As an island community, Hawai‘i’s well-being depends on sustainable systems, where people and nature exist in balance. Learn about efforts to increase food production in an ancient fishpond on O‘ahu, reuse treated wastewater on Maui and clean up the reefs of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.

Photo: Getty Images

Letter from President and CEO Alicia Moy

COMMEMORATING ITS 120TH ANNIVERSARY THIS YEAR, HAWAI‘I GAS HAS THE DISTINCTION OF BEING ONE OF THE OLDEST COMPANIES STILL OPERATING IN THE ISLANDS TODAY. We’ve always been defined by innovation: as a critical infrastructure utility in the middle of the Pacific, our predecessors pioneered the use of new technologies to deliver clean, reliable energy to homes and businesses in Hawai‘i. Decades later, climate change is upon us—the challenge of our lifetimes. At Hawai‘i Gas, our employees are ready to meet that challenge head-on, joining many others charting a course focused on sustainability and resiliency for our island communities.

Hawaii Gas has led the nation in its use of hydrogen blended into the utility fuel mix on O‘ahu since 1974—decades before it became a favored clean energy solution. In 2016, Hawai‘i Gas diversified into utility-scale solar with the launch of Waihonu Solar Farm, and in 2018, the company partnered with the City & County of Honolulu to operate the state’s first Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) facility at the Honouliuli Wastewater Treatment plant. Our journey toward increasing production of locally produced, renewable energy continues. This year, we announced two more renewable energy projects on the horizon: a renewable green hydrogen project and an RNG project using non-invasive bana grass, both of which mark significant forward movement on our path to decarbonization.

As climate change raises the stakes immeasurably for all of us, we stand with those in our community taking bold action, driving innovative solutions, and advancing the state’s climate goals. Our future depends on it.

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Alicia Moy
President and CEO

To learn more about Hawaii Gas, visit hawaiigas.com.

 

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Photos courtesy: Andrew Sullivan-Haskins

Removing Ghost Nets from the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands

Papahānaumokuākea Marine Debris Project has collected 786,287 pounds of derelict fishing nets and other debris from the vast Hawaiian archipelago.

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Photos: Jeff Sanner

Restoration of He‘eia Fishpond Nears a Major Milestone

Paepae o He‘eia has spent decades removing mangroves and rebuilding the fishpond wall. The nonprofit is now gearing up to start sustainable fish production.

 

Photo: Getty Images

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From Wastewater to Green Belt: An Ingenious Idea Takes Shape on Maui

A pilot project will use treated wastewater to create a green belt, protecting fire-prone Mā‘alaea and restoring coastal waters.

 

 

 

Kermit the Frog better watch out!

Drone Wars

Wildlife officials in Hawaii are using aerial drones to wage chemical warfare on coqui frogs by dumping citric acid on these invasive creatures, thereby killing them — along with any tadpoles and eggs.

The officials are using drones to eradicate the frogs because they recently found a population of the amphibians in a mountainous strip of land on the island of Oahu that’s inaccessible to pest control crews, according to a statement from the state’s Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR).

It’s a wild scenario that somehow encapsulates the environmental problems many fragile ecosystems are facing — the introduction of foreign species — along with how us humans are turning to technology, like drones, to solve them.

The infestation of coqui frogs, so named because of the distinctive sound they make, was detected by a resident who heard them noisily croaking in the island’s Kuliʻouʻou Forest Reserve, according to the DLNR, a spectacular and mountainous tropical forest with scenic views.

Wildlife experts following up on that tip then discovered that about 13 acres of forest were plagued by these frogs, setting off a mad scramble to deploy the drones.

The drones are dumping a watery solution with a citric food additive on infested areas, according to the DLNR. Non-toxic to humans, the frogs are fatally susceptible to this solution because they absorb the liquid through their porous skin.

Frog Sothoth

Hawaii officials want to kill off these cute-looking frogs because they have no natural predators in the island state, hence why their population has exploded over recent decades. They also have an incredible appetite, devouring native insects and spiders that indigenous animals like birds rely on for food.

The frogs originally came to Hawaii from their native Puerto Rico in the 1980s while hitching aboard nursery plants as stowaways.

Since then, wildlife officials have been pushing a campaign to kill them off, and not just for the benefit of native fauna and flora. These frogs are piercingly loud, with males reaching 90 decibels, or about the noise level of a lawn mower. Basically, they’re noise pollution nightmares.

Since the problem was caused by humans, it seems only fitting local authorities are turning to a human-engineered solution to help them in killing off these slimy, beady-eyed pests.

Hopefully the drones will prove to be effective in controlling these plague of frogs so that places like Oahu preserve their pristine beauty.

More on frogs: Scientists Surprised to Find Mushroom Growing Out of Frog

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – In this month’s episode of “Upfront with Guy Hagi,” professional artist and Kalani graduate Jasper Wong takes Guy on a tour of this year’s “Hawaii Walls” mural festival.

Formerly known as ‘Pow Wow,’ the annual event aims to uplift under-served communities in Hawaii through public art.

This year, 40 murals were painted on the walls of three school campuses in Kalihi.

Wong is the co-organizer of the event and hopes the art will help inspire and have a positive impact in the community.

“The reason why we started it was to one, beautify communities because we feel like walls are just walls. Like no one cares about them when they’re just painted a color, but you add art to it, they become alive,” said Wong.

For more about the event and the roster of artists, visit worldwidewalls.com.

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