Projects

Current issues

Sodexho contract

The contract between our university and Sodexho expires December 2008. There are a number of things that should be further investigated to determine what changes are needed to better serve our university. The ultimate goal of this project is to develop, through research, a comprehensive advisory report directed at our university's administration detailing and justifying each needed change. Download a PDF of the contract here and contact Kim Kido (kidokimb -at- hawaii -dot- edu) for further information.

Recycling in the Sustainability Courtyard

We will be adopting the Sustainability Courtyard and will manage the recycling efforts there as a part of the campus-wide recycling pilot project. Volunteers are needed to perform regular maintenance (e.g. empty bins). Contact us if you're interested at uhmsc@hawaii.edu.

2006-7

Pono Juice for Hawaii: A panel discussion for renewable energy

This event was made possible in part by a national grant from Youth Service America and the Civil Society Institute. We sought to increase awareness of climate change in our community through education and engage political candidates running in the November election by (1) hosting a discussion panel, (2) organizing a fun, interactive game about climate change complete with environmentally-friendly prizes, and (3) fundraising for solar panels by selling local/organic, bike-powered smoothies and compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs). Because the campus electricity bill is unbelievably high and we believe that as the primary educational institution for our state UH Mānoa has a duty to model sustainable practices, one of the goals of the event was to start a solar panel fund to support a renewable energy pilot project on campus. Our dual purpose fundraisers - bike-powered smoothies and CFL sale - provided resources to help our community reduce their impact on the environment while also promoting the solar project. The pilot project will not only help to finally transform our campus but also serve as a long-term educational tool. We were fortunate to have a wonderful, diverse panel of experts to answer questions and get the word out as to what is being done at various levels to address climate change. Panelists included Dr. Michael Antal, HNEI; Jon Webster Abott, 21st Century Technologies; Jenna King, Pacific Biodiesel; Dr. David Rezachek, Honolulu Seawater Air Conditioning; Kirk Caldwell, House District 24; and Representative Cynthia Thielen, U.S. Senate candidate. Moderating the discussion was Dr. Denise Antolini, Director of the Environmental Law Program. The event was part of the Chancellor's Sustainability Week and took place on October 25, 2006 from 10:30 am - 1:30 pm in the Sustainability Courtyard.

Additional sponsors and donors included Kalihi Valley Instructional Bike Exchange (KVIBE), Ono Pono, Down to Earth, Kokua Market, Hawaiian Electric Company, General Electric, Sylvania, 21st Century Lighting, and Sam's Club.

Download the event flyer here. For more information about how to apply for this biannual grant, go here.