While green practices are of growing importance to many destinations, it’s little wonder that Hawaii, with its fragile island ecosystem, has even more impetus than many to be at the forefront of the sustainability movement.
Honolulu was recently ranked third in the Business Courier of Cincinnati’s Green Cities Index, which rated 43 U.S. metropolitan areas on variables such as commuting habits, fuel use, LEED-certified projects, green jobs and air and water quality.
According to Joe Davis, general manager of the Hawaii Convention Center, Honolulu’s green status is also reflected in the convention facility, which is operated by the LEED rating system and integrates energy-saving systems throughout the building that include a ventilating and cooling system specifically designed for Hawaii’s tropical climate.
The convention center has also created a Clean Energy microsite that provides information on alternative energy research and innovation in Hawaii, which is playing a leading role in areas such as wind energy. According to Davis, such measures have already helped position Hawaii as a destination for environmentally focused groups, as evidenced by the World Congress on Zero Emissions, scheduled to meet at the convention center in September, and the American Association of Foresters, which has booked the facility next year.
"Organizations want to meet at an environmentally friendly and sustainable venue and we are pleased that our facility and our city live up to their wishes," Davis says.
Green practices are also evident on the hotel scene. A solar power system was recently installed at the Grand Hyatt Kauai, which was presented with a Green Business Award by the State of Hawaii for its conservation efforts. Similarly, the Waikiki Beach Marriott installed a grid-smart solar lighting system that has cut its energy consumption from 30,000 to 12,000 watts per day.
According to Chris Tatum, Marriott’s vice president-Hawaii, North Asia and South Pacific, similar energy-saving systems will soon be in place at other Marriott properties in the state.
"Energy saving is a big focus for Marriott and an even bigger focus in Hawaii because we’re an island state where resources are limited," Tatum says.
Starwood Hotels and Resorts Hawaii has a new initiative called Events with Aloha, a menu of group activity choices at its 11 Hawaii properties with an environmental and social responsibility theme. Working with partners such as Beach Environmental Awareness Campaign Hawaii and The Nature Conservancy, options include removing alien algae from Hawaiian waters, beach cleanups, sea turtle patrols and maintenance activities such as tree planting at Hawaii’s national parks.