HAWAII MAY 6 – MAY 24 (WEEKS 1-3)
Hawai‘i is an ideal place to study global environmental issues because it provides a microcosm of the planet itself. With finite resources and an isolated location, Hawai‘i feels the impacts of human actions, positive and negative, immediately.
With nearly all the world’s distinct ecosystems represented (150) and being the endangered species capital of the world (317 total), Hawai‘i demonstrates the planet’s fragility.
We are reminded daily of the vulnerability of human system in Hawai‘i being the most reliant U.S. state on foreign oil (90% of energy) and imported food (7 day supply).
Hawai‘i also has a unique resouviour of solutions drawing from a 2,000-year history of Polynesian self-sufficiency, and a successful natural resource management system (ahupuaha).
The U.S. Department of Energy invests heavily in Hawai‘i as a ‘lab’ for alternative energy, having access to the widest range of options in solar, biomass, wind, wave, and geothermal.
Lastly, Hawai‘i has passed progressive policies to address environmental challenges head-on with a bill equivalent to Kyoto protocol in benchmarks and the Clean Energy Initiative, which calls for 70% renewable energy use in 30 years.
As a participant, Hawai‘i offers easy access to learn and enjoy the natural environment. It inspires stewardship for the nature world and creates daily reminders of why it is worth understanding and protecting. Its location halfway between the U.S. and Asia have resulted in a unique cultural blend and status as the only U.S. state without a racial majority. Participants can connect with a diversity of people and perspectives while exploring the environmental challenges and solutions that unite us.
With nearly all the world’s distinct ecosystems represented (150) and being the endangered species capital of the world (317 total), Hawai‘i demonstrates the planet’s fragility.
We are reminded daily of the vulnerability of human system in Hawai‘i being the most reliant U.S. state on foreign oil (90% of energy) and imported food (7 day supply).
Hawai‘i also has a unique resouviour of solutions drawing from a 2,000-year history of Polynesian self-sufficiency, and a successful natural resource management system (ahupuaha).
The U.S. Department of Energy invests heavily in Hawai‘i as a ‘lab’ for alternative energy, having access to the widest range of options in solar, biomass, wind, wave, and geothermal.
Lastly, Hawai‘i has passed progressive policies to address environmental challenges head-on with a bill equivalent to Kyoto protocol in benchmarks and the Clean Energy Initiative, which calls for 70% renewable energy use in 30 years.
As a participant, Hawai‘i offers easy access to learn and enjoy the natural environment. It inspires stewardship for the nature world and creates daily reminders of why it is worth understanding and protecting. Its location halfway between the U.S. and Asia have resulted in a unique cultural blend and status as the only U.S. state without a racial majority. Participants can connect with a diversity of people and perspectives while exploring the environmental challenges and solutions that unite us.
Team Goal
To investigate strategies and techniques used in agriculture in Hawai’i.
•Organic farming
•GMOs
•Food supply
•Aquaponics
•Organic farming
•GMOs
•Food supply
•Aquaponics
Strategy
To visit and investigate these places and communicate with keyplayers in Hawaii and use the information we could get from them to generate more ideas for our team action plan.
Targets
- Organic and non-organic farms
- Local markets
- Gardens
- School gardens
- Other establishments in Hawai’i
Decision Makers
•People running organic and non-organic farms, a local market, a garden, a school and other establishments in Hawai’i
•Local consumers
•Local consumers