Gov. David Ige honored 16 businesses and five events at the state Capitol on Friday for their work conserving energy and implementing sustainable practices.
Ige thanked the attendees at the Hawaii Green Business Awards ceremony for their efforts in contributing to the state’s clean-energy goals, conserving resources and educating employees and customers about clean energy practice.
“The state of Hawaii has a bold agenda to achieve 100 percent clean energy by 2045,” Ige said. “In order to reach this goal, we need the kokua of everyone, including local businesses, government agencies and nonprofit organizations.”
Those honored included the Ala Moana Hotel; Aqua Palms Waikiki; DoubleTree by Hilton Alana-Waikiki; Hawaii Prince Hotel Waikiki; Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort; OHANA Waikiki East by Outrigger; OHANA Waikiki Malia by Outrigger; Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort; Trump International Hotel Waikiki; The Kahala Hotel and Resort; Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa; Marriott’s Maui Ocean Club; The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua; Valley Isle Excursions; Lanikai Juice’s Kakaako location; and Honeywell Energy Solutions.
Lanikai Juice uses bio- and eco-friendly supplies and glass bottles for all cold-pressed juices, and has a Mason jar campaign where the business offers customers 25 cents off their purchase by using one of Lanikai Juice’s Mason jars.
“To go in this direction is the most expensive direction,” Lanikai Juice owner Pablo Gonzalez said. “But if you want to help, you have to have good-quality products.”
Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort reduced energy use by installing light-motion sensors and new energy-efficient lighting in all towers. The resort reduced water consumption by installing flow meters on irrigation lines to monitor water consumption.
“We have to do it for the next generation and the future,” said Kenneth Alvarado, executive steward at Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki.
Other businesses and events were honored at the ceremony for installing LED and CFL lighting, recycling food scraps and growing their own organic produce.
The five events that Ige honored were the Honolulu Museum of Art’s event “Plastic Fantastic?”; University of Hawaii at Manoa’s fourth annual Sustainability in Higher Education Conference; Hawai‘i Tourism Authority’s 2016 Hawaii Tourism Conference; Hawaii Pacific University’s Presidential Lecture Series on Global Leadership and Sustainability; and the 2016 Sony Open in Hawaii.
UH Manoa’s sustainability summit held in March had a zero-waste protocol; used reusable plates, mugs, water bottles and utensils; and provided vegetarian cuisine for all meals featuring locally foraged or sourced ingredients.
“UH is really starting to put their money where their mouth is,” said Kristen Jamieson, student sustainability coordinator at UH. “There is a lot more support than there has been in the past.”
The businesses and events are part of the Hawaii Green Business Program. Companies apply to join the initiative by submitting the steps they have taken to operate in an environmentally and socially responsible manner.
The Hawaii Green Business Program Opens in a new tab began by focusing on resorts and hotels. The program said this was due to the large number of visitors in Hawaii and the potential for significant resource reduction through conservation.
The event was hosted by the state Energy Office of the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism; Department of Health; and Hawai‘i Lodging and Tourism Association.
