells out the hurdles for small, conscious tour operators looking for recognition and eco-savvy customers.

“When a company chooses to be more responsible, it’s slightly a higher cost,” he says. “They have to compete with the lowest common denominator—mass tourism, the driver of price. Most people think there should be a certification of some sort to help identify the best operators, then education to the consumer to make a more informed decision.

Consumers are interested and more likely to engage if there’s a tangible benefit to it and it’s not just green washing.”

Hawai‘i hotels and resorts are also getting on board with sustainable tourism through the Hawaii State Energy Office’s Green Business Program, a first-party assessment and certification program executed by the businesses themselves that

Hawaii Ecotourism Association's 2014 Sustainable Tour Operator of the Year

Photo: Hawaiian Legacy Tours

The “Travel Pono” Sustainable Tour Operator Certification Program, administered by the Hawaii Ecotourism Association, identifies tour operators who truly seek to protect Hawai‘i’s unique natural resources and host culture. This year, 18 tour operators earned certification and Hawaiian Legacy Tours was named Sustainable Tour Operator of the Year. Operating on the slopes of Mauna Kea, Hawaiian Legacy Tours has merged the worlds of tourism and restoration. Operating as a certified B Corporation, some of their key sustainable practices include a solar powered composting toilet, a portion of every tour is donated to a charity of the visitor’s choice and, of course, the reforestation of koa and sandalwood trees which are bringing back endangered wildlife like the pueo, ‘io and Hawaiian nene.

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hawaiiecotourism.org/travelpono

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assists and recognizes businesses that operate in a sustainable manner. It focuses on energy conservation, waste reduction, pollution prevention, water conservation, natural resource prevention and cultural preservation.

While some might say that the effort is too little too late, participating hotels are showing the community that they are trying to co-exist in the community as sustainably as possible.

Big names like the Moana Surfrider, Hilton Hawaiian Village and Turtle Bay Resorts are three of 18 O‘ahu hotels that participate, with 16 more participating hotels on the neighbor islands. As these international for-profit companies realize that energy efficiency, conservation and positive public recognition help their bottom line, they take advantage of the program to go beyond compliance and seek ways to operate more sustainably and efficiently.

“As a program that provides statewide recognition for going beyond environmental compliance as well as offers technical assistance with no fees, it is a program that has produced positive and measurable results,” says Gail SuzukiJones, Hawaii Green Business Program Project Manager.

“Not only does energy efficiency keep utility costs down and create a more sustainable environment, the businesses are also collectively contributing to Hawai‘i’s clean energy goals.”

While there are no concrete statistics or reports to document the growing public demand for sustainable tourism or its effects on the economy and environment, Barzman attests firsthand to its rise in popularity. “Ultimately, people always want smaller groups, personalized service, knowing that they are doing things responsibly,” he says. “Visitors view Hawai‘i as a place for their children to come back and experience. I believe once consumers have the information they need, they are willing to spend more to travel responsibly. They want to have a more authentic experience, not feel like herd of cattle.”

With certification for hotels and tour operators in place,

the message must now reach consumers through powerful organizations like the Hawaii Tourism Authority, the marketing arm of Hawai‘i tourism. Once visitors know that they have sustainable options, they can use their dollar to prop up local sustainable tour operators and conscious hotels. Sustainable tourism can then bring true cultural and environmental experience back to a Hawai‘i vacation.

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BaBy, iT’s hoT ouTside Warm is the wintertime when Hawai‘i is a holiday destination. New items both functional and fun can make a day out on the water all the more enjoyable, instead of bundling up inside. —Alyssa Fukumoto Gr3en enerGy A fizzy, refreshing mixture of green tea, guarana and coconut water, this certified organic beverage is the first and only energy drink to include kale. In addition to fortifying you for some fun outdoor activity, go forth feeling good about this purchase—Gr3en Energy will plant a kale seed for every can sold. (gr3en.org)

avasol Quality skin protection is a must, and Avasol’s water-resistant line of natural, mineral sunscreens, surfer’s barrier sticks and defense creams are safe for the planet and for adult and children’s use.

Utilizing 100 percent biobased materials, including their product packaging, hit the waves with reduced sun exposure and minimal environmental impact. ($18.95–$28.95, avasol.com)

paTaGonia BoardshorTs Sport stylish fashion at sea with Patagonia’s selection of classic Wavefarers and newer, slim-silhouetted Stretch Planing boardshorts.

Both styles feature lightweight materials, a durable, water-repellent finish and 50+ UPF sun protection. Practical with playful patterns, they’re a smart buy for the avid beach bum. ($59–$79, patagonia.com)

sirensonG WeTsuiT Be the belle of the beach in a handpainted, custom bikini or wetsuit by SirenSong. Whether the preferred look is that of a mermaid or a tribal-bedecked master of the waves, choose from a variety of styles and work with designer Jamie DeFay to paint, silkscreen or print a unique piece to perfection. ($112–$275, sirensongwetsuits.com)

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Photo: Stella Click

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O‘AHU

This is so next century.

Photo: Goodwill Industries of Hawaii

This is Truth in Engineering.

With 30% better fuel economy than gas and 15% more energy in every drop of fuel, Audi TDI® clean diesel is not only powerful but also more efficient.* So as the world embraces diesel, it’s no surprise that Audi is once again leading the way with the A8, A7, A6, Q7 and Q5 models. Make the intelligent choice with Audi TDI® clean diesel.

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Give it away now

Goodwill Industries is at the heart of the Donate Movement Fedoras and crop tops. Wayfarers and aviators. We recycle our trends, why not our clothes? Buzzwords like “solar,” “electric” and “organic” resound throughout the green movement, but reflect only a portion of the picture. The more commonplace practices of reducing, reusing and repurposing go a long way toward regulating the cycle of consumption and disposal.

Thrift shoppers practice one of the most basic and widely accessible forms of recycling. While many green initiatives present a cost deterrent, secondhand shopping is as economical as it is ecological. Bargains aren’t limited to vintage getups, either. Contemporary designer brands consistently find their way onto the racks, so you can emerge from the bargain hunt looking expensive. Goodwill Goes GLAM!, a Goodwill Industries of Hawaii program now in its third year, highlights secondhand shopping’s fashion-forward possibilities in a summer sales event, gala and runway show, though high style can be achieved year-round.

The organization has launched a public awareness movement across its 11 stores and numerous donation, recycling and program locations on O‘ahu, Maui and the Big Island. The campaign includes such green initiatives as cash redemption for HI-5 containers and a computer recycling program through a partnership with Dell. With over 90 cents of each dollar spent at Goodwill stores going toward job placement services, scoring something new-to-you at a discount doubles as a longterm investment in the community. Goodwill’s services kept over 11 million pounds of goods out of Hawai‘i landfills last year, evidence that lasting change is the product of everyday measures. —Lauren McNally higoodwill.org 37

G R E E N M A G A Z I NEH AWA II.C O M

Audi Hawaii 2770 Waiwai Loop Honolulu HI 96819 808-377-4497 audihawaii.com *Based on comparison to comparable gasoline engines and drop of gasoline. See. www.fueleconomy.gov for EPA estimates. Your mileage will vary and depends on several factors including your driving habits and vehicle condition. “Audi,” “Truth in Engineering,” all model names, and the four rings logo are registered trademarks of AUDI AD. “TDI” is a registered trademark of Volkswagen AG. ©2013 Audi of America, Inc.

Photos: Kevin Whitton

O‘AHU

KoKo head Cafe

Chef Lee Anne Wong's new restaurant feels right at home in Kaimuki When Chef Lee Anne Wong and Kevin Hanney gutted the old 12th Avenue Grill space, they began realizing their vision of a Hawai‘i home-style breakfast experience that, until the grand opening of Koko Head Cafe this March, didn’t exist on O‘ahu. Now throngs of hungry customers wait outside the unassuming Kaimuki storefront every weekend for a chance to relish in service as sunny as the orange booths, which artfully complement beige walls decorated with an ‘ulu surfboard, a century-old “imu-poi” board and prints of Wong’s original island photography.

Koko Head Cafe’s menu mirrors its lively atmosphere. Classic dishes are prepared with tasteful twists using local flavor like the Breakfast Bruschetta, the Kimchi Bacon Cheddar Scones, the Cornflake French Toast or the Breakfast Congee, any of which can be supplemented with an extravagant morning cocktail.

The reasons for Wong’s newest success should be self-evident: authentic ambiance, unique entrées with locally sourced ingredients and attentive service. But like every great captain, Wong credits her crew. “I have tremendously awesome staff at my restaurant and the ship stays afloat because of them,” she says. “I am eager to keep pushing forward and feeding all of the hungry masses out there who are in search of something new.” —Dominick Sorrentino kokoheadcafe.com

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O‘AHU

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Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii is using innovation and creativity to bring attention to the effects of our communities’ overuse of plastic, specifically the marine debris washing up on our island shores. To the team of 20 core members, fostering widespread awareness of marine debris means hosting large-scale beach cleanups across the state, hitting as many schools as possible for educational outreach and engaging people through inventive competitions, collaborative ocean art projects and action-oriented social media campaigns.

This July, Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii unveiled a marine debris mosaic focused specifically on microplastic, the tiny bits of colored plastic that litter the state’s windward coasts. Local artist Shannon McCarthy painted a scene of endangered monk seals on five panels crafted from reclaimed wood. Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii brought the panels to local schools, where young artists covered the painting with microplastic pieces collected from the beach. The finished mosaic has since made appearances at Honolulu Hale and Jack Johnson’s Waikiki Shell concerts. It is currently circulating the island as a reminder of how the plastic we buy and use directly affects Hawai‘i’s coastlines.

Currently in play is Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii’s first annual Ultimate Sand Sifter Challenge, a contest that encourages all ages to apply ingenuity to build sand sifters that can effectively clear microplastic from the coasts. The final designs will be put to the test on November 15 during the main event at Kailua Beach, where judges will choose a winner based on factors like efficiency and amount of microplastic removed, with the builder receiving an award of $2,500 plus an additional $2,500 to build five sand sifter replicates.

Creative engagement is the key to getting adults and kids to pay attention to the issue of marine debris, says Executive Director Kahi Pacarro. “Not everyone will come to a beach cleanup, so the ability to develop unique opportunities for education and interaction, plus a strong social media presence, has allowed us to reach a broader audience.” Ultimately, says Kahi, Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii wants people to come out to an event and see for themselves that the problem of marine debris isn’t going away until we change our habits.

— Lindsey Kesel sustainablecoastlineshawaii.org

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O‘AHU

Preserving Sacred Places The Surfrider Foundation would like to thank all of the Oahu restaurants, food vendors and institutions below who are helping to protect our ocean, streams, and wildlife by using non-styrofoam food containers.

Expanded polystyrene foam (aka styrofoam) is one of the most littered, least recycled and most toxic forms of plastic in existence.

How can you help?

Support the many restaurants that have gone foam-free and ask those that have not to switch to compostable or recyclable containers. Support our Ban the Foam campaign and ask your City Council Members to pass Bill 40 to ban foam food containers.

Mahalo to the Foam-Free Restaurants, Food Vendors and Institutions On Oahu!

12th Ave. Grill Alan Wong’s Beet Box Cafe Blue Tree Cafe Burger King Buzz’s Steakhouse BYU Hawaii campus Cafe Haleiwa Castle Medical Center Chuck E. Cheese Café Kaila The Counter Kahala Downbeat Diner DH Cove Health Bar Duke’s Canoe Club Fresh Cafe Formaggio Greens & Vines Haleiwa Farmer’s Market Haleiwa Joe’s Halekulani Hotel Heleiwa Bluewater Shrimp Hoakalei Country Club Hula Grill Waikiki Iolani School Island Naturals Isle Ice Cream Jimmy Buffett’s Kaimuki Superette Kaka'ako Kitchen Kalapawai Café Kapiolani Comm. College KCC Kulia Grill Keneke’s Killer Tacos Koko Head Cafe Kua Aina La Gelateria Le Crêpe Café

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Leahi Health Luibueno’s Loving Hut McDonalds Mid-Pacific Institute Mix Cafe Mocha Java Cafe Morning Brew Coffee Nordstrom Marketplace Olive Tree Cafe The Pacific Club Prince Kuhio Café Punahou School Queen’s Medical Center Red Ginger Cafe Rico Rico Chicken San Francisco Salad Co. Scoop of Paradise Salt Seed Restaurant Soul Cafe South Shore Grill Sprout Sandwich Shop Straub Hospital Sweet Home Waimanalo Tango Restaurant Teds Bakery Teddy’s Burgers Tiki’s Grill & Bar Town Restaurant Uahi Island Grill UH- Manoa Campus Umeke Market Verde Kaimuki Uncle Clay’s House Wahoo’s Fish Tacos Whole Foods Z-pizza

The John Kelly Awards recognize leaders in ocean conservation

As the Surfrider Foundation celebrates its 30th year of grassroots activism, the O‘ahu Chapter will hold its 12th annual John Kelly Environmental Awards Party on Saturday, November 15. The Surfrider Foundation is an environmental nonprofit with 85 chapters nationally and five in Hawai‘i, whose members are dedicated to protecting coastal health, beach access and water quality. The O‘ahu Chapter is also committed to reducing single-use plastics like Styrofoam, curbing stormwater runoff and advocating responsible coastal development.

Before Surfrider was born in Malibu in 1984, a man by the name of John Kelly was fueling the engine of another grassroots operation called Save Our Surf. Through Kelly’s energetic voice, Save Our Surf inspired communities to fight to protect their coastlines and stop many unwanted commercial developments. The John Kelly Awards were designed to honor his memory and inspire generations of ocean lovers into action. The awards are a night of music, food and an opportunity to give thanks to those who embody Kelly’s passions and further the mission of the Surfrider Foundation.

This November, Surfrider O‘ahu will honor award winners in three categories: Lifetime Achievement, Eco-friendly Hawai‘i-based Company and Professional Surfer. Past award winners include Mark Cunningham, Shaun Tomson and Peter Cole; Kona Brewing Company, Jack Johnson/Brushfire Records and Patagonia; Torrey Meister, Dave Rastavich and Kelly Slater.

Last year’s Lifetime Achievement winner, Denise Antolini, a dean and professor at the University of Hawai‘i’s Richardson School of Environmental Law, has been instrumental in protecting O‘ahu’s coastal resources, including the recent effort to establish a 600-acre conservation easement at Kawela Bay and Kahuku Point.

The theme of Surfrider’s 12th annual fundraiser pays special tribute to those individuals and communities who exemplify a mission of “Preserving Sacred Places.” While a wave’s tube may be a momentary private place for a surfer, the shores, sands and ecosystems on our coasts are our island’s permanent public resources. John Kelly knew this. Surfrider knows this. Join them in preserving these sacred places and resources for generations to come. —Rafael Bergstrom oahu.surfrider.org

O‘AHU

herBoloGie sTudio

A source for premium organic and non-GMO products Breathe in the heady scents of herbs, teas and spices at Herbologie Studio showroom and tea bar. Patrons searching for premium organic and non-GMO product can also pick up nutritional supplements and herbal bath and body items made in-house. Herbologie is committed to utilizing reusable and biodegradable packaging for the new. Jars are made from recycled glass, packets are made of plant materials like kraft paper and plant based plastic because as Co-owner and President of Hawaii Nutrition Company Monika Tournis explains, “recycling isn’t enough on a small island like this.”

—Alyssa Fukumoto herbologiestudio.com

CondiTioned To reCyCle

Cartridge World reconditions so you can reuse One office toner cartridge takes a gallon of oil to produce and, once it’s disposed of, will last 500 years in a landfill.

This is one reason Cartridge World’s basic business model is all about recycling and reusing. Cartridge World’s reconditioned cartridges are not only sustainable, but also more affordable than original equipment manufacturer product. While original equipment manufacturer products can also be reconditioned, consumers often cannot tell because manufacturers charge the same price as first-use products. Cartridge World is committed to not only offering customers affordability, but to taking customers’ ink and toner to be reconditioned or sent to a local recycling company. —AF cartridgeworldhawaii.com GREENMAGAZINEHAWAII.COM

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O‘AHU

From Here to Now to You Jack Johnson returns home for his Kōkua Hawai‘i Foundation benefit concert

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Photo: Lauren McNally

Jack Johnson’s casual onstage persona recalls more of an everyday Joe strumming a guitar in his mother’s garage—an activity he admits to undertaking with his high school band—than a superstar musician.

Waikiki Shell’s sold out seating, however, certifies Johnson as both a headliner and a hometown hero.

“It’s good to be home,” Jack said to the cheering crowd. After two years of being away from Hawai‘i, Jack saw to it that he repaid his local supporters in kind. The North Shore native made sure that tickets to his summer homecoming performance were available first to Hawai‘i residents and that concert proceeds went to the Ko-kua Hawai‘i Foundation, a local nonprofit supporting environmental education founded by Jack and his wife, Kim. Vendor booths leading into the venue, including the likes of Surfrider Foundation and Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii alongside Ma‘o Farms, Fresh Catch and Aloha Lemonade, were a showcase in local, sustainable activism and food culture, while Jack charmed the audience with quirky lyrics and palpable gratitude. He proved that his appeal goes beyond that of a likeable folk singer and guitarist. He is a representation of what commercial success can enable a compassionate individual to do for their community. “It’s always better when we’re together,” sang the swaying crowd. Jack and his fans are clearly on to something. —Alyssa Fukumoto kokuahawaiifoundation.org

MAUI

A Sweet Boutique Quaint Maui spot for island style

Keeping it small and sweet is a mission of Maui-based Honey A Sweet Boutique. Located on the ground floor of 105 North Market Street in Wailuku, shop owners Chanda and Danielle offer a colorful choice of warm-weather styles, including contemporary kimonos, dresses, rompers and swimwear pieces. See a quaint selection of accessories and 14K gold jewelry, from bangles to earrings to necklaces, adorned with shells, coral, crystal and stones. Not only is their selection island inspired, but every purchase from the Honey boutique site supports a local product or designer. —Alyssa Fukumoto honeysweetboutique.co

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

Specializing in Cultural and Ecological Landscapes

Photo: Kainoa Reponte

• Hawaii’s largest selection of Native Hawaiian Plants • Licensed and insured landscapers specializing in Historical and ecology based landscapes • Endangered species • Xeriscape Native Trees and Shrubs • Landscape Maintenance • Erosion Control C-31072

nativehawaiianplants@gmail.com

808.235.6165

www.HawaiianNativePlants.com GREENMAGAZINEHAWAII.COM

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BIG ISLAND

On a mission

Exploring the Big Island with Hawaii Forest & Trail

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National Park, stargazing on Mauna Kea, zip lining, a waterfall walk and birding tours (Pacheco’s teenage pastime). Pacheco maintains a motto that conservation begins with education. To ensure perpetuation of island sustainability, the company partners with Big Island schools, sponsors free field trips and participates in tree planting and other community service projects.

Pacheco lives in the heart of Kona coffee country on the slopes of the Hualālai Volcano and is transitioning into another decade of adventuring around the Big Island with the same motivation he had 20 years ago. Why wouldn’t he when work is essentially play? “Hawai‘i is a marvelous place for a naturalist to interpret,” says Pacheco. “The mystique of Hawai‘i, the essence of this place, a place that millions of people from all over the world love to visit, is found in the life of the land. Each day I am out in the field, Hawai‘i reveals a little more of herself to me, an experience I share with my guests.

These encounters affect people in profound ways.” —Jade Eckardt

Photo: Hawaii Forest & Trail

The old saying, “find a job you love and you’ll never work a day in your life” rings true for Big Islander Rob Pacheco. As the owner of Big Island tour company Hawaii Forest & Trail, Pacheco’s aim is to unveil the ecological world beyond the island’s breathtaking views and historical monuments. With Hawaii Forest & Trail, visitors are educated on Hawai‘i’s ecosystem, island conservation and environmental issues.

Initially, Pacheco noticed that many Big Island tour companies weren’t scratching far past the island’s beauty-laden surface. But the Northern California native, who had been trained as a naturalist, wanted to share more about the island by infusing his tours with true interpretation, which is industry lingo for guides who offer an explanation of the natural, cultural and historic values attached to a locale. Interpretation in tourism enables visitors to gain insights and understanding about the reasons for conservation and ongoing protection of heritage and natural resources. According to Pacheco, it also helps forge a connection between visitors and the place they’re experiencing.

Hawaii Forest & Trail’s traditional tours include traversing Hawai‘i Volcanoes

KAUAI

Greening up the Garden Isle Aqua Kauai Beach Resort

Sponsored by Hawai‘i’s Department of Health, Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism and the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, the Aqua Kauai Beach Resort is a recipient of the Hawaii Green Business Award this year for completing a series of enhancement projects that greatly reduce the popular beachfront hotel’s carbon footprint. A large solar array of approximately 2,400 photovoltaic panels was built over the parking lot. The system is projected to save almost 100,000 kilowatt hours per month, the equivalent of the annual greenhouse gas emissions for 167 passenger vehicles or the amount of energy needed to power 120 homes for a year.

The resort also converted their two waterfall-draped lagoon pools to a saline-based filtration system that eliminates the strong chlorine smell and airborne irritants, as well as implemented an amplified Recycling Program and an enhanced Waste Removal Program. kauaibeachresorthawaii.com

Solar Powered Garden Isle Introducing Hawai‘i’s largest solar farm

Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative has broken ground on what will be one of Hawai‘i’s largest solar farms. Located in east Kaua‘i, Anahola Solar is expected to produce enough power to meet nearly 20 percent of Kaua‘i’s daytime electricity needs at a much lower cost. Energy generated by Anahola Solar is expected to cost about 12.5 cents per kilowatt-hour, compared to the average 24-cent cost of burning oil. It will also reduce Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative’s use of oil by nearly 1.7 million gallons per year.

Stretching across the Hawaiian Homelands of Anahola, the solar array will include a 12-megawatt, 53-acre photovoltaic facility, a two-acre substation to connect the photovoltaic facility to the electrical grid and a five-acre service center.

When cloud cover reduces the farm’s output, a battery system capable of storing six megawatts of power will be accessed to keep the supply steady. Operation is expected to begin in early 2015. —Kara Jernigan kiuc.coop

GREENMAGAZINEHAWAII.COM

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

ASK ASK THE THE

EXPERT experT

These professionals professionals give give expert expert answers answers to to the the most most frequently frequently These asked questions questions in in their their respective respective industries. industries. asked

INVESTING IN SOLAR

SAVE ENERGY AND MONEY

Q A

Solar: Should I Buy or Lease?

SOLAR: SHOULD I BUY OR LEASE?

Buy! Buy! Buy! If you buy your own solar PV system you will own your very own little power plant and YOU control your future energy costs. If you buy, your investment will pay for itself in as little as 3-4 years and you’ll be increasing the value of your home. That’s a 33% return on your investment year after year.

Don’t forget the huge tax breaks that reduce your system cost by up to 65% when you buy vs. lease. Best of all, zero down financing options exist for purchasing solar.

There is only one reason to consider leasing, and that’s when you don’t qualify for the huge tax credits because you are either a non-profit organization or have little to no regular income. With leasing there is often little to no upfront costs, but you lose control and the ongoing costs over the 20 year contract are much higher than buying.

In summary, invest in your future

by BUYING solar. It’s the best way to take control and maximize your savings potential.

Q A

CCan I get gas in my home?

AN I GET GAS IN MY HOME?

Gail Slawson-Eich, MBA Owner & Chief Minion OceanHead Solar & Electric 808.735.5745 OceanHeadSolar.com

Ready For Those With Full Lives And Big Plans Introducing the all-new Toyota Highlander Hybrid

Yes! The benefits of our cleanburning gas energy can be shared with virtually anyone in Hawai‘i. Whether you’re located on one of our utility pipeline systems or not, Hawaii Gas offers the most efficient energy solutions for your home next to the sun itself.

Using gas energy directly for home appliances is three times more efficient than electricity derived from fossil fuels.

This means that it’ll take less gas energy to produce the same amount of hot showers. Efficiency saves energy and money. Families who use gas energy can also lower their carbon footprint by up to 37 percent. Plus, switching to gas is easier than you may think. Give us a call at (808) 535-5933 or visit us online at hawaiigas.com.

Jill Tokunaga Vice President Sales, Marketing & Communications Hawaii Gas 808.594.5512 hawaiigas.com

With seating for seven, the Highlander stylishly combines family transport and fuel efficiency in a comfortable, smooth and quiet ride. The Highlander Hybrid has class-leading MPG for three-row SUVs of 27 city/28 highway and is available with Blind Spot Monitor and Rear CrossTraffic Alert. You can feel confident in driving to school, work or the beach efficiently and safely. Everybody in! Your next adventure awaits.

For more information and to build your Toyota, go to ToyotaHawaii.com.

1 2014 EPA-estimated mileage. Actual mileage will vary.

2 Do not rely exclusively on the Blind Spot Monitor.

Always look over your shoulder and use your turn signal.

There are several limitations to the function, detection, range and clarity of the monitor. For a complete list of limitations and directions regarding use of the monitor, please see the Owner’s Manual.

3 Do not rely exclusively on the Rear Cross-Traffic Alert system. Always look over your shoulder and use your mirrors to confirm rear clearance. There are limitations to the function, detection, range and clarity of the system. To learn more, see your Owner’s Manual.

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GREENMAGAZINEHAWAII.COM

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By Alyssa S. Navares Myers Photo Dave Miyamoto

two heads are better than one Gail Slawson-Eich and Michelle “Chelli” Eich bonded in the Bay Area more than 20 years ago over a shared love of the ocean and environment.

Friends dubbed the pair “ocean heads” because of the amount of time they spent together surfing and scuba diving. Looking for a locale where they could continue their ocean activities and pursue serious conservation efforts, the couple moved to Hawai‘i and founded OceanHead Solar & Electric. Their full-service electrical contracting company specializes in a range of residential and commercial solar and renewable energy products and services.

“A solar investment is so exciting,” Gail says. “To be able to save people money like that, to see people’s reactions when they get solar PV and see their $17 bill— they’re so thrilled.” In addition to providing customers with energy and moneysaving alternatives, Gail and Chelli have been Surfrider Foundation volunteers for more than 20 years. Spare time is predictably spent in the ocean—Gail is a swimmer, Chelli is a surfer and their son and dog join them on the stand-up paddleboard. Even when they are installing PV systems in the hot summer sun, Gail and Chelli are never far from doing what they love. “We love being outdoors,” Chelli says, “and we love being out on rooftops, there are really good views and it’s a great way to check the surf.” oceanheadsolar.com

GREENMAGAZINEHAWAII.COM

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