Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 31, Number 8, 1 August 2014 — State, counties, OHA agree to sustainability goals [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

State, counties, OHA agree to sustainability goals

By Lisa Asato Gov. Neil Abercrombie, the four county mayors and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs jointly launched the Aloha+ Challenge at a signing ceremony in July, a declaration that sets goals to improve sustainability in the islands in areas from waste reduction and elean energy to loeal food production. The statewide commitment, officially called the Aloha+ Challenge: A Culture of Sustainability - He Nohona 'Ae'oia, is outlined in a joint nonbinding resolution passed unanimously by the state Legislature this year and spearheaded by Sen. Kalani English. OHA Ka Pouhana Kamana 'opono Crabbe said the guiding principles outlined in the legislative resolution align with the agency's values, including respecting the culture, character and beauty of the island's communities, meeting today's needs without compromising the needs of future generations, and addressing the impacts of climate change. "This is what we consider at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs the foundation of truly mālama 'āina (caring for the land) and it takes great leadership and vision to do that," he said at the July 7 signing ceremony at the state

Capitol. Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell said the city is doing its part by building infrastructure "that helps us live better, that respects the 'āina." The city is encouraging people to get out of their cars by building bike paths, the rail and restoring bus routes, he said. Meanwhile, recycling and H-POWER diverts 90 percent of the rubbish the island generates. "Less than 10 percent goes into our landfill and by the end of the year when we start burning our sludge, it will drop even less," Caldwell said. Hawai'i Island Mayor Billy Kenoi called the initiative "very important, very strategic and ultimately worthwhile." "Being 2,500 miles from anywhere else in the world makes it crystal clear and overwhelmingly compelling that we have to take care of what we have," he said. On Kaua'i, home to the three largest solar parks in the state, the county is "beginning the eonversion of LED lighting for our streetlights," is set to develop and construct a biomass plant, and is promoting home-grown products through its Kaua'i Grown program, said Mayor Bernard Carvalho. Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa, XI G0ALS ON PAGE 25

6 targets The agreement aims to achievethefollowing goals by 2030: • Olean energy: 70 percent elean energy, 40 percent from renewables anel 30 percent from efficiency. • Loeal food: At least double loeal food production with 20 percent to 30 percent of food consumed being grown locally. • Natural resource management: lncrease freshwatersecurity, watershed protection, community-based marine management, invasive species control and native species restoration. • Waste reduction: Reduce the solid waste stream prior to disposal by 70 percent through source reduction, recycling, bioconversion and landfill diversion. • Smart sustainable eommunities: lncrease livability in the built environment through planning and implementation at state and county levels. • Green workforce and education: lncrease loeal green jobs and education to implementthese targets. Souko: 0ffice ofthe Governor

Gov. Neil Abercrombie, center, holds the signed declaration surrounded by members of the state Legislature, Kaua'i AAayor Bernard Carvalho, fifth from right, Hawai'i lsland Mayor Billy Kenoi, right, and OHA Ka Pouhana Kamana'opono Crabbe, third from right. - Photo: Francine Murray

GOALS

Continued from page 5 who has photovoltaic at home and whose wife drives an electric vehicle, said many of the goals set in Aloha+ are ones he and English set 20 years ago when they were on the County Council. "All the goals that we are signing off on today are achievable, and they're achievable within the next decade if we decide that's the direction we need to go," Arakawa said. "So I ask all of you to join us. Make this something that we do - not talk about - but actuate now." Abercrombie, in a statement, said: "The targets transcend poliīieal timelines with a longer-term vision that also calls upon us to take bold action now. As a microcosm of the world's sustainability challenges, it is time for Hawai'i to heeome a global model of how to develop a innovative and collaborative solutions." The Aloha+ Challenge was sparked last year when Global Island Partnership steering eommittee Chair Ronald Jumeau invited Abercrombie to join the partnership - whieh helps islands address

sustainability issues - and make a statewide commitment to sustainability. Abercrombie agreed and brought OHA and the four eounties aboard. Hawai'i has been invited to announee the Aloha+ Challenge at a Global Island Partnership event in Samoa in September during the United Nations International Conference on Small Island Developing States, whieh focuses on sustainable development. ■

The signed declaration. - Photo: Fmncine Murray