The Road Less Traveled

Kauai

Postcard sent to Kauai's businesses.

When considering the difficult task of achieving economic, environmental and cultural sustainability on Kauai, the good people of the Garden Isle could probably use a road map. Well, thanks to Malama Kauai, they’ve got a start on one.

The Kilauea-based nonprofit has assembled the island’s first definitive Green Map, which highlights 50 businesses along with other organizations that utilize green practices and allows them to market their environmental bent. The reverse side of the map will highlight challenges on Kauai and discuss ways individuals can be more sustainable.

“I thought this was a cool way to bring the business sector, environmental organizations, even policy makers and consumers together,” says Andrea Bower, project manager at Malama Kauai.

Bower says the basic criteria for a green business are recycling programs for offices, which means recycling office waste such as paper, recycling computers and printers and installing energy-efficient light bulbs. For restaurants, it also means such things as providing environmentally friendly to-go containers and buying local produce. “Some of the businesses have not made all criteria, but they are making strides and we offer resources to get them there,” Bower says.

The program is also developing a network of businesses that can share best practices in addition to tapping Malama Kauai’s expertise, particularly for the businesses that have made a commitment to go green as part of the map project.  The program has also identified barriers to companies going green, such as the availability of green products. Bower says as a result, Malama Kauai is building a chain of businesses to leverage big-box stores into carrying such products in bulk.

The Malama Kauai Green Map is part of an international initiative run by GreenMaps.org, which has helped more than 400 locations in 50 countries make similar maps. The group plans to print 10,000 maps by May, but will print more if the supply runs out. The map will also appear in Kauai Magazine, Kauai Real Estate Magazine, American Airlines’ Gift Edition and also online on at HawaiiHealthGuide.com. The map will be updated annually.

“After the first map is printed, we think the project will expand immensely,” Bower says.

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