For many years now, the Hawaiian Islands have been a place of rest for the American public. It has been one of the traditional places we go for renewal. Warm waters, sunny days, and gentle breezes have a way of calling one’s soul back to the sea. The islands are a national treasure.Like any historical treasure, the islands will need to be protected. Constant “in and out” traffic from tourists takes a toll on the naturalism of the place. If we are to preserve this magical place for future generations, it will be necessary for us to do some practical things today. In that spirit, we would like to share some things everyone can do to help keep Hawaii a place of rest and renewal for years to come.
1. Don’t litter. This seems like such an obvious one, yet litter continues to be a problem for the Hawaiian Islands. Even something as simple as a plastic sandwich wrapper can take thousands of years to degrade. Rings around the six packs of soda we carry can trap small animals. Consider carrying all your trash out of any natural place you visit.
2. Don’t waste water. It is not uncommon in Hawaii for restaurants to not set water out with every meal. If you can imagine, fresh water for thousands can be a challenge. Consider the time you spend in showers, flushing toilets, etc. It really helps the overall ecology.
3. Travel by bike, foot, scooter, or public transport when possible. Cutting down on carbon emissions is a big way to help the islands, as more cars hit the highway every year. Walking saves gas, lowers carbon emissions, and makes you feel better. Biking does the same, and gets you around a little quicker. Rental is usually minimal. Scooters can get you a lot of places for little gas. Public transportation also helps the cause.
4. Take a travel mug with you for drinks. Paper and Styrofoam cups are a big issue in the islands. If you bring your own mug, you can save the land fills a lot of trash. The ultimate alternative for Hawaii would have to be shipping the trash out!
5. Reuse water bottles. In the same thought, reusing one water bottle saves on the amount of plastic that ends up in the trash bins. Plastic can take thousands of years to degrade. Reusing a water bottle makes a big difference. If every tourist saved just 2 water bottles, the island would have 14.8 million less water bottles in the land fills.
6. Turn off lights and heat when out for the day. This is not just an issue about saving money for the hotel. It is about the amount of raw materials it takes to produce electricity for the islands each year. The clear skies of Hawaii need to stay that way.
7. Don’t request fresh linens every day. This is also an energy saving issue. Not many people wash their bed linens at home every day. If you are really enjoying the Island, you will not see your bed much anyway. This is a simple and highly effective way to help save energy. Economically, this is also a help. Hawaii is a very expensive place to live for the average Hawaiian. We have help to make their home more economical.
8. Use rechargeable batteries for your camera. This is such a simple thing to do, that helps to keep corrosive acids out of the landfills. Batteries cause a lot of damage to the native soil. If you can afford to do so, bring rechargeable batteries.
9. Consider staying at a green hotel. There are many hotels in Hawaii that are making changes to become green, especially as the political mindset of Hawaii becomes “greener.” Simply ask about green policies being adopted at the hotel, when you make reservations. Most good travel agents are now savvy to this mindset as well. They will be more than happy to accommodate your request.
10. Turn off air conditioning in the room. There are many days in which you will not need air conditioning in the rooms. In fact, some destinations will not have air conditioning at all! Trade winds can be felt most of the year. If you are comfortable, consider eliminating or minimizing your use of air conditioning while in the rooms.
Though most of us that visit Hawaii will never live there, we can adopt a frame of mind that will help to keep the islands clean and green for many generations to come. The nice part of the deal is that the above mentioned items will not impede your ability to have a memorable vacation on the islands. We can embrace the true spirit of aloha and become brothers and sisters to the people of Hawaii working to keep their home a paradise. Here’s to a greener Hawaii!
Aloha,
Mike
