Gearing up for Spring’s Kokua Festival

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Going green, eco-friendly, whatever you want to call it is not just for Earth Day, it is a way of life. (If it’s not, it should be!) Hawaii’s Jack Johnson will be hosting the Kokua Festival April 23rd and 24th in Honolulu to benefit the Kokua Hawaii Foundation. Some big name performers will be performing like Ziggy Marley, Jake Shimabukuro, Anuhea, Taj Mahal and of course Jack Johnson. So if you’re planning a spring trip to the islands, make this festival a stop on your itinerary. But you don’t need to wait to make a commitment to help save the Earth, see what some are pledging to do to help the environment…

Do your part with reef safe sunscreen

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The sunscreen that you slather on before a swim in the ocean may be protecting your body but may also be killing coral reefs worldwide. Zooxanthellae provide corals with their food energy through photosynthesis and also contribute to the corals’ vibrant colors. Without them the corals turn white (bleach out) and die. Certain chemicals used in sunscreen manufacturing can cause the algae in the corals to become infected and explode causing the coral to die. It is estimated that 4,000 to 6,000 metric tons of sunscreens wash off swimmers annually in our oceans worldwide and that up to 10% of coral reefs are threatened by sunscreen-induced bleaching.

If you’d like to get some reef safe sunscreen before your next vacation or to keep on hand because you’re lucky enough to live in warm weather climates, stop by this website.

Volunteering on Vacation

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Worldwide, there’s a new travel trend that’s dramatically changing the way we think about our free time away from home. In increasing numbers, travelers are trading beach mats and lounge chairs for work gloves and hand tools in a movement called “volunteering on vacation.” It’s a way to “give back” to the places they love to visit, while also meeting other like-minded people and learning about the local environment and culture.

This new wave of volunteerism has arrived on Maui. Pacific Whale Foundation, with support from Hawaii Tourism Authority, has launched a new “Volunteering on Vacation” program. Sign on for three hours and you’ll walk away with a free Volunteering on Vacation tote bag, plus the satisfaction of making a difference on behalf of Maui’s environment.

Participants can peruse a calendar of weekly group activities such as clearing invasive weeds in Hosmer Grove in Haleakala National Park or restoring native plantings in Honokowai. Free admission is part of the deal; you also learn about the history and environment of the beautiful natural areas you visit.

If the group events don’t fit your schedule, you can pick up a kit to undertake a solo project. For example, the “Beach Clean-up” kit includes directions to a local beach, rubber gloves, trash bags and instructions on disposing of the litter you gather.

Families with children age 10 and over are invited to pitch in. You don’t have to be a visitor to participate.

To find out more on how you can make a difference while on Maui, click here.

Happy Earth Day!

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Happy earth day everyone! By now you know there are many ways that you can contribute to making this world a better, greener place to live. Humans have done a lot of damage to Mother Earth but we can also correct some of that damage. It’s not a matter of being a “treehugger” or an eco-extremist…we all need to make a change and if you haven’t jumped on the eco-friendly bandwagone, there’s no better day to begin that commitment than today!

Click here to read past posts about how you can go green and show your aloha to this beautiful planet we call home.

Volunteering on Vacation on Maui

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Interested in doing some volunteer work while on vacation or if you live on Maui? See this event coming up this Saturday with the Pacific Whale Foundation.

Want to see archaeological sites of old Hawaii? Come to Honokowai Valley every third Saturday from 9 am to about 3 pm. Ed Lindsey will host a group of volunteers to restore Honokowai Valley. Volunteers will uproot invasive plant species in Honokowai Valley, and may also plant indigenous plants. They will get a chance to work in sometimes wet and sunny conditions. Sun protection, long pants and closed boots are required. Bring water and snacks. Participants get to experience a private valley full of archaeological sites. Join the growing worldwide trend of “voluntourism” by participating in the Volunteering on Vacation program offered by Pacific Whale Foundation with support from the County of Maui Office of Economic Development and the Hawaii Tourism Authority. In exchange for your efforts, you’ll receive a distinctive “Volunteering on Vacation - Maui” t-shirt and the satisfaction of joining in efforts to protect Maui’s unique environment. Transportation is provided. Participants can meet in front of the North Sugar Cane Train Station, located in Kaanapali on the mountain side of Puukoli Road. For more information about Volunteering on Vacation, contact Pacific Whale Foundation’s Reservations Department at (808) 249-8811. From the U.S. Mainland, please call 1-800-WHALE-11. Please call to make a reservation.

Even if you don’t want to do something formal like this, you can always keep small trash bags in your car and pick up trash at a local beach or park. Or if you see trash and a trash can in close proximity, pick it up and throw it away. Help keep Hawaii beautiful!

No excuses Maui! Start washing out those food cans

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The County of Maui Recycling Section, Solid Waste Division has announced it will begin accepting *clean*, washed out food cans in their appropriate recycling bins. These cans are usually made of steel, tin, aluminum and bi-metal and do not have any HI-5 value. Foods typically contained in these cans are fruits, veggies, meat, coffee, tomato and tomato sauces. Every county recycling center will have a clearly marked bin where you can recycle the cans and aluminum. Be sure to take off the lids on them as well. Most importantly if the cans are not washed, they won’t be accepted as they are hand recycled. It only takes a minute to wash out the can immediately after you are done using it so the remnants don’t dry up inside and make it less likely you’ll take care of it later.

For more information, go to the Maui County recycling website: www.mauicounty.gov/recycle

Green Tip of the Day

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Christmas Tree Recycling Facts

In a national survey, 93% of consumers who used a real Christmas tree recycled theirs in some type of community program.

Christmas trees are recycled for five main types of large-scale uses for post-harvest trees. These are:

chipping (chippings are used for various things from mulch to hiking trails)
beachfront erosion prevention
lake and river shoreline stabilization
fish habitat
river delta sedimentation management

Today around 98% of real Christmas trees are grown on farms throughout all 50 states and Canada. Real trees are a renewable, recyclable resource, and real trees are planted to be harvested just as corn and/or pumpkins are cultivated for a harvest.

For each real Christmas tree harvested, up to three new seedlings are planted in its place, depending on farm size and current field rotation. Young trees in their rapid growth years have a high rate of photosynthesis and thus produce more oxygen than older trees.

This year, over 60 million new seedlings were planted by Christmas tree farmers all over North America.

Above tips courtesy of Earth911.org

PS-If you have a fake tree that’s a little more ragged than you care to see it, DON’T throw it in the trash! Donate it! Clean off any tinsel and box it up and donate it to your local Goodwill or Salvation Army. There are plenty of those less fortunate who don’t have a tree of any kind. Wouldn’t you feel better knowing you’re helping the environment and allowing your tree to continue to give more joy in coming years for another family? Happy 2008!

Green Tip of the Day

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Mele Kalikimaka and Merry Christmas!

Don’t forget to have a bag that you put all of your paper recyclables in over the holidays. All of the wrapping paper, gift boxes and plastic packaging adds a LOT to the landfills this time of year! Do your part to continue your recycling efforts and spread the aloha to our aina! (land)

Green Tip of the Day

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Buy Reusable and Long Lasting Items

Products that can be reused are cheaper in the long run than those you throw away and buy over and over again. Goods that are designed to last a long time are also cheaper in the long run than those that wear out quickly. A family can save $1,000 each year buy buying reusable and long lasting products.

Use rechargeable batteries in toys, flashlights, radios. You can save $200 a year by using rechargeable batteries instead of disposables in one cd player used two hours a day.
Use cloth diapers instead of disposable diapers. You’ll save $600 per child by using a laundry diaper service instead of disposable diapers.
Use a real camera instead of disposable ones. If you take 24 pictures each month you will save $144 each year.
Many families spend over $260 each year on paper towels and napkins. Switch to cloth napkins, sponges, and cloth towels or wipes.
Use washable plates, cups, and silverware for parties and picnics instead of disposable products.
Use an electric razor or hand razor with replaceable blades instead of disposable razors.
Buy high quality/long life tires. They cost less per mile traveled and reduce the problem of disposing of used tires.
Use a washable commuter mug for your morning coffee and eliminate a Styrofoam or plastic cup every day.
Bring bags to the market, either cloth ones or your old paper and plastic ones. Many markets will credit your bill for using your own bags. When buying only a few items, don’t take a bag.
Clean and service your appliances, computers, tools, and cars so that they will enjoy even longer lives. And, before you replace them, check to see if they are repairable. Consider sharing equipment that is used infrequently such as hedge clippers, pruners, fruit pickers, or chain saws.

Tips courtesy of Earth911.org

Green Tip of the Day

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Buy Products in Containers That You Know You Will Be Able to Recycle

It is important to familiarize yourself with your what types of containers and items can be recycled in your local recycling program. Once you know what you can recycle, look for products that come in the containers that you know you will be able to recycle when the products are all used up. Examples are products in commonly recycled containers made from aluminum, steel, #1 and #2 plastic, and glass. Check the Earth 911 Reuse and Recycling Services listings to see what types of containers/packaging you should look for in your community.

Tips courtesy of Earth911.org

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