How Hawaiʻi's Light Pollution Affects Wildlife and Humans
Wedge-tailed shearwater fledging season runs from early November to late December. That’s when hundreds of grounded birds are found on roads and in people’s yards in Hawai‘i each year.
Sustainability
Fires Consume More Hawaiʻi Forest in Recent Years
Fires burned more than 30,000 acres of forest and brushland in both 2018 and 2019 – far more than any other year in more than a decade.
Pandemic Changes Hawai‘i’s Energy Consumption: Who, When and How Much
The pandemic and resulting recession has transformed the way Hawai‘i uses energy: who consumes it, when and how much, says Scott Glenn, the state’s chief energy officer. Through it all, he says, dozens of renewable energy projects continue to be…
People and Places that Grow Hawai‘i’s Food
It seems everyone wants more locally grown food. Here are those making it happen: their successes, challenges and ideas about how to make Hawai‘i more self-sufficient in food. Alternately fought over and forgotten, land in Lualualei Valley has long served…
Microgrids: A Different Way to Deliver Power
Imagine an electric grid that keeps your lights on while the rest of the island’s grid is dark during a natural disaster or outage. That’s the promise at Kahauiki Village, a community for formerly homeless families near Sand Island. The…
Three Ways to Pay Back Nature Before it Forecloses on Hawaiʻi
Imagine going to your favorite Hawai‘i beach, picnicking on the white sand and snorkeling over a reef teeming with yellow tang. Or hiking through a māmane reserve and hearing palila sing. How much should you pay for such experiences? Most…
Should Hawai‘i Become More Sustainable?
Here’s how we phrased the question: “People talk a lot about sustainability, the desire for Hawai‘i to produce what it needs in resources such as energy and food. How do you feel: Is it important for Hawai‘i to become more…
Climathon Working Locally To Create Global Impact
Local Participation In Honolulu, a diverse group of stakeholders convened to design the first Climathon for Honolulu. The group determined that reducing the human impact of tourism in Honolulu would be a great target area to start. This year, participating…
Making Koa Sustainable
The native tree is a vital part of Hawaiʻi's forests and watersheds, and prized by woodworkers and by Hawaiian cultural practitioners. The challenge is making koa sustainable for all of its valuable roles. https://vimeo.com/366353476 Video by Jeff Hawe Koa has…
Saving Discarded Food to Fight Hunger
Goodr: Startup profile No. 5 covering Elemental Excelerator’s latest cohort. Every year, an estimated 72 billion pounds of edible food ends up in landfills – and Goodr wants to rescue as much of it as it can to feed people…
Jupiter Intelligence Shows Companies How Climate Change Will Impact Them
Startup profile No. 3 covering Elemental Excelerator’s latest cohort. Jupiter Intelligence uses human and artificial intelligence to help companies look into the future and see the potential impact of climate change on their businesses. “The world needs that kind of…
Amply Makes It Easier for Fleets to Convert to Electric Vehicles
Startup profile No. 4 covering Elemental Excelerator’s latest cohort. Amply, part of Elemental Excelerator’s latest cohort, aims to remove one of the biggest challenges that fleet operators face when switching to electric-powered vehicles. “If you’re doing electric-vehicle charging, it’s a…
Order Food Direct from O‘ahu Farmers
Farm Link Hawai‘i: Startup profile No. 2 covering Elemental Excelerator’s latest cohort. Farm Link Hawai‘i lets stores, restaurants and consumers connect to farmers on O‘ahu, order food and then have it delivered. Farm Link founder Rob…
Elemental Excelerator Announces Its Latest Cohort
Hawaii Business Magazine will profile five of the startups over the next few days Elemental Excelerator, a global clean technology accelerator based in downtown Honolulu, today announced $6 million in funding for the 17 startups that comprise its latest cohort.…
Blue Ocean Barns Fights Climate Change with Seaweed
Startup profile No. 1 covering Elemental Excelerator’s latest cohort. Cattle are a major source of methane, but Blue Ocean Barns says its seaweed-based feed additive for cows will reduce their formation and emission of that powerful greenhouse gas. “Blue Ocean…
Finally Tackling a Crappy Situation
Hold your nose if you must but don’t look away if you love the ocean or swim in it. This story is about cesspools in Hawaiʻi, a problem that was kicked down the road for decades but one we are…
A New Way for Electricity
The business model for electric utilities is almost 100 years old. Some energy experts say Hawai‘i is a pioneer in creating a 21st century business model that will mean more clean energy, lower rates, greater efficiency and better customer service.…
B Corps: "Business as a Force for Good"
Local leaders explain the benefits of becoming a B Corp hat do international corporations like Patagonia and Seventh Generation have in common with local companies like Hawaiian Legacy Hardwoods and Pono Home? They are part of a global network…
Green Hawaii 2019
The path toward sustainability starts with each of us. OUR MESSAGE IN GREEN HAWAII SIMPLE: The path toward sustainability starts with each of us. A business, nonprofit organization, family and individual can each do their part to promote a greener…
Natural Environment: Saving an Essential Part of Hawaii
Hawaii as we know it is at risk from climate change, eroding beaches, marine debris and many other threats. Here are five stories on how we can prepare for the present and the future, and what individuals, businesses, nonprofits and…
Pathways to Sustainability 2019 [Sponsored]
The companies featured provide solutions that are innovative, efficient and save money. This guide will help you to create better practices that will benefit your company and community. HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC The Project Footprint Initiative Make a Big Impression on…
The Best of Startup Paradise 2019
28 profiles of entrepreneurs, startups and organizations that were nominated or won awards from the Hawaii Venture Capital Association. HVCA…
Voluntourism in Hawaii
The opportunities for tourists to volunteer are growing along with the demand for those opportunities. From beach cleanups to cultural exchanges, forest conservation to farm stays, visitors are looking for experiences that are authentic, intimate and altruistic. The trek starts…
My Job: Building Resilience into a Whole County
Name: Joshua Stanbro Age: 47 Job: Chief Resilience Officer and Executive Director, Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resilience, City and County of Honolulu Start: The California native graduated from the Berkeley School of Law in 2001 but says he…
20 for the Next 20: Hawaii’s People to Watch 2019
Each year, Hawaii Business recognizes 20 people who we believe will have a major impact on Hawaii over the next two decades. They have already proven themselves by their accomplishments, intelligence, charisma, leadership and passion, but we expect even more…
All of Hawaii's Eight Gecko Species are Nonnative
Geckos are iconic in Hawaii, as much as pineapples or ukuleles, and, like them, are not native to the Islands. The Polynesians brought them here about 1,500 years ago along with other plants and animals. Today, there are eight gecko…
Hawai‘i's Best Places to Work 2020
Companies are constantly innovating in the modern world. Ironically, though, the guiding principles that make a Best Place to Work are timeless.
