COMMENTARY
Sustainability panel seeking a 'people's plan'
By Sen. Russell Kokubun
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I have been deeply impressed with the sustainability essays by high school students that ran in last week's Advertiser. With clear thinking and skilled writing, the teenagers tackled complex issues and showed an admirable love of our Islands. I appreciate The Advertiser giving the students a platform for their thoughts and concerns.
What moved me most about the articles was the wise choice by the students to dive into topics that go beyond the traditional "green" thinking in sustainability. Of course, protecting the environment remains a priority. Our state's beautiful blue waters, lush forests and brilliant skies are treasures that deserve thoughtful stewardship. As student writer Paul Iona said in his article, we are lucky indeed to live in such a beautiful place.
Yet, as the chair of the Hawai'i 2050 Sustainability Task Force, which is creating a 50-year sustainability plan for the state, I have heard again and again from kupuna, families, businesspeople, leaders in the nonprofit world and government representatives that it is crucial to have a broader definition of sustainability.
These words come from the task force's grassroots engagement and experience with thousands of citizens since the start of this project. Last August, more than 500 residents participated in an all-day event about the Hawai'i 2050 planning process, and provided input. More than a dozen community meetings across our Islands have been convened by the H2050 task force to gather opinions on what a definition of sustainability should contain. We have made presentations to business, labor, environmental and community organizations urging their participation in the H2050 planning process. Our online survey captured the thoughts of many, many Island residents.
The results so far: Hawai'i's citizens have told us it is important the conversation about sustainability include the environment, the economy and our communities. The task force has adopted this "triple bottom line" approach and is using it as a model as we develop the sustainability plan for the Islands.
Key to the plan is creating a definition of sustainability unique to Hawai'i. We have developed a working draft definition and, through another series of community meetings, are now taking it to the community in April and May for their reactions and opinions.
The draft definition is: "Sustainability in Hawai'i means achieving a quality of life that:
The draft definition can be found on the task force's Web site — www.hawaii2050.org — along with a draft vision and guiding principles of sustainability. We welcome the input of Hawai'i residents on the draft definition at one of our community meetings or by e-mail at info@hawaii2050.org.
A revised definition, vision and guiding principles, updated with the community's input, will be part of the draft plan that will be released to the public in the fall. The final plan will be delivered to the Legislature in December 2007.
The ultimate goal is to craft the "people's plan," inspired by the hopes of our residents to keep Hawai'i as one of the most special places in the world. As student Sean Maekawa wrote, to many residents it feels like "Hawai'i is turning into 'Any State, USA.'" That sentiment must be reversed if we are to sustain the kind of Hawai'i in which residents want to live, work and play.
The last time our state embarked on such a landmark planning process was in the early 1970s with the Commission on the Year 2000. The commission's work led to the creation of the Hawai'i State Plan and the functional plans, which laid the vision and groundwork for three decades of Hawai'i's growth.
Fast forward to the 21st century. The Hawai'i 2050 Sustainability Plan will be, to borrow a phrase, "by the people, for the people." When complete, it will play an essential role in charting a course for our state over the next two generations so that the Hawai'i of our children and grandchildren is as special as Hawai'i is now.
To engage in the Hawai'i 2050 process and share your thoughts on the long-term future of our Islands, please visit www.hawaii2050.org and attend one of the community meetings listed there or provide us with your thoughts via info@hawaii2050.org.
State Sen. Russell Kokubun, D-2nd (S. Hilo, Puna, Ka'u), is chairman of the Hawai'i 2050 Sustainability Task Force. He wrote this commentary for The Advertiser.
