Hawaii and Sustainability

Do you think that Hawaii could be one of the best example for international sustainability?

What Hawai`i means to you?

For us, it means a natural treasure (culture, history, environment, people, uniqueness and fragility…etc) ! That is why Hawai`i strongly believes in Sustainability as a way to share and preserve this treasure! As a matter of fact, the State of Hawai`i aims at being fully Sustainable by 2050 through its 2050 Sustainable plan.

This Group is meant to talk about different aspects of sustainability (related to Hawai`i or not) … good or bad … inspirational or worrisome…
in order to share info about sustainability and international tourism to inspire, warn and help each other to rebuild trust and collaboration!

By doing right we can do good, and in the long term. “nobody is smarter than all of us” then, let’s inter-being !!!

Aloha

UHH Sustainability’s action

June 3, 2009

The University of Hawai`i at Hilo will implement a Mixed Recycling Program on campus, effective July 1, 2009, that will mirror the County of Hawai`i`s new guidelines and expected to more than double the University’s weekly recycling total.

The UH Hilo Sustainability Committee estimates the change will minimally divert 94 cubic yards of waste away from the county landfill each week, compared to the existing  Sorted Recycling Program that diverts approximately 45 cubic yards over the same period. Conversion to the Mixed Recycling Program is expected to encourage more recycling on the part of faculty, staff and students by creating a more seamless and user friendly operation, since most trash receptacles in offices on campus will be designated Mixed Recycling Bins.”

This was a very important initiative for the committee as well as our student government and it’s not hard to see why given the substantial amount of waste it will divert from the landfill, said Dr. Debra Fitzsimons, vice chancellor for administrative affairs. We are talking about 132,000 cubic yards over the course of a year, which would be enough to fill the entire Student Services Building to the brim.”

Fitzsimons said the Mixed Recycling Program is just the latest example of UH Hilo’s green commitment to promote sustainable practices on campus. The Sustainability Committee, formed last fall, has made substantial progress in reducing the University’s carbon footprint over the past year, and continues to actively seek volunteers and/or suggestions.

For more information about volunteering on sustainability efforts, contact Fitzsimons at (808) 974-7750 or email debra.fitzsimons@hawaii.edu. For more specific information regarding the recycling program, contact Kolin Kettleson at (808) 974-7369 or email kolin@hawaii.edu.

Space Tourism

In these tough economic times, this letter to Governor Linda Lingle is part of testimony to sustain funding for several space-based initiatives which could positively impact Hawai‘i’s economy.

June 2, 2009

The Honorable Linda Lingle
Governor, State of Hawai‘i
State Capital
415 South Beretania Street
Honolulu, Hawai‘i

Dear Governor Lingle,

I appreciate the opportunity to share my thoughts with you in respect to the aerospace Bill (HB994) which was recently passed by the State legislature and to respectfully ask for your support and approval of this bill.

I have watched you take unprecedented steps to harness our economy over the past several months, and applaud your foresight and courage in promoting innovative measures to stimulate our economic recovery statewide.

Along those same lines, I am hoping that your spirit of innovation will engender your strong support and approval for HB994. This particular piece of legislation is extremely vital as we pursue the entrepreneurial field of Space Tourism. We no longer have the luxury of resting on our laurels or on the historic lead we held in the tourism industry. Change is here and we must be innovative, entrepreneurial, courageous and willing to put legislation and funding behind, and in front of, projects we sincerely believe will benefit our economy and our community.

Space Tourism… is one of those industries that we should invest in because I believe that it is imperative that we position Hawai‘i to be a global leader in the aerospace industry and in the field of technical tourism.

Market studies have shown that space tourism could become a billion-dollar industry within 20 years. We can no longer rely on sun and surf to bring our visitors and we must diversify our tourism industry now.  A number of other states – to date eleven, including (Alabama, Alaska, California, Florida, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming) have obtained or are applying for commercial spaceport licenses to accommodate this growing demand, and the safety and environmental studies required for these licenses have been or are being funded by state governments – either directly through legislative appropriations or through established airport authorities.

Hawai‘i is strategically positioned to become the central hub for trans-Pacific spaceplane operations – yet another opportunity for our State to assume an international leadership role in creative applications of next generation technologies.  Timing is very critical now and this is the third attempt to pass spaceport license legislation and we need to act now! Spaceplanes will be ready to fly as early as 2011, and it will take at least two years to conduct the required studies and apply for/obtain a commercial spaceport license from the FAA.

With your continued advocacy and support for STEM education programs for local residents, the space tourism initiative will support and contribute to all of those defined goals through scientific research, aerospace education, training and expanded employment opportunities that will be required to support this industry and I hope we can count on your continued support for this critical industry.

Please feel free to contact me regarding any questions you may have and I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to submit this personal request to you in regard to your support and approval for HB004.

With sincerest aloha!

Judith Fox-Goldstein

Administrative Director
University of Hawai‘i at Hilo Conference Center

What does Sustainability mean to you ?

Sustainability in Hawai`i

Sustainability has become a very important focus for the State of Hawai`i. Indeed, Sustainability practices have be recognized, by the Hawaiian Government for instance, to be the main action plan to protect the Islands’ fragile economy and eco-system. The Big Island, which is the natural resources richest Island, is certainly the perfect candidate to promote and encourage Sustainability in Hawai`i; but what does Sustainability mean to the Big Island’s community? Check out our video made during the Sustainability Forum at Hilo.

Video on Sustainability in Hawaii

Is sustainability credible?

Sustainable tourism Introduction

Even though sustainable tourism practice’s codes are supposed to help preserving local authenticity and enrich the visitors’ experience, it seems that the sustainability “brand”  may just be used as an commercial word. Indeed,  how can it be evaluated if a tour is really applying sustainable services, since high competition has led some businesses  not to  be always sincere with their products and services?

Take a look at this very insightful Times’ article on sustainability Click Here