Aloha kakou! Am happy to announce to GGG readers that I will now be blogging from the middle of the Pacific… Hawaii! My NP partner, 
Marti, and I are leading KAHEA, a non-profit working on environmental and cultural conservation here in the Islands. It is both incredibly challenging and incredibly exciting work–there are so many pressing problems, and so much ahead for us.
Indeed, I have never felt such a sense of purpose and urgency in my work–not simply that the work I am doing is meaningful, but that the work I am doing is truly part of something greater, a small contribution to things that might actually change the future of this place. And for the better.
Perhaps unconsciously, I have always considered myself to be “from” here–four generations before grew up and lived and worked in Hawaii. I am finding that I am a true Californian in ways I didn’t know, and that in me is a heart for Hawaii in a way I hadn’t expected.
Hawaii is the most isolated island archipeligo on earth. Often depicted as a place of fantasy and paradise, it is in reality a place of unique, limited, and increasingly threatened resources. A microcosm of this earth-island we all inhabit together.
I look forward to discussing with fellow green girls the problems faced and solutions offered, to environmental problems here in Hawai’i. And to sharing with you the experience of doing non-profit work here in the islands! Aloha!
November 7th, 2007 at 12:15 pm
Well done Miwa - your new role leading KAHEA sounds like an interesting challenge. Environmental conservation in action is extremely important in protecting the planet thus I look forward to hearing about your progress and sharing experiences of working for a non profit conservation organisation.
November 7th, 2007 at 12:20 pm
Thanks for your good wishes, AL!
November 7th, 2007 at 1:26 pm
Hi!
Er, sorry to be skeptical, but is living in Hawai a good way to fight against global warming?
I mean, I can’t imagine you’ll stay there without using aircrafts to go and come back…
I suggest you to use GHG measuring tools.
Regards,
FP
November 7th, 2007 at 2:07 pm
Ah, true that I will be flying back to the mainland occasionally to see friends and family during my vacation time.
But! I have also moved into a place that is three blocks from the KAHEA offices, and walking distance to downtown farmers market and produce stands, drug store, a department store, and such. So have eliminated daily commute and driving for most weekly errands. Happily, in the net, the move has actually shrunk my carbon footprint. = )
But thanks for the tip! A friend here in Honolulu has shrunk her carbon footprint by using moped for transport and my partner in crime, Marti, drives a 1984 biodiesel to KAHEA!
November 7th, 2007 at 2:17 pm
http://footprint.wwf.org.uk/ is one of the easier GHG calculators to fill out, and I like it because it talks about an *ecological footprint* instead of simply carbon offsets. It makes the most sense if you live in the UK (for example, it asks how you “heat” your home, which you don’t do in tropical climes), but the measures are relatively intuitive.
Despite the fact that I walk to work and buy local, my ecological footprint indicates that I am “living as if we had 2 planets to support us.”
November 7th, 2007 at 8:04 pm
Thanks for sharing the WWf GHG calculator. My results were………
Footprint 2.28 planets
Carbon footprin = 9.03 tonnes
gulp! Oh dear - I think thats becuase I currently live alone in a 3 bedroomed house (however this is only short term)and I am vegeterian as opposed to vegan, (however I am slowly turning vegan - in fact may start now)and I use gas central heating (not in a financial poition to purchase solar panels yet) Also I use the train once a month to visit my fiance and use the bus for work instead of cycle some days.
I have been shamed - I must try harder!