Hawaii - Jeff Campbell [52]
Our community is strong, healthy, vibrant and nurturing, providing safety nets for those in need.
Our Kanaka Maoli [Native Hawaiian] and island cultures and values are thriving and perpetuated.
Since meaningful change requires specific, measurable action, the plan laid out nine urgent priorities for 2020 (covering affordable housing, education, energy, the environment), establishing benchmarks for progress and 55 indicators to measure Hawaii’s health. The plan also recommended creating a Sustainability Council to promote and coordinate state efforts.
In 2008, the plan was presented for approval to the state legislature, which praised the effort but asked that it be made even more concrete. The revised Hawai′i 2050 plan is to be presented to the Hawaii legislature again in 2010. However, one of Hawai′i 2050’s central goals – to plant a sustainability ethic within residents islandwide – is already bearing fruit.
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Hawaii’s Superferry raised similar complaints that it was rushed into service in 2007 without properly studying its environmental and community impacts. Indeed, in 2009, the State Supreme Court ruled that Superferry had to halt service until the legally mandated studies were complete, and Superferry may very well never run again. For more see the boxed text, Click here.
Hawaii’s shorelines are in danger as well. The threat of rising seas due to global warming and persistent beach erosion (particular at Waikiki) are raising alarm bells. Recent studies have found that 25% of O′ahu and Maui beaches have been lost in the last 50 years; meanwhile, if tides rise a foot (as some predict they will), half of Waikiki hotels would be under water.
The Sierra Club (www.hi.sierraclub.org) is perhaps Hawaii’s most active environmental organization, with groups on O′ahu, Maui, Kaua′i and Hawai′i. In addition to political lobbying and legal actions, it publishes an informative newsletter and sponsors activities and outings. The Hawaii Audubon Society (www.hawaiiaudubon.com) is also very active and provides good opportunities for visitors to get involved.
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Hawaiian Natural History, Ecology, and Evolution (2002) by Alan Ziegler is a great comprehensive study of the complex interaction of Hawaiian ecosystems, over time and with human society.
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Two more good sources of information are Environment Hawai′i (www.environment-hawaii.org), a watchdog group that publishes a wide-ranging monthly newsletter, and Hawaii Ecosystems at Risk (www.hear.org), whose diverse website focuses on invasive species and eradication efforts.
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O′ahu
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HISTORY
CLIMATE
NATIONAL, STATE & COUNTY PARKS
ACTIVITIES
GETTING THERE & AWAY
GETTING AROUND
HONOLULU
HISTORY
ORIENTATION
INFORMATION
DANGERS & ANNOYANCES
SIGHTS
ACTIVITIES
WALKING TOUR
COURSES
HONOLULU FOR CHILDREN
TOURS
FESTIVALS & EVENTS
SLEEPING
EATING
DRINKING & ENTERTAINMENT
SHOPPING
GETTING THERE & AROUND
PEARL HARBOR AREA
INFORMATION
SIGHTS & ACTIVITIES
TOURS
EATING
GETTING THERE & AWAY
WAIKIKI
HISTORY
ORIENTATION
INFORMATION
DANGERS & ANNOYANCES
SIGHTS & ACTIVITIES
COURSES
FESTIVALS & EVENTS
SLEEPING
EATING
DRINKING & ENTERTAINMENT
SHOPPING
GETTING THERE & AROUND
SOUTHEAST COAST
DIAMOND HEAD & KAHALA
HAWAI′I KAI
HANAUMA BAY NATURE PRESERVE
KOKO HEAD REGIONAL PARK
MAKAPU′U POINT
SEA LIFE PARK
WINDWARD COAST
THE PALI HIGHWAY
WAIMANALO
KAILUA
KANE′OHE
WAIAHOLE & WAIKANE
KUALOA
KA′A′AWA
KAHANA VALLEY
PUNALU′U
HAU′ULA
LA′IE
MALAEKAHANA STATE RECREATION AREA
KAHUKU
NORTH SHORE
TURTLE BAY
WAIMEA
HALE’IWA
WAIALUA
MOKULE′IA TO KA′ENA POINT
CENTRAL O′AHU
HAWAII’S PLANTATION VILLAGE
HONOULIULI FOREST RESERVE
KUNIA ROAD (HIGHWAY 750)
WAHIAWA
WAI′ANAE (LEEWARD) COAST
KO OLINA RESORT
KAHE POINT
NANAKULI
MA‘ILI BEACH PARK
WAI’ANAE
MAKAHA
MAKUA VALLEY
KA′ENA POINT STATE PARK
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Nicknamed ‘The Gathering Place,’ O′ahu is home to nearly three out of every four Hawaii residents. In this jangling nerve center of