Green Hawaii 2020 - Honolulu Magazine

GREEN HAWAII WE CAN BE THE GENERATION THAT PRESERVES HAWAI‘I FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. 2020

WE DO NOT INHERIT THE EARTH FROM OUR ANCESTORS WE BORROW IT FROM OUR CHILDREN Let’s work together to reduce our collective carbon footprint and transition Hawai‘i to a 100% clean energy future.

You can make a difference.

For the ‘āina, for ‘ohana, for our Hawai‘i. Join Project Footprint at HawaiianElectric.com/Footprint.

The path toward sustainability starts with each of us. our message in green hawaii is simple: The path toward sustainability starts with each of us. A business, nonprofit organization, family and individual can each do their part to promote a greener future for our Island home. We invited leaders with diverse backgrounds and a similar mission of sustainability to share their thoughts on our collective contributions to a green Hawaii.

“This is a critical time in our state as we build a stronger, more sustainable Hawaii. It’s about pulling together as a community to understand needs and priorities, to collaborate and recognize that the choices we make now will impact generations to come.”

— Scott Seu President and CEO, Hawaiian Electric

“ a aii has the opportunity to lead the sia acific region in climate health and resilience. We have so many powerful models of ingenuity and creativity.

We have a deep connection to place and culturally responsive solutions that can be instructive to the rest of the world.”

— Maya Soetoro-Ng Co-founder, Institute for Climate & Peace

“ s islands, e kno the importance of becoming self su cient and tackling the challenges of cleaning our economy, because we are on the front lines of climate change. We must ensure we work with our communities across the state to achie e this future in a ay that benefits all of us and sland Earth.”

— Scott Glenn Chief nergy

fficer Hawaii tate nergy

ffice

Contents Environment

Energy

Transportation

Community

6 Sustainability Goals

12 Renewable Energy

20 Electric Vehicles

26 STEM Center

9 Island Resiliency

15 Grid Modernization

22 EV Charging Stations

27 Upgrading Campsites

16 Solar Energy

24 Rail System

28 Turning the Tide

10 Project Footprint

18 Geothermal Energy

DAWN HIRAYAMA ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER dawnh@hawaiihomemag.com 534-7561

30 The Next Leaders

STEPHANIE SILVERSTEIN EDITOR stephanies@hawaiihomemag.com 534-7516

CODY KAWAMOTO ART DIRECTOR codyk@hawaiihomemag.com 534-7140

Green Hawaii is published as a supplement to Hawaii Home + Remodeling magazine, April 2020. ©2020 by AIO Media Group. 1088 Bishop St., Suite LL2, Honolulu, HI, 96813. hawaiihomemag.com.

Presented by Hawaiian Electric. AJ Halagao, Vice President, Marketing & President, HEI Foundation; Pamela Chun, Marketing Program Manager. Cover photo by Elyse Butler-Mallams.

4 GREEN HAWAII  2020

Environment

G R E E N H AWA I I | E N V I RO N M E N T

Advancing Sustainability Hawaii’s sustainability goals and local framework serve as a model around the world.

H

awaii’s model for sustainability is catching on, as the number of places implementing green targets grows.

The momentum created after Hawaii received international acclaim for its sustainability commitments a year ago has led to more island communities committing to green efforts and more information for citizens who want to take action and track their own impacts.

A major catalyst behind it all is Hawaii Green Growth, a statewide public-private partnership that supports and records Hawaii’s progress in achieving economic, social and environmental goals. In 2018, the partnership was recognized by the United Nations as a Local2030 Hub as a result of the Aloha+ Challenge, Hawaii’s local sustainability framework launched in 2014.

“The international community recognizes the rubber hits the road at the local level,” says Celeste Connors, CEO and executive director of Hawaii Green Growth. “Hawaii is delivering against the U.N. sustainable development goals through our local framework, the Aloha+ sustainable development goals, and is well-positioned to be a global leader because of Hawaii’s history of systems thinking and indigenous knowledge.”

Because of the state’s deep community, public and private sector stakeholder engagement since 2011 — and to spotlight and support local action — Hawaii was invited to become a Local2030 Hub. The idea is for local models such as the Aloha+ Challenge to be emulated, scaled and applied worldwide to achieve the U.N.’s sustainable development goals.

In April 2019, Hawaii elected officials from every branch of government renewed their joint

Land Use Impacts

Reduce Vehicle Miles Traveled Goal: By 2030, people can safely move to destinations with a choice of transportation options at a reasonable time and cost. = 1,000

6 GREEN HAWAII  2020

Progress: 9,011 annual miles traveled per vehicle

Goal: By 2030, minimize the negative impacts of land use on the natural environment and people, while enhancing the livability of the built environment.

Progress: 7.12 people per acre of urban land

G R E E N H AWA I I | E N V I RO N M E N T

“Hawaii is . . . well-positioned to be a global leader because of Hawaii’s history of systems thinking and indigenous knowledge.” commitment to meeting sustainability goals for renewable energy, local food production, natural resource management, waste reduction, smart sustainable communities and green workforce and education. Hawaii’s efforts and progress in meeting these goals are tracked on the Aloha+ Challenge Dashboard.

The dashboard, which can be viewed at dashboard.hawaii.gov/ aloha-challenge, currently shows that 52.9% of discarded materials in the state are diverted from the landfill for re-use or recycling, 104 million pounds of local food is produced annually, and there are approximately 7 people per acre of urban land. The dashboard also measures affordability, showing that on average, residents across all four counties spend more than 55% of household income on housing and transportation costs.

“Progress on one goal is contingent on progress across all goals,” Connors says about achieving the Aloha+ sustainable development goals by 2030. “Meeting the challenge will require an integrated approach, community engagement and collaboration across sectors.”

Reduction in energy use of commercial buildings to support Hawaii’s goal of 100% clean energy by 2045

ciency

50

%

40

%

30% 20% 10

%

0%

0%

11.8%

2015

2020

Solid Waste Reduction Progress: 52.9% of discarded materials diverted from the landfill for re-use or recycling

70 60 50 40 Gallons

usiness Sector Energy E

2009

2012

2014

2016

2018

2019

SOURCE: HAWAII GREEN GROWTH

GREEN HAWAII  2020 7

PREVIOUS PAGE & CURRENT PAGE PHOTOS: COURTESY OF THE NATURE CONSERVANCY OF HAWAII, MANUEL MEJIA

—Celeste Connors, Hawaii Green Growth CEO and Executive Director

G R E E N H AWA I I | E N V I RO N M E N T

The Aloha+ Challenge has inspired the tracking of sustainability goals for businesses and residents. Hawaii Green Growth worked with top Hawaii business executives, who make up the newly formed Sustainability Business Forum, to track their businesses’ progress on goals aligned with Environmental Social Governance, or ESG, metrics on the Aloha+ Dashboard, starting with energy efficiency. Working toward the state’s goal of achieving 30% energy efficiency and 40% renewable energy by 2030 and 100% renewable energy by 2045, forum members collectively achieved over 4

8 GREEN HAWAII  2020

million kWh in aggregate energy savings by enrolling in Hawaii Energy’s Continuous Energy Improvement program.

“The level of commitment is significant,” Connors says. “These companies together represent over 21,000 employees, $8.5 billion in revenue, and $95 million in annual philanthropic donations.”

Through Hawaii Green Growth, the forum joined the U.N. Global Compact, consisting of more than 9,000 CEOs committed to sustainable and socially responsible principles.

The executives who make up the Sustainability Business Forum are commit-

ted to advancing the Aloha+ sustainable development goals across social, economic and environmental priorities to build community resilience. Some members include Hawaiian Electric, Alexander and Baldwin, Bank of Hawaii, Hawaiian Airlines and Kamehameha Schools.

The Aloha+ Challenge has also inspired county-level residential tracking, and Kauai Mayor Derek Kawakami launched the Kauai Aloha+ Challenge in 2019 to encourage public engagement and action by residents, local businesses and schools.

“This allows individuals and families to make a specific commitment to what they’re doing in their homes and their communities toward the Aloha+ sustainable development goals, such as reducing waste, increasing energy efficiency and buying local,” Connors says.

In July, Hawaii Green Growth will release a five-year report on the Aloha+ Challenge, utilizing the metrics co-developed for the Dashboard over the years with partners across all four counties. After the report is released statewide, Hawaii can share news of its progress toward the Aloha+ sustainable development goals with the international community at the United Nations this July.

Hawaii is also sharing news of its progress with other island communities interested in adapting the Dashboard, and joined the Local2030 Islands Network in September. The network includes Guam, the Seychelles, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Grenada and Ireland.

The network’s objectives include identifying locally and culturally driven priorities, strengthening public-private partnerships, measuring progress and implementing concrete actions that build island resilience.

“A circular economy is an island economy,” Connors says. “Islands have sustainability solutions that are globally relevant and can share island values and a worldview with the rest of the world to achieve the U.N. sustainable development goals.”

PHOTO: COURTESY OF THE NATURE CONSERVANCY OF HAWAII, GRADY TIMMONS

G R E E N H AWA I I | E N V I RO N M E N T

The Path to Island Resilience The Oahu Resilience Strategy addresses our challenges of long-term affordability and climate crisis impacts.

O

ahu is one of the best places to live on the planet, with our mountain ranges, beautiful beaches and rural communities surrounding an international city. It’s paradise. But as every Island resident knows, living in paradise comes with a price. The Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency co-developed a strategy with thousands of local residents to allow us all to live and thrive over the long run in our Island home.

The Oahu Resilience Strategy is com-

prised of four key pillars, which in turn are divided into 44 specific resilience actions crafted and prioritized by the community. The four pillars are:

city will prepare to absorb these blows and rebound in ways to put the entire community on stronger footing for the next event.

1. Remaining Rooted. Hawaii has a high quality of life but also a high cost of living. The city will invest in long-term solutions to increase self-sufficiency and reduce out-of-pocket living expenses to keep our community intact.

3. Climate Security. Our island must transition to a 100% clean-energy economy as quickly as possible, while changing outdated policies and infrastructure to adapt to climate impacts and protect lives and property in harm’s way.

2. Bouncing Forward. As threats from hurricanes, flooding and extreme weather rise with climate change, the

4. Community Cohesion. We are only as strong as our community bonds. The city will foster connectivity and collaboration with our residents to ensure that we face 21st century challenges together as one Oahu.

“The resilience strategy is designed to address the two main threats to our ability to live long-term in these Islands,” says Josh Stanbro, chief resilience officer and executive director of the Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency. “The first is the storms, flooding and risks from the climate crisis and the second is the skyrocketing cost of living day to day.”

For two years the state’s population has seen a decline and a recent poll showed 45% of Oahu residents live in households where someone is contemplating leaving the Islands. “The Resilience Strategy,” Stanbro says, “really tries to home in on … the policy and program solutions that can address both reducing our climate risk and our monthly cost of living in one shot, and allow homeowners and residents to stay here and thrive on Oahu over the coming decades.”

GREEN HAWAII  2020 9

PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES

BY LENNIE OMALZA

G R E E N H AWA I I | E N V I RO N M E N T

Inspiring Communities to be More Sustainable Hawaiian Electric continues to encourage its customers to maintain an environmental mindset.

W

hat does the future of hawaii hold? Hawaiian Electric wants to make sure it’s green.

The company’s Project Footprint initiative was launched in 2019 with the aim of creating a system that incentivizes customers to help build a more sustainable future. Customers can do this by

10 GREEN HAWAII  2020

adjusting their energy consumption and behavior and adopting more eco-friendly practices to reduce their carbon footprint. The overall goal? A state powered entirely by clean energy by 2045.

It’s a big goal, but one that Hawaiian Electric envisions happening with many small steps. Customers receive gifts and rewards for making environmentally friendly adjustments; those adjustments

range from something as simple as billing choices (opting for paperless) to bigger decisions such as purchasing or leasing an electric car, or installing rooftop solar.

Now, one year into the Project Footprint Initiative, people are starting to take notice. As the climate crisis looms, and the global community rallies behind large-scale change, Project Footprint’s visionary success is more relevant than ever. The Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative named the project national runner-up for its best practices award, while Chartwell Inc. placed the project among its top three finalists for its people’s choice award for video. And E-Source awarded Project Footprint first place for best branding campaign.

For Project Footprint, the name of the game is all about mobilizing and inspiring communities to rethink how they live and work. It’s about understanding that the actions taken today affect the Islands tomorrow.

For 2020, Project Footprint is joining forces with the Hawaiian Legacy Reforestation Initiative, a nonprofit. For $90 and up, customers can “plant” one of the Reforestation Initiative’s endemic native trees – to memorialize a passed loved one, perhaps, or to celebrate a new life or milestone, while offsetting carbon emissions. Not only will each tree help Hawaii’s future be more sustainable, customers will be able to follow the progress of their investments: Each tree is tagged with an RFID chip and GPS technology, so customers can keep tabs on how their trees are growing and how healthy they are.

What does the future hold? With initiatives like Project Footprint, forecasts are looking greener – and greater – than ever.

PHOTO: COURTESY OF HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC

BY NATALIE SCHACK

Energy

GREEN HAWAII  2020 11

G R E E N H AWA I I | E N E RGY

Moving Together Toward 100% Renewable Power Hawaiian Electric collaborates with the community and state to bring more renewable energy to the Islands.

BY KATHRYN MYKLESETH

H

awaiian electric is clearing benchmark after benchmark as it drives toward its goal to be 100% renewable-energy powered by 2045.

In 2019, Hawaiian Electric added the largest block of solar power ever built in Hawaii; received approval to develop seven solar energy projects tied to batteries, with an eighth project pending approval by regulators; and put out a call to developers seeking to add even more renewable projects to the grid — the largest request of its kind in Hawaii history.

“It takes a lot of coordination and a lot of effort,” says Rebecca Dayhuff Matsushima, director of renewable acquisition at Hawaiian Electric.

“We want to make sure we’re run-

ning a fair process.”

The total amount of renewable projects either requested, approved by regulators or installed in 2019 rounded out to 1,289 megawatts — that’s 389 megawatts approved or installed and 900 megawatts requested. One of those megawatts of solar energy can serve approximately 300 homes.

“We’re looking at portfolios of projects to see what combination will provide the best benefits for our customers,” Matsushima says as she reflects on the response to the company’s record-breaking 900-megawatt request for renewable projects.

Hawaiian Electric sent out the historic request last August, calling for developers who could get renewable and storage projects up and running as early as 2022.

Renewable Mix

The state saw a carbon dioxide emissions reduction of Hawaii was the first state to officially sign on to the Paris climate agreement to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

12 GREEN HAWAII  2020

19.1

in 2015 from 2005 levels.

%

HAWAII ISLAND

16.8%

Customer-Sited Solar

13.6%

Wind

Renewable Energy

3.4%

Hydro

67

.6%

Biofuels

.4%

Grid-Scale Solar

34.7 %

%

Renewable Peak (November 28, 2019)

G R E E N H AWA I I | E N E RGY

“The utility cannot reach 100% renewable energy by ourselves . . . we want (everyone) to be on board and help us create a better future for Hawaii.”

PREVIOUS PAGE PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES, CURRENT PAGE PHOTO: COURTESY OF KAWAILOA SOLAR, LLC

—Rebecca Dayhuff Matsushima, Hawaiian Electric Director of Renewable Acquisition

Renewable Mix

OAHU

12.9%

Customer-Sited Solar

6.3%

Biomass

Renewable Energy

3%

Grid-Scale Solar

60

2.3%

Wind

.8%

Biofuels

25.2 %

%

Renewable Peak (May 5, 2019)

Renewable Mix

MAUI COUNTY

40.8

%

Renewable Energy

77

%

Renewable Peak

21%

Wind

18%

Customer-Sited Solar

1.7%

Grid-Scale Solar

.1%

Biofuels

(April 15, 2019)

SOURCE: HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC

GREEN HAWAII  2020 13

G R E E N H AWA I I | E N E RGY

Within three months of the call for more renewable resources connected to energy storage, grid services and stand-alone storage, the electric utility received more than 75 proposals for projects on Oahu, Maui and Hawaii Island.

When considering the proposals, Hawaiian Electric checks a list of criteria to determine whether the projects are the right fit for the Islands. Topics include community engagement, price and environmental impacts.

“It’s a pretty long process. There are a lot of steps,” Matsushima says.

“It’s about finding the best-fit project over the perfect project.”

If the utility can successfully identify the best fit, negotiate contracts and receive state regulators’ approval for them, the percentage of grid-connected renewable resources would jump to 61% on Oahu by 2025. Hawaii Island would get to roughly 96% and Maui would reach up to 109%.

As the utility worked to recruit more projects, contracted developers moved forward with some renewable facilities already on the ground.

Last September, Clearway Energy Group completed construction of three grid-scale solar energy projects. Combined, those systems will produce 110 megawatts of energy.

The completed projects were announced a few months after Hawaiian Electric received approval from state regulators to begin construction of seven renewable projects touting 259.5 megawatts of renewable power.

Though essential, developers and regulators are not the only groups the utility considers as it works toward a 100% renewable energy future. Collaborating with the community at large to achieve the state’s goal is paramount to the utility, says Matsushima.

“The utility cannot reach 100% renewable energy by ourselves … we need all of the stakeholders to be on board with the plan to achieve our goal,” she says. “From government officials, policymakers, developers, landowners and community members, we want (everyone) to be on board and help us create a better future for Hawaii.”

Renewable Portfolio Standard Progress 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

Customer-Sited, Grid-Connected

Biofuels

Wind

Utility-Scale Solar

Hydro

Geothermal

2018

2019 Biomass

SOURCE: HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC

14 GREEN HAWAII  2020

TAKING YOUR ENERGY-SAVING COMMITMENTS TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Hawaii Energy’s recommendations for maximum Earth-saving impact.

As the worry around climate change grows, you might be looking for bigger ways to make a positive impact on our planet. Reducing energy consumption is a great bet, and there are a few things you can do beyond swapping out lightbulbs – all it takes is a little creativity.

As temperatures rise and more and more families view air conditioning as a necessity, Hawaii Energy says it’s important to be smart about your energy usage. “There are ways to use energy efficiently in your home without having to drastically change your habits,” says Brian Kealoha, executive director of Hawaii Energy.

“For example, mini-split air conditioners are far more efficient than through the wall or room A/Cs. You can also use a timer to shut off your A/C midway through the night or turn on a few minutes before coming home.”

In addition to monitoring how electricity is used in the home, Kealoha points to managing when it is used. “Since a large amount of our state’s renewable energy comes from solar, we have to find ways to use more energy during the day, when it’s being produced, and less during the evening,” Kealoha says.

To help limit energy use at night — including during peak hours, when people typically use the most energy — Kealoha suggests incorporating automatic timers via smart home technology, which has rapidly advanced over the past few years. “You can also charge your EV during the day or set a smart dishwasher to run later in the evening. By making green decisions now, you’ll be well prepared and adjusted for when the utility introduces different time-of-use rate structures, which means that you’ll pay less for energy used during nonpeak hours.”

PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES

G R E E N H AWA I I | E N E RGY

Hawaiian Electric is Working to Build a More Modern Grid The initiative gives residents more insight to better manage their energy usage.

T

o reach the state’s 100% renewable energy goal by 2045, Hawaiian Electric is working on customer energy options and upgrading the technology that delivers electricity to customers.

“It plays a big role in getting to 100%,” Jason Reyes, director of grid modernization at Hawaiian Electric, says about the upgrades, referred to as “grid mod.”

In spring 2019, Hawaiian Electric received state regulatory approval to move forward with the first phase of its energy distribution system modernization, which is aimed, in part, at improving communication and coordination between the utility control center and renewable energy systems across the island. The first phase includes deploying advanced meters, a telecommunications network and a meter data management

system, as well as adding an energy portal where customers can view their energy use details. So far, Hawaiian Electric has deployed 5,000 advanced meters.

“It doesn’t necessarily mean everyone has to have an advanced meter with grid modernization,” Reyes says. “Currently grid operators don’t have visibility of the large quantities of customers’ solar, storage, and electric vehicles to operate the grid safely and reliably. Grid mod is providing that visibility and will allow our operations to see how power flow is going.”

With customer solar and energy storage systems that provide energy to the grid, Reyes likens the electric system improvements to the installation of traffic signals on a roadway that has transitioned from one lane to a more complex multi-lane city street with intersections.

“What we’re doing is almost like a traffic management system,” Reyes says. “Imagine a road where cars only traveled one way. Now, you have cars traveling two ways and … intersections.

Imagine if there are no stoplights, stop signs and crosswalks. It is going to be kind of chaotic.”

The leading role that customer rooftop solar will play in achieving Hawaii’s 100% renewable energy future is one factor behind the system upgrade.

“You have your bulk resources that will only take you so far,” Reyes says, referencing the utility-scale projects being installed to achieve the state’s energy goal. “A large part is going to have to come from customer generation and grid mod is the piece that will enable us to get there.”

One challenge the utility faces as it integrates more customer-owned renewables is balancing the energy supply and demand, without causing power quality (voltage and frequency) issues that can lead to outages or damage to customer equipment. Not being able to see what customer rooftop solar systems are producing makes it difficult for the utility to maintain that balance.

It’s not only the electric utility that will be pulled out of the dark with grid mod. Residents with advanced meters will be able to reference an app that shows their energy use for specific periods – whether it be an hour or five minutes – from the prior day, month or year(s).

“They’ll be able to make decisions about how to manage their electric bill,” Reyes says. “That’s a big benefit.”

GREEN HAWAII  2020 15

PHOTO: COURTESY OF HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC

BY KATHRYN MYKLESETH

G R E E N H AWA I I | E N E RGY

Customers Have a Huge Role in Meeting Renewable Energy Goals Hawaiian Electric offers many renewable options to choose from.

I

t’s all hands on deck as hawaiian electric works toward 100% renewable energy by 2045.

As the electric utility works with developers, community organizations and state agencies to add more large-scale renewable projects, more and

16 GREEN HAWAII  2020

more residents are also contributing to make Hawaii a national leader in rooftop solar adoption.

New rooftop solar systems are helping the state reach the milestone of 30% renewable energy by the end of 2020, as roughly 3,500 new solar energy systems

were connected to the grid across Oahu, Hawaii Island and Maui County in 2019, and a similar number is expected in 2020.

“We foresee a great need for even more of these customer energy resources,” says Lani Shinsato, co-director for Customer Energy Resources at Hawaiian

PHOTO: COURTESY OF HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC

BY KATHRYN MYKLESETH

G R E E N H AWA I I | E N E RGY

Electric. “To achieve 100% by 2045, we need to nearly triple customer participation.”

To meet this target, the electric utility offers a variety of renewable energy programs for customers to join. These include Customer Grid-Supply Plus, Customer Grid-Supply, Customer Self-Supply, Smart Export and Net Energy Metering Plus.

Under Customer Grid-Supply Plus, residents get a second meter connected to their solar energy system to allow Hawaiian Electric to monitor system performance remotely and to control the system in times of emergency.

Another option is Smart Export, designed for those with renewable

systems linked to a battery, giving customers the option to export energy to the grid from 4 p.m. to 9 a.m.

Customer Self-Supply is for residents with private rooftop solar systems connected to the grid that do not export electricity but are able to serve their own household needs and receive electricity from the grid as needed.

Those who enroll in Customer Grid-Supply are credited for the electricity their solar energy systems send to the grid. This is similar to Net Energy Metering, or NEM. In 2015, state regulators announced that NEM had hit its limit and closed it to new customers.

Customers who are grandfathered into NEM and want to add more solar panels (or a battery) are eligible for NEM-Plus. With this program, NEM customers can add more solar panels, but those additional panels cannot export any electricity to the grid.

Another program in the early stages of development is a community-based renewable energy program, more commonly called community solar.

“We’re excited about this program,” Shinsato says, noting that it was created with apartment dwellers, renters and customers with low-to-moderate incomes in mind.

“We want them to be able to participate in the solar movement as well so we will be offering ‘solar without a roof’ to meet their needs.”

Hawaii residents’ interest in renewables continues to grow, with 77,801 systems interconnected through the end of 2019, up from 74,331 through 2018. This means roughly 19% of single-family homes in Hawaiian Electric’s service territory of Oahu, Molokai, Maui, Lanai and Hawaii Island are now using rooftop solar. On Oahu, it’s 33%.

Hawaii’s percentage of residential customers with rooftop solar is nearly three times that of California, second in the nation at 6.6%, according to an analysis of 2018 data by the Smart Electric Power Alliance.

Being ahead of the curve means

more eyes watching the Islands’ progress.

“Other utilities and even other countries are looking to us and want to learn from us — how we are planning on growing even more and how we are integrating more customer resources on the grid,” Shinsato says.

Customer energy systems are certainly not the only tool needed to create a 100% renewable future, but the role Hawaii rooftop solar owners will play for themselves and for their neighbors makes the Islands’ renewable energy future notable.

“That’s what makes Hawaii unique,” Shinsato says. “We will be very dependent on these resources to provide us energy and grid services.

Customers with solar will be benefiting all customers.”

Q& A Lani Shinsato, co-director of Customer Energy Resources at Hawaiian Electric, answers questions about how homeowners can take advantage of solar offerings.

Q: I have rooftop solar under Net Energy Metering – can I add more panels?

A: Yes. You can enroll in the Net Energy Metering Plus program to add panels to your system but those panels cannot export electricity to the grid.

Q: If a community has very high levels of rooftop solar, what options are available to homeowners who still want to get in on rooftop solar?

A: We now have advanced technologies like advanced meters and advanced inverters that help us manage challenges on the grid where we have high levels of rooftop solar, so we still encourage customers to apply to any one of our open programs and we will review their application. Customer Grid-Supply Plus, Customer Self-Supply, Smart Export and Net Energy Metering Plus still have a lot of room available and are open to customers.

GREEN HAWAII  2020 17

G R E E N H AWA I I | E N E RGY

Geothermal Energy Aims to Resume on Hawaii Island Puna Geothermal Venture prepares to come back online nearly two years after Kilauea’s eruptions closed the facility.

H

awaii island is set to see an increase in its renewable power generation.

Puna Geothermal Venture, a major independent power producer that generates electricity from the steam brought up from underground reservoirs, is preparing to reconnect to the Hawaii Island electric grid later this year.

Bringing PGV back online will boost the island’s renewable energy generation to 70 percent and ultimately provide significant savings on the typical customer’s bill by 2023.

18 GREEN HAWAII  2020

“It’s really important for us to have the reliability of geothermal back,” says Kristen Okinaka, spokeswoman for Hawaiian Electric on Hawaii Island. “It’s a resource we can count on and we’ve been without it for almost two years.”

The 38-megawatt geothermal power plant was shut down in May 2018 because of the Kilauea volcano eruption. Until the eruption, Hawaii Island led the state in renewable energy generation, at 57 percent.

Bringing the power plant back online is paramount to the island’s

renewable energy portfolio. Unlike solar and wind, geothermal is a firm resource — meaning it has the ability to generate electricity 24/7.

“The energy is available when we need it. It’s on demand,” says Okinaka. “We do find geothermal to be really important because we’re able to use it in that way.”

The PGV facility in Puna is the only geothermal plant in Hawaii and began operations in 1992. A switching station and two transmission lines that were destroyed by the eruption also must be rebuilt to reconnect the facility to the grid.

Hawaiian Electric and PGV owner Ormat Technologies Inc. submitted an amended contract to state regulators in December 2019 for their review.

The new contract can significantly lower electric bills for Hawaii Island residents and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to the extent that when PGV comes online, the utility can operate fewer fossil fuel units than it does now.

In the amended contract, the companies proposed bringing 8 megawatts of additional power online. That will eliminate the use of over 100 million gallons of oil over the life of the contract.

“One of the things that is a benefit of bringing PGV back beyond lowering customer bills and increasing our renewable energy percentage, it also will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which is important for the community and for the state,” Okinaka says.

PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

BY KATHRYN MYKLESETH

Transportation

G R E E N H A W A I I | T R A N S P O R TAT I O N

Electric Vehicles Are Now More Within Reach Lower prices appeal to more drivers – and new models are becoming available.

BY KATHRYN MYKLESETH

M

arking a milestone in hawaii’s electric vehicle adoption, Oahu students will soon be getting on the electric school bus.

In April, Roberts Hawaii launched the first test of an electric school bus, in cooperation with Hawaiian Electric and the Electric Power Research Institute. “Electrification of transportation, including cars, trucks, buses, the rail system and airport and harbor equipment, is essential to our state’s commitment to 100% clean energy by 2045,” says Scott Seu, president and CEO of Hawaiian Electric. The bus, manufactured by Blue Bird, can travel up to 120 miles on a charge. Its first route will

20 GREEN HAWAII  2020

serve Moanalua elementary and middle schools.

While news of the electric bus is historic, it is only one of more than 10,000 EVs on Hawaii roadways.

“Now that EVs are becoming a little bit more mass market, the prices are comparable to regular gas cars. It is becoming an easier transition to switch over,” says Amy Hennessey, senior vice president of communications and external affairs at the Ulupono Initiative.

Despite hitting an all-time high, EVs still make up less than 1% of passenger vehicles in Hawaii.

A coalition called Drive Electric Hawaii is looking to increase the EV share of the vehicle market in Hawaii. Drive

Electric Hawaii includes impact investment firm Ulupono Initiative, which is redefining the term “investing” to prioritize measurable, beneficial environmental and social impact before financial return. Other members include the state Department of Transportation, Hawaii State Energy Office, Hawaiian Electric, the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative, DCCA, all counties and clean energy nonprofit Blue Planet Foundation.

As the price of EVs becomes comparable to gasoline vehicles, these advocates still face several barriers, many of them caused by a lack of public understanding.

One obstacle is the misconception that EVs are only available as luxury vehicles for the wealthy.

“If you get an EV on the secondary (used vehicle) market, it is pretty affordable,” Hennessey says, adding that EVs can save you a lot on operating costs over the life of the vehicle because they have fewer moving parts with less maintenance requirements.

Kelley Blue Book lists pre-owned Nissan Leafs at Honolulu dealerships from $10,000 to $15,000 and pre-owned BMW i3s from $16,000 to $20,000.

Other obstacles that Drive Electric Hawaii members are trying to mitigate include the state’s nascent charging infrastructure and “range anxiety.” The group looks forward to a time when people are as comfortable with the electric motor as they have been with the generations-old internal combustion engine. Change can be difficult for some, but generational trends in transportation behavior are increasingly moving toward cleaner, electric options.

“The next group of people to shift from a gas vehicle to a comparable EV will take a little more incentivizing,” says Lauren Reichelt, clean transportation director at Blue Planet Foundation. “The

PREVIOUS PAGE PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES; PHOTOS: COURTESY OF AJ HALAGAO, AARON LEE

G R E E N H A W A I I | T R A N S P O R TAT I O N

“Electrification of transportation, including cars, trucks, buses, the rail system and airport and harbor equipment, is essential to our state’s commitment to 100% clean energy.”

—Scott Seu, Hawaiian Electric President and CEO

cars could be equal on all fronts — the same price, the same look and the same functionality — but if you’re asking someone to switch from gas to electric, it’s going to require someone to initially step out of their comfort zone and break a habit.”

Blue Planet Foundation and the Sustainable Transportation Coalition of Hawaii created a mapping tool called “Find an EV Expert” to help Hawaii residents locate car salesmen near them who are knowledgeable about EVs. “The goal of the certification program is to educate dealership sales associates on electric vehicles, and connect buyers with that network of associates, so that EV-curious people can have a positive experience,” Reichelt says.

Blue Planet Foundation is also working on extending the benefits for EV owners. Currently those who own an EV in Hawaii are allowed to drive in the HOV lane. Cars with EV license plates receive free parking in state garages, municipal garages and at metered parking stalls across the state. EVs can also park for free at airports for up to 30 days. These benefits are set to expire on June 30, 2020, but advocates hope to

extend them further because of the clear benefits to local families, not to mention reducing the state’s dependence on fossil fuels.

“These benefits can create that extra incentive a person needs to take the leap to electric,” Reichelt says.

EV owners are also eligible for a federal income tax credit. Currently, many plug-in electric vehicles purchased in or after 2010 are eligible for a tax credit of up to $7,500.

While some Drive Electric Hawaii members are focusing on benefits, others are working to increase access to charging.

For those who rent or live in a condo or apartment building, simply plugging into a garage outlet isn’t an option.

To make at-home charging possible for those in multi-unit dwellings, the Ulupono Initiative and Hawaii Energy offered a rebate program in the first half of 2019. Eligible workplaces, condos and apartments received rebates of $5,000 each for every new charging station.

Increasing the options when it comes to types of EVs available is another way to incentivize residents, Ulupono’s Hennessey says. The Rivian R1 Truck is

one option that could have a substantial impact for the Islands. According to Rivian, production on its electric truck will begin in the second half of 2020.

Interested owners can place a refundable deposit of $1,000 to preorder the $69,000 vehicle.

“In a state where the Toyota Tacoma is the No. 1 sold vehicle, the way you’re going to get people to switch is to give them a truck,” she says. “And it has to be a good truck.”

Electric Vehicle Incentives: A federal tax credit that can amount to up to $7,500 for most new all-electric and plug-in hybrid cars purchased in or after 2010 For all EVs with the Hawaii electric vehicle license plate: • Free parking at state and county parking lots • Free parking at meters up to 2.5 hours or the maximum time allowed to park • Exemptions for HOV lanes • Free parking at airports for up to 30 days https://www.stchawaii.org/learn/alternativefuels-technologies/#electric SOURCE: SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION COALITION OF HAWAII

GREEN HAWAII  2020 21

OAHU MOLOKAI

LANAI

Full Charge Ahead

PUBLIC DC FAST CHARGE LOCATIONS

Hawaii’s EV charging station infrastructure grows more robust to meet the demand of the state’s increasing EV owner population. Hundreds of charging stations are positioned across the Hawaiian Islands to accommodate more than 11,000 EVs on the roadways.

Honolulu - Hawaiian Electric 820 Ward Ave.

22 GREEN HAWAII  2020

OAHU Haleiwa - Haleiwa Town Center 66-145 Kamehameha Hwy. Hawaii Kai - 7-Eleven 515 Pepeekeo St.

Honolulu - Iwilei Costco 801 Dillingham Blvd.

Kaneohe - Koolau Center 47-388 Hui Iwa St. Kapolei - Kapolei Commons 4470 Kapolei Pkwy.

Wahiawa - Dole Plantation 65-1550 Kamehameha Hwy. Waianae - Waianae Mall 96-120 Farrington Hwy.

MAUI Haiku - Haiku Community Center Hana Hwy. at Pilialoha St. Haiku - Haiku Shopping Center 810 Haiku Rd. Kahului - Maui Electric Company 210 West Kamehameha Ave.

Kapolei - Kapolei Shopping Center 91-590 Farrington Hwy.

Kahului - Queen Kaahumanu Center 275 West Kaahumanu Ave.

Pearl City - Times Square Shopping Center 98-1268 Kaahumanu St.

Kihei - Piilani Village Shopping Center 225 Piikea Ave.

G R E E N H A W A I I | T R A N S P O R TAT I O N

LEVEL 2 CHARGE 1 hour = At least 12 miles of range

HAWAII ISLAND

FAST CHARGE 15 minutes = About 43 miles of range

Kamuela - The Shops at Mauna Lani 68-1330 Mauna Lani Dr.

HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC FAST CHARGE

Keaau - Keaau Shopping Center 16-586 Old Volcano Rd.

Visit PlugShare.com for the latest public charging locations

Kona - Hawaii Electric Light 74-5519 Kaiwi St.

MAP AS OF FEBRUARY 2020

MAUI

Hilo - Hawai‘i Electric Light 1200 Kilauea Ave.

Naalehu - Punaluu Bake Shop 95-5642 Mamalahoa Hwy. Papaaloa - Papaaloa Country Store 35-2023 Old Mamalahoa Hwy. Puna - Puna Kai Shopping Center 15-2714 Pahoa Village Rd. (Coming Soon) Waimea - KTA 65-1158 Mamalahoa Hwy.

HAWAII Lahaina - Lahaina Aquatic Center 245 Shaw St. Makawao - Kulamalu Town Center 55 Kiopaa St. Makawao - Pukalani Terrace Center 55 Pukalani St Wailuku - Maui County Building 200 South High St. Wailuku - Maui Tropical Plantation 1670 Honoapiilani Hwy.

MOLOKAI Kaunakakai - Ala Malama Center 64 Ala Malama Ave.

GREEN HAWAII  2020 23

G R E E N H A W A I I | T R A N S P O R TAT I O N

Rail’s Role in Renewable Energy The state’s largest electric vehicle is projected to reduce car commutes by 40,000 per week.

O

nce remaining rail tracks are laid and the system is energized, Oahu’s largest electric vehicle — expected to eventually carry up to 120,000 passengers a day — will travel approximately 35 feet above the island’s highways.

By the end of 2025, Honolulu’s rail system is projected to span 20 miles with 21 stations. The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation says the first half of the rail project’s 20-mile route will be online by the end of 2020.

“We’re planning to open the first 10 miles of our system in the western part by the end of the year,” says HART ex-

24 GREEN HAWAII  2020

ecutive director Andrew Robbins. The entire route is scheduled to be laid and fully operational by the end of 2025.

Robbins says when the rail goes into full service from east Kapolei to Ala Moana Center, projected ridership will amount to roughly 120,000 riders every weekday.

“In one swoop we’re going to have 10 times that number,” Robbins says, referencing the more than 10,000 electric vehicles registered in the state.

“All of (our riders) will be in an electric vehicle, just like that.”

According to HART, each four-car train will have room for more than 800 passengers, equal to the ridership of

more than 10 buses. Robbins emphasizes projections that the rail will take 40,000 cars off Oahu roads every week by 2030.

According to HART, the completed rail will help reduce most residents’ daily commute times by 11%.

Cutting down congestion will become more important as Honolulu’s population grows. It’s expected to surpass 1 million by 2025, according to the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.

“The city’s population and housing is not static,” Robbins says. “(The rail) will prevent new or more congestion. Plus, it gives people a mobility option.”

The power source for Hawaii’s largest electric vehicle will become more sustainable over time as Hawaiian Electric works to have 100% of its power supply generated by renewable resources. “As (Hawaiian Electric) converts to renewable energy by 2045, the rail system will completely benefit from that,” Robbins says.

The HART team is also looking into other ways to make the system a useful element in Hawaii’s sustainable transportation future. Robbins says HART is looking to install EV parking stations, energy-efficient escalators, LED lighting and bike stations.

“We’re going to offer public transportation options that are completely green,” Robbins says. “Somebody can just decide to leave their home and contribute that way, by taking clean public transportation.”

PHOTO: COURTESY OF HART

BY KATHRYN MYKLESETH

Community

G R E E N H AWA I I | CO M M U N I T Y

STEM Starts with our Keiki Girl Scouts of Hawaii’s new STEM center intends to create more global citizens.

BY LENNIE OMALZA

T

26 GREEN HAWAII  2020

“We need to spark genuine excitement for science and technology in girls and creating these opportunities is a solid investment in our state’s future.”

— Lori Teranishi, Girl Scouts of Hawaii Board Chair

organization really does change lives,” she says.

Chang adds that 80% of female leaders who are in STEM professions were once Girl Scouts, which makes the Girl Scouts/STEM connection all that much more relevant. “And knowing that a girl’s STEM personality is already formed by third grade shows the

importance of engaging girls at a very early age,” she says. “This is all done through hands-on progressive learning activities from kindergarten through 12th grade with programs like cybersecurity, mechanical engineering, space science, coding, etc. We’ve invested very heavily in STEM programming because it’s going to be the future.”

PHOTO: COURTESY OF GIRL SCOUTS OF HAWAII

hin mints, samoas, tagalongs, do-si-dos — hearing these cookie flavors is sure to conjure up the words “Girl Scouts” in anyone’s mind. But what about science, technology, engineering, math?

If those words, or STEM, don’t make you think about Girl Scouts, that could soon change.

Girl Scouts of Hawaii is encouraging its members — as well as the community at large — to think outside the cookie box. Its new STEM Center for Excellence at Camp Paumalu can help with that. The center, which is nearing completion, will serve as a quality STEM leadership training facility for both students and educators, among many other things. Its goal is that leaders of all ages better understand their relationship to the larger world and become responsible global citizens.

“There’s STEM in everything you’re looking at,” says Shari Chang, CEO of Girls Scouts of Hawaii. This simple truth, along with the fact that STEM jobs in the Islands are slated to grow exponentially, suggests that this new STEM center is just what Hawaii needs.

“The STEM Center will help change the trajectory of the STEM worker shortage in Hawaii,” says Girl Scouts of Hawaii board chair Lori Teranishi.

“We need to spark genuine excitement for science and technology in girls and creating these opportunities is a solid investment in our state’s future.”

Teranishi, who was once a troop leader herself and now has daughters who are Girl Scouts, is passionate about the organization as a whole, as well as the impact its new STEM center will have on Hawaii. “The

G R E E N H AWA I I | CO M M U N I T Y

Scouts with Aloha The 50th State’s Boy Scouts are fixing facilities for communities across the Islands.

B

oy scouts learn many skills as part of their program. As members of the Aloha Council Boy Scouts of America, they participate in myriad activities that help them build character, develop personal fitness and become responsible citizens — including repairing and restoring facilities across the Islands to benefit communities throughout the state.

The Aloha Council — which serves Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands — is recognized by many as the premier youth leadership organization in Hawaii and the Pacific. Its members are guided by the Boy Scouts of America Oath and Law, and the council also incorporates traditional Hawaiian values of kuleana (responsibility), kokua (teamwork) and

malama ka aina (respect for the land), with aloha.

“We are in the middle of a campaign to update and improve all of our camp facilities,” says Ellise Fujii, director of development and marketing for the Aloha Council. This includes six sites on four islands: Camp Pupukea on Oahu, Camp Maluhia on Maui, Camp Alan Faye on Kauai and Camp Honokaia on Hawaii Island — as well as two other leased facilities on Oahu and Hawaii Island.

Fujii says that these locations serve thousands of Scouts and their ohana, but most haven’t been renovated since the ’60s or ’70s. As many safety standards have evolved over the last few decades, the Scouts’ first step was to ensure everything met EPA regulations. “We want to be in compliance with the law,” Fujii says. This helps not just the Scouts, but the commu-

nities they serve, too; many of the facility spaces, in addition to being used for camping and other outdoor activities, can also be rented by the public. “We’re aiming to make our facilities a more attractive place for the community.”

Labor for the $8 million campaign has been provided by licensed contractors, and the Scouts themselves will be able to help during later stages.

Experienced professionals and Scouting volunteers have also generously donated their time and expertise to the project. Fujii says that construction will be complete in two to three years — which means the Aloha Council will continue to need extra hands on the project for quite a while. Volunteer support is always welcome and interested parties should visit scoutinghawaii.org for more information.

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PHOTO: RAE HUO

BY LENNIE OMALZA

G R E E N H AWA I I | CO M M U N I T Y

Turning the Tide The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii works with partners to help the Islands reach statewide sustainability goals by 2030.

“T

his decade that we are entering is perhaps the most critical time that we have … to make a difference as a global community,” says Ulalia Woodside, executive director of The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii, the state chapter of the international conservation nonprofit.

Fortunately, Hawaii is well-positioned to make a difference today. Through the Aloha+ Challenge and the Governor’s Sustainability Initiative, the state has committed to generating results in six critical areas: clean energy, local food, natural resources, solid waste, smart sustain-

28 GREEN HAWAII  2020

able communities, and green workforce and education.

The conservancy’s work is aligned with a central goal: to protect 30% of priority watersheds and 30% of nearshore ocean waters by 2030.

“Sustainable freshwater security is of critical importance to us in this time of climate change. Really caring for our native forests — which produce our freshwater — is central to our mission,” says Woodside. “Sustainable fisheries and resilient reefs are very important to our lifestyle and local economy here in Hawaii. We are working with more than 51 local communities and state, federal and other nonprofit partners to enhance resilience and increase

PHOTOS: DAVID CROXFORD, COURTESY OF THE NATURE CONSERVANCY OF HAWAII, KYDD POLLOCK, PETER MENZEL

BY CHRISTINE HITT

G R E E N H AWA I I | CO M M U N I T Y

abundance in our forests and oceans. By working together, we can help achieve the state’s sustainability goals.”

Nearly all of the conservancy’s work in Hawaii is done in partnership with others. One example is at Heeia on Oahu, where the conservancy is collaborating with state and federal agencies and community groups such as Kakoo Oiwi and Paepae o Heeia. Together, the teams are working to restore the area, provide local food sustainability and improve coral reef health in Kaneohe Bay. Thanks to this collaboration the area looks different today.

“This is a place where if you had driven that area for the past generation, you came across a bridge that was referred to

sometimes as ‘Long Bridge’ and you couldn’t see the landscape because of the invasive mangrove,” says Woodside. “But when you come over that hill now and you drive across that bridge, you can see from the ocean all the way up to the mountaintop, which is the way that landscape looked many generations ago. Today we are growing food, restoring wetlands, connecting with communities, improving stream health and reducing sediment, which helps protect coral reefs in Kaneohe Bay. Taking care of our environment using natural climate solutions helps us respond to climate change.”

Many organizations are working toward the Aloha+ Challenge and Sustainability

Initiative goals, but everyone bears some responsibility and can make a difference. There are many volunteer opportunities with these organizations, and each of us can make choices that help Hawaii improve our local environment and economy.

“Hawaii has been a bright spot in conservation and natural resources management and in sustainability,” says Woodside.

“That is something collectively, with individuals, businesses and organizations, we can continue to do as a community, as we take leadership to a new level over the next decade in tackling these big challenges that we’re facing. We can turn that tide.”

GREEN HAWAII  2020 29

G R E E N H AWA I I | CO M M U N I T Y

An Institute for Change University of Hawaii students have a chance to be part of the climate change solution through sustainability education.

BY LENNIE OMALZA

H

awaii faces a number of threats to its environment, from rising temperatures and oceans to shifting rain patterns and coastal erosion.

“We’re seeing the road cave in Hauula; that’s directly a result of coastal erosion and higher ocean waters,” says Makena Coffman, director of the Institute of Sustainability and Resilience, or ISR, which launched in 2018 at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. “The migration of invasive species is a result of changing climate patterns. If we think about the Pali representing increasing landslides, that’s definitely climate related — things that the environmental science community predicted.”

The ISR, which addresses environmental problems, aims to contribute to sustainability and resilience efforts taking place in Hawaii and around the world. Courses help students develop an understanding of how humans are interconnected to natural systems and gives them the tools to come up with sustainable solutions that also support the community.

“The idea of the institute was really to create a space on campus that could help to develop cross-disciplinary curriculum in the sustainability and resilience area, as well as to foster a sort of additional applied and engaged research,” says Coffman, who’s also chair of Honolulu’s Climate Change Commission.

Since its creation, ISR has cross-listed approximately 100 existing undergraduate and graduate

30 GREEN HAWAII  2020

courses from 30 different academic departments. The courses went through a review process with an interdisciplinary committee of faculty before being classified as Sustainability and Resilience curriculum.

Now that the groundwork has been laid, ISR is focused on its next step: launching a bachelor’s degree program in sustainability. Pathways for community college students planning to go to UH Manoa are also being created for interested students.

“Students want these kinds of degree programs, they’re eager to do something about it and we really need to be providing pathways for them to get engaged and make a difference,” Coffman says.

Since UH is already doing so much on sustainability, the ISR also acts as an information hub for other university programs working to make a difference, such as the College of Social Sciences’ Carbon Neutrality Chal-

lenge project, which planted 10,000 native trees to test their feasibility to offset carbon emissions. Other efforts at the university are being undertaken by the William S. Richardson School of Law’s specialized Environmental Law Program, whose members attend the annual gathering of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, or IUCN. This year, the IUCN accepted six of the Environmental Law Program’s motions for debate, giving the group the potential to influence international standards and best practices. Topics of these motions include climate change legislation and safeguarding coral reefs from sunscreen. The UH Manoa College of Education’s Department of Curriculum Studies also has master’s programs focused on sustainability, the environment, and culture-based STEM education, and a new graduate certificate in sustainability and resilience educa-

tion, which they are planning to offer this Fall.

The ISR is currently working on a few research projects of its own, with a couple of them in collaboration with the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization. It’s developing a climate action plan for the city and county of Honolulu, researching the economic impacts of carbon pricing for the state, and starting a National Science Foundation-funded project on sea level rise that will look at three case studies on Oahu.

“Now we have ideas that we didn’t have before,” says Coffman. “The idea of a low-tide beach, beaches you can only go to during low tide – that wasn’t a thing we paid attention to when I was a kid and now it is.”

With mounting visual examples of the changes happening around the Islands, student interest in a sustainability education and degree is high, and for good reason.

GREEN HAWAII  2020 31

PHOTOS: AARON K. YOSHINO, GETTY IMAGES

G R E E N H AWA I I | CO M M U N I T Y

FOR THE ‘ĀINA FOR ‘OHANA FOR OUR HAWAI‘I

HawaiianElectric.com/Footprint