This year’s community event to celebrate mauka to makai stewardship in West Maui, the Ridge to Reef Rendezvous, will feature a new addition highlighting West Maui businesses that are demonstrating a commitment to reducing their impact upon our ocean. The special ceremony and media event will recognize a number of businesses for their membership in several established certification and recognition programs focused on promoting sustainability.
Local businesses that have joined any of four established certification and recognition programs by August 2nd will be featured at the ceremony; these include businesses that have taken West Maui Kumuwai’s Ocean-Friendly Landscaper and Property Pledges, those that are members of Surfrider Foundation’s Ocean-Friendly Restaurant program, and tour operators that have achieved certification through Hawaii Ecotourism Association’s Sustainable Tour Operator certification program.
West Maui Council Member Elle Cochran will be presiding over the ceremony as emcee, and indicates her support of local businesses that are taking steps to reduce their environmental impact. She notes, “the small decisions that we make on a daily basis, as individuals, business owners, and public servants, affect the health of our oceans. How we use pesticides and care for our land, how we produce and distribute food, how much garbage we use and how we dispose of it; these are all things that have a huge cumulative impact on our oceans. I am thrilled to be a part of this event that recognizes small businesses who have made a commitment to be better stewards of our ocean. Working on the White House National Ocean Council Governance Coordinating Committee has made me realize that small, localized action has big impacts on a global level. This is how we take care of our oceans: one person, one business, one decision at a time.”
The West Maui Kumuwai campaign recently debuted its Ocean-Friendly Property Pledge, which outlines a number of best practices that can be undertaken to reduce stormwater runoff and the associated land-based pollution generated from within the property. West Maui Kumuwai is currently focused on assisting condominium properties in Honokowai because of their especially close connections with the ocean due to the storm drains in the area. Maui Kai was the first property to sign on, followed by Polynesian Shores, Maui Sands, and Mahinahina Beach; other West Maui properties that have taken the pledge include Kahana Sunset, the Westin Ka’anapali Ocean Resort Villas, and the Westin Maui Resort & Spa. West Maui Kumuwai also manages an Ocean-Friendly Landscapers program; current members that will be recognized at the ceremony include: A Nutt Nurseries, E’Scapes, Dragonfly Bamboo, LLC, He-Man Services, Ho’oulu ‘Aina Farms & Landscape Services, Kāʻanapali Operations Association, Keep It Green Residential & Commercial Landscape, Lokahi Landscaping, Malama Lawns, Mauiscapes, LLC, Mel’s Yard Service, Mohala Garden Design and Maintenance, SGS Hawai’i, West Maui Lawn and Landscape, and Z.E.L.M – Zero Emission Landscape Maintenance, LLC. For more on West Maui Kumuwai’s Ocean-Friendly Property and Landscaper pledges, please visit the website and Facebook page at www.westmauikumuwai.org and www.facebook.com/WestMauiKumuwai.
Hawaiʻi Ecotourism Association manages a certification program for Hawaiʻi tour operators; the organization’s mission is to protect Hawaii’s unique natural environment and host culture through the promotion of responsible travel and educational programs relating to sustainable tourism for residents, businesses and visitors. According to HEA board member LiAnne Driessen, Director of Sales and Marketing at Trilogy Excursions, a certified tour operator, “being a part of the Hawaiʻi Ecotourism Association has given our company the resources and guidelines to better understand what it means to be a sustainable tour operator. Their certification process made us re-examine our company as a whole from operations to marketing to product development, ensuring that we are being environmental stewards in all aspects of our business.” HEA president Aaron Lowe adds, “we at Hawaiʻi Ecotourism Association commend these six businesses that operate in West Maui that have been certified through our Sustainable Tour Program – they have demonstrated their commitment to best management practices in environmental stewardship, cultural sensitivity, community well-being, and quality education in all their operations, and serve as role models within the travel and tourism community.” Current certified tour operators that operate in West Maui include Aloha Kayaks Maui, Atlantis Adventures, Hawaiian Paddle Sports, Maui Kayak Adventures, Pacific Whale Foundation, Maui Nei Native Expeditions, and Trilogy Excursions. More on HEA’s Sustainable Tour Operator certification program can be found at http://www.hawaiiecotourism.org.
Surfrider Foundation’s new Ocean-Friendly Restaurant program is focused on reducing the usage of single-use plastics and styrofoam, recognizing restaurants that ensure take-out food containers are recyclable or compostable, only provide reusable tableware for onsite dining inside restaurants, follow proper recycling practices, and do not use any styrofoam. Other ocean-friendly practices are outlined on the program’s website at http://www.oceanfriendlyrestaurantshawaii.org; the site includes a form that anyone can use to nominate a restaurant for inclusion in the program. Currently two restaurants in the West Maui region have been recognized: Choice Health Bar and Bamboo Fresh. Maui Huliau Foundation has partnered with Surfrider to expand the Ocean Friendly Restaurants Program throughout Maui County. Malia Cahill, Executive Director, works with the program’s student-based environmental film program to use film projects as a way to educate the public about the impacts of plastic pollution. “Over a year ago our students had been working on a similar project called Foam Free Future about alternatives to EPS or ‘styrofoam’ take-out containers. When we heard about the Ocean Friendly Restaurants program started by Surfrider San Diego chapter, they were eager to join forces with a local coalition of non-profit groups to launch the program statewide in Hawaiʻi,” said Cahill. A key part of Ocean Friendly Restaurants Hawaii is not only recognizing ocean friendly restaurants, but also educating non-compliant business about how they can reduce their plastic footprint. The program provides suggestions for eco-friendly product alternatives and connects restaurant owners with suppliers of alternative products. Restaurants who are interested in becoming certified as an Ocean Friendly Restaurant are encouraged to sign up at OceanFriendlyRestaurantsHawaii.org or email . Volunteers are also being sought to help on the certification team; those interested can email for more information.
The Ridge to Reef Rendezvous will be held on Saturday, August 6th at Kahekili Beach Park (Old Airport Beach) in North Ka’anapali, from 9 am to noon, with the Ocean-Friendly Business Recognition Ceremony kicking off at 11 am. For more information, please contact Liz Foote at , or .
