Malama Piliokahe

As a final formal gathering for this class, we took part in a day of service at Piliokahe (aka Tracks) Beach Park in Nanakuli on March 10. We cleaned the park and cleared invasive species from a small area. With the City's cooperation, we will work with other volunteers to beautify the park for the enjoyment of the community.  

Project Presentations

On the evening of March 8, HGCI students presented their green career research projects to the class as well as invited guests. Topics included careers related to: ocean management and research, electric vehicles, plant nurseries, wind energy and farming based on Hawaiian values. It was a very informative evening and students were able to practice giving public presentations.

Workday at Mokauea and Hokule'a Drydock

Mokauea resident Joni Bagood talks about the history of the fishing village
Removing invasive species
Removing invasive limu from the fishpond
Working as a team to remove trash from the island
Learning the EPA's environmental statutes from Donna Kahakui, founder of Kai Makana and EPA officer
At Hokule'a drydock!
Cleaning the mats for the escort boat

On Saturday, February 12th HGCI students visited Mokauea fishing village to learn about its history and help out during their workday. They then went to the Marine Education Training Center of Honolulu Community College to help out at the Hokule'a drydock and prep the new escort boat for the next voyage. These visits tied into the movie presentation the previous night.  It was great to see people from the film in action.

"He Wa'a He Moku, He Moku He Wa'a" Films Screening and Speaker Panel

On Friday, February 11th we came together for the screening of the film, "He Wa'a He Moku, He Moku He Wa'a." HGCI students and the public viewed this inspirational voyaging story and afterwards participated in a panel discussion with co-directors Matthew Limtiaco of NOAA and Russel Amimoto of the Nature Conservancy. Fellow voyagers Heather Nahaku Kalei also of The Nature Conservancy and of Kaleo Wong of Oahu Army Environmental Program shared their connection to voyaging through Hawaiian values and life lessons. Panelists also spoke about their path that led to their different positions in green careers.

Hands On Projects: Energy Auditing and Vermicomposting

A great day of hard work and learning!
Making a vermicomposting bin
Learning how to harvest vermicompost worms, good fun!
Ivory Mclintock of the Blue Planet Foundation give students an introduction into energy in Hawai'i and the how to conduct energy audits to know how energy efficient a room or building is or is not.

Continuing on the theme of "waste management and recycling," we spent the rest of the afternoon at Kapolei High school learning how worms can turn our kitchen waste into nourishing compost (vermicomposting). It was hands-on learning, you'll see!  We also snuck in a lesson on conducing energy audits in buildings to help conserve energy.

Tour de Trash!

Lovely compost made by Hawaiian Earth Products

Students get a bus tour of Hawaiian Earth Products with City Recycling Specialist Kevin Nesnow to learn how their green bin waste is turned into much and compost.

Students learn about how cardboard is recycled at RRR Recycling. This is where things from our household blue bins end up.

Plastic cartons being recycled at RRR Recycling

Look at all that trash, ready to be converted into energy at H-Power


Ahmed at H-Power shows students the controller where you can see how much energy is being generated from trash!

On the next day, we went on field trips in the Kapolei region to focus on the theme of "waste management and recycling." Mahalo to the City and County of Honolulu's Recycling office for arranging a customized "Tour de Trash" for us. It was an eye-opening experience!

"Huliau" Film and Inspirational Speakers

On Friday, January 7, 2011, we gathered at Leeward Community College for a special showing of the film, "Huliau" and were given the opportunity to address questions about the film to the filmmaker David DeLuca. He then joined Maile Meyer (owner of Na Mea Hawai'i/Native Books), Sam Gon, III (Senior Scientist and Cultural Advisor at The Nature Conservancy), and Solomon Enos (muralist, painter, and all-around artist) in a discussion about finding a career path through following your passions.