2014 Hawai'i's Climate Moment
"2014 is Hawaiʻi's Climate Moment as well."
Great Op-Ed by State Sustainability Coordinator
Read more about Hawaii's Climate Moment
"2014 is Hawaiʻi's Climate Moment as well."
Great Op-Ed by State Sustainability Coordinator
Read more about Hawaii's Climate Moment
Take a few minutes to learn about little fire ants, a BIG invasive species threat affecting people, agriculture, wildlife and much more across across Hawai'i
In State of the State, Governor Abercrombie announces sustainability investment strategy to advance targets in clean energy development, local food production, natural resource management, waste reduction, smart growth, & green jobs creation. He also recognizes climate change and invasive species as major priorities.
Exciting news from earlier this month- Ulupono investment will bring local dairy to Kaua'i
Congratulations to Audrey Newman, Senior Advisor to Hawai'i Green Growth and the Global Island Partnership, for receiving an inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award at the 9th Pacific Islands Conference for excellence in Pacific environmental leadership. On behalf of us all, mahalo for your inspirational work, your vision, and all you do for islands everywhere.
President Obama appointed Governor Abercrombie to a Task Force on Climate Preparedness and Resilience. The State of Hawaiʻi will now be a part of the national discussion on addressing the impacts of climate change
Governor Abercrombie appoints Jacqueline Kozak Thiel, Hawai'i's first State Sustainability Coordinator!
Original Article: Star Advertiser
By Jacqueline Kozak Thiel
With rising seas threatening the only home he's ever known, President Christopher Loeak of the Republic of the Marshall Islands recently declared to the world, "2014 is Our Climate Moment."
This year is already shaping up to be a pivotal moment here in Hawaii to address our own vulnerability to the impacts of climate change. Collectively witnessing the damaging effects of coastal erosion and beach loss across the state has sparked a greater sense of urgency. This is Hawaii's climate moment to make important decisions for our future.
An international design challenge has been launched to rehabilitate a critical Oʻahu watershed that contains one of the nation’s most polluted bodies of water. During the September IUCN World Conservation Congress, University of Hawaiʻi President David Lassner announced the Make the Ala Wai Awesome Student Design Challenge, with up to $10,000 in total prize money for the winning entries.
“We are seeking ideas from the brightest young minds around the world to help us envision an inspiring, large-scale, systems thinking approach towards comprehensive ecosystem restoration of the Ala Wai watershed,” Lassner said. “This competition should generate creative integrated approaches that address flood mitigation, ecosystem restoration and preservation, community engagement, cultural connections, public private partnerships and improvement of the visitor experience.”
The Ala Wai watershed includes the valleys and streams of Makiki, Mānoa and Pālolo, which drain into the canal and encompass approximately 19 square miles from the mountains to the ocean. The Ala Wai is also the most densely populated watershed in Hawaiʻi, accounting for nearly 20 percent of the island’s population. About 40 percent of the watershed is classified as conservation district land. The remainder is heavily urbanized, supporting single family residences, condominiums, hotels and businesses, as well as many public and private schools, including the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, the largest university in the state.
The man-made Ala Wai Canal stretches for two miles through Waikīkī near the end of the watershed. It was constructed during the 1920’s to drain extensive coastal wetlands for the development of the district. The canal is listed as an impaired water body under the Clean Water Act due to numerous pollutants including nitrogen, phosphorous, sediment, metals, pathogens and pesticides, which derive from the communities and neighborhoods in between the mountain forests and coastal waterways.
Despite significant human health issues associated with poor water quality, the Ala Wai Canal system—including the contributing streams and upland trail systems—has been identified as a regionally outstanding recreational resource. Fishing and paddling sports are popular, and the canal has the largest concentration of canoe clubs in the state. The promenade is heavily used for walking, running, biking and commuting.
“We hope this design challenge will crowdsource student innovation and creativity to help us solve the issues affecting a critical urban watershed and broader island issues,” said UH System Sustainability Coordinator Matthew K. Lynch. “Restoring the watershed’s ecologies will require that we explore culture’s contribution to sustainable development.”
The design competition is linked to the Aloha+ Challenge, Hawaiʻi’s statewide sustainability initiative which identifies six ambitious goals to be achieved by 2030 in the areas of clean energy, local food, natural resource management, solid waste, smart sustainable communities and green workforce and education.
Celeste Connors, executive director of Hawaiʻi Green Growth, said, “The Make the Ala Wai Awesome Student Design Challenge is translating the Aloha+ Challenge, especially the Smart Sustainable Communities 2030 goal, into action to create economic value, build community resilience and reduce risk.”
“This project is an important opportunity to restore our natural and cultural resources in the Ala Wai Watershed, where the challenges are daunting and the economic stakes are enormous,” said Neil Hannahs, chairman of the Polynesian Voyaging Society. “This is a tangible example of our collective efforts to leverage our investment in hosting the IUCN World Conservation Congress to build resilience, forge global partnerships, and engage our keiki to ensure a legacy for Hawaiʻi that will endure long after the congress has adjourned.”