| Sleeping, Eating, Doing |
In this fragile ecosystem, going green is not just nice—it’s necessary. Here are our top picks for an unforgettable green visit to Hawaii.
1.
Among the many shades of green when it comes to lodging choices, we especially like these. On Oahu, head for Waikiki’s eco-hip Hotel Renew, with its Planet Renew eco-programs. The Big Island boasts Hawaii’s greenest resort, the luxury classic Mauna Lani Bay, as well as the new 9-room Hawaii Island Retreat, designed to be sustainable from the start. On Maui, we love the tranquil privacy of eco-savvy accommodations along the North Shore. Sleeping.
2.
On Maui, leave the scent of french fries in your wake by renting a biofueled car from Bio-Beetle Eco Rental Cars. Great mileage, great for Hawaii. The biofuel is made right on the island from recycled vegetable oil, collected from Hawaii’s restaurants. Doing.
3.
Visit the National Energy Laboratory (NELHA) just north of Kailua-Kona on the Big Island. This is really cool. How cool? As cool as nutrient-rich sea water pumped from 3 thousand feet below sea level—through 2 miles of giant piping. That’s what NELHA , a state-operated ocean science and technology park is all about. Here, nearly 40 innovative enterprises use the pumped seawater to develop renewal energy alternatives, grow abalone, shrimp, seahorses, oysters, ocean fish and pharmaceutical algae, and to desalinate and bottle it for drinking. Chefs throughout the state love NELHA. And now, you, too, can buy or just gawk at Hawaii’s first Fish Farmer’s Market, held here the last Friday of May, June and July. Learn all about NELHA and the uses of deep seawater in presentations at the Hawaii Gateway Energy Center, a “positive-net energy” facility at the entrance to NELHA. Doing. Eating.
4.
Help with a beach clean-up or do other green volunteering. On Oahu, Marlu West, a North Shore eco-activist known as the Turtle Lady for her efforts to save the endangered Hawaiian sea turtles, organizes monthly beach clean-ups in which collected junk is categorized and reported to agencies working to fight the scourge of plastic and other trash in our oceans. While you’re at it, why not stay at her green B&B, too? On Maui, the Pacific Whale Foundation‘s Volunteering on Vacation offers opportunities to lend a green hand as your small thank-you for enjoying Hawaii’s precious natural beauty. Doing.
5.
Take a break from the beach and enjoy an organic farm tour. We’re not in Kansas anymore, Toto—you’ll sample tropical delights at the peak of flavor. On the Big Island, combine a tour of scenic farms and ranches with an awesome dinner showcasing this island bounty at Merriman’s, the Waimea foodie mecca that played a pioneering role in what’s become known as Hawaiian Regional Cuisine. On Kauai, why not visit an organic noni farm or a family farm that does pristine organic veggies and makes fantastic goat cheese? On Maui, visit with Chuck Boerner, the godfather of organic farming in Hawaii, and his family-run Ono Organic Farms. Doing. Eating.
