Hawai'i Article

“Aloha” is not just a greeting in Hawaii, it’s a core value instilled in the Hawaiian people and culture. It speaks to a rich tradition of caring for the people and the land that makes up the islands.

Caring was the broader context of the discussion at University of Hawaii called “Native Hawaiian Perspectives on Renewable Energy Development.”

The event brought together policy makers, leaders in the renewable energy field and scholars of island culture to discuss a sustainable future for Hawaii.

As a part of the “Sustain Your Brain” series by the Outreach College at University of Hawaii at Manoa, Moderator Ramsay Taum helped navigate the panel through the tough issues facing the islands such as policy construction, community outreach and resource management.

The panel was comprised of native Hawaiians: Michael Kaleikini from Puna Geothermal Ventures, D. Noelani Kalipi from First Wind, Davianna McGregor representing the UHM Ethnic Studies and Myron Thompson from 21st Century Technologies.

Discussants included Representative Hermina Morita, Pono Shim from Enterprise Honolulu (O’ahu’s economic development board), and Senator Mike Gabbard - the lone non-native Hawaiian.

Early in the evening Taum grabbed a chair from the audience and brought it on stage. He explained the “Empty Chair” cultural tradition to the audience, “this empty chair represents the ancestors that preceded us and those descendents and generations that follow.” This symbolizes a need to remember our duty to honor both tradition and the future as we look to develop policy and grow business.

The future and past generations were both very well represented that night.

Topics ranged from the obstacles renewable and sustainable projects face on the islands, the future of the Hawaiian identity, and the need for local people to be intricately involved in the planning process.

In Hawaiian folklore, the tribes treated the energy we now hope to harness, as deities. As Senator Gabbard pointed out, “times do change,” and now those deities are offering a service to us – a potentially sustainable future for the people and planet.

When the floor opened for participation from the audience the tough “what’s next” question was posed.

Education was at the forefront of everyone’s answer.

From policy makers to universities all the way down to the elementary schools, people need to be more educated on this topic.

“Renewable energy is a pathway to peace- it is the decentralization of power, energy and politics,” Representative Morita eloquently stated.

Innovating for the right reasons, in the right ways, firm policy changes, lucrative incentives and devastating taxes were also highlighted during the discussion concerning moving these ideas forward.

As the night drew to a close in the open air venue on the University of Hawaii at Manoa campus a simple truth held it’s place throughout the dialogue – We are Hawaiian, the culture provides that we will always care for our people yet, we have to be open to change within the scope of our values.

Those values that are summed up in a phrase that means so much more to Hawaii than just hello and goodbye.

The Aloha way can save these islands in the middle of the sea, maybe it can also go a long way toward saving the world too.