Transition Oahu - Blog

CANCELED: Nov. 17 Watch Party for Transition US Online Summit

Sun, 21 Oct 2018 23:28:29 GMT

Please Note:
Although the watch party on Oahu has been canceled, videos of the Transition US online summit -- which took place October 27 -- are available.
View them on YouTube >>

Transition US -- a nonprofit organization that provides inspiration, encouragement, support, networking, and training for Transition Initiatives* across the United States -- is turning 10 years old! The anniversary provides an opportunity for Transition groups to celebrate by means of local "watch parties" and related gatherings.

The Oahu gathering will take place:

Saturday, November 17, 2018, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
UH Manoa Shidler College of Business, Room A101 (see map)
& the nearby Albizia Project Prototype

Event Outline:

Welcome
Video: Keynote address by Transition Movement founder Rob Hopkins
Live Panel Discussion: "Local Inspiring Replicable Models" with Matthew Lynch, Hunter Heaivilin, and Christian Zuckerman
Video: Transition leaders from CA, IA, and FL discuss repair cafes, Eat Local Week, Transition Streets, and more
Picnic at the nearby Albizia Project Prototype (see http://thealbiziaproject.com)
Closing discussion, next steps, call to action...

Hosted by Transition Oahu and UH Office of Sustainability.

* The Transition Movement is a vibrant, grassroots movement that seeks to build community resilience in the face of such challenges as peak oil, climate change and the economic crisis.

Public Listening Session on Proposed NextEra Deal - Tuesday, October 27

Mon, 26 Oct 2015 05:28:58 GMT

The State of Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (PUC) will hold a listening session on the proposed transfer of ownership and control of the Hawaiian Electric Companies from HEI, a Hawaii-based corporation, to HEH, a wholly owned subsidiary of NextEra, a Florida-based corporation.

When	Tue Oct 27, 2015 6pm – 9pm
Where	McKinley High School Auditorium, 1039 South King Street, Honolulu

Testifiers will be limited to three minutes each. Statements may also be mailed to the Public Utilities Commission, 465 South King Street, Room No. 103, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813, or e-mailed to Hawaii.PUC@hawaii.gov. All written statements should reference Docket No. 2015-0022.

The ending time is a rough guess; the meeting will go until all those who have signed up have been heard.

LINKS

Full meeting notice from the PUC (PDF)

Getting to 100% Renewable Energy (October 2015 memo from Renewable Energy Action Coalition of Hawaii -- founder is Transition Oahu board member Erik Kvam)

Insights on PBS Hawaii program (aired October 22, 2015)
"A multi-billion dollar deal merging Hawaiian Electric and its subsidiaries with Florida energy company NextEra Energy is on the table. NextEra Energy says it will provide a more affordable clean energy future for Hawaii, but opponents have concerns over how a merger might impact consumers and Hawaii’s renewable energy goals. The pending deal has also prompted some to examine the merits of other available options, such as utility cooperatives or county-run utilities."

A Sierra Club Hawaii page: Get Heard: Reject NextEra

Who Should Own Hawaiian Electric? (Hawaii Business Magazine, October 2015)

Transition Oahu brings solar cooking to Geek Meet 2015

Sun, 12 Jul 2015 21:32:05 GMT

Light rain from a post-tropical depression gave way to sunny skies at Geek Meet 2015 on Sunday, July 12 -- and the solar cookers at the Transition Oahu booth started cooking. Here is Transition Oahu board president Donna Lay taking out a batch of cookies from her Sun Oven.

We served up a few dozen ginger cookies to Geek Meet participants while we shared information about solar cooking and Transition Oahu in general. The cardboard and foil cooker at right in the photo was made by TO board member David Atcheson and cooked a pot of seasoned root vegetables. Donna's Sun Oven reached a maximum temperature of 350° and Dave's (based on plans by Joe Radabaugh) got up to 320°.

Transition Oahu wasn't the only tent featuring some solar cooking. Next door to us was Green Path Technologies, whose booth included a photovoltaic solar array laid out on the grass. The solar array charged a portable power source (a suitcase-sized battery system), which in turn was powering a rice cooker.

Hats off to Geek Meet organizer Ryan Ozawa and the other volunteers who made this event possible. Geek Meet was billed as an "outdoor gathering of tech enthusiasts, scientists and science fiction fans, hackers, makers, creators, educators, and all-around creative and curious people. It's a family friendly affair in the fresh air to share your favorite tools and toys, learn new things, meet new people, and just relax and talk story with interesting people." It was all that and more. For more photos, check out the event on Facebook or search for #higeek on Twitter.

We encourage you to try out solar cooking as a fun and carbon-free method that doesn't heat up your home. For inspiration, check out the Solar Cookers International wiki site. If you get into it, hope to see you with your cooker at Geek Meet 2016!

Four Transition Oahu board members at Geek Meet 2015 (Devon James, David Atcheson, Donna Lay, and Ron Robinson)

July 2015 e-newsletter: solar cooking, HNL Soup, film screening, permaculture, potluck, and more

Wed, 08 Jul 2015 23:55:50 GMT

Our July 2015 e-newsletter is out. It includes a rundown of upcoming events that we think you'll find of interest, including:

July 11 – Sandy Beach Clean-up
July 12 – Hawaii Geek Meet July 12
July 23 – Hawaii Food Policy Council SOUP event
July 28 – PlantPure Nation FREE screening
August 1 – Xeriscape Garden "Unthirsty Plant Sale"
August 3 – 2-Week Intensive Permaculture Design Course begins
August 6 – Transition Oahu / Oahu TimeBank Potluck in Aina Haina

You'll also find these items in our calendar.

Hope to see you soon!

Public Hearings on Hoʻopili - City Council Zoning & Planning Committee

Sat, 28 Feb 2015 21:27:05 GMT

** Update 3/3/2015 ** The Bill 3 hearing continuation in Honolulu on Thursday, March 5 is confirmed on the Zoning & Planning Committee agenda.

The Honolulu City Council Zoning & Planning Committee will hold a special hearing at 5 p.m. on March 2 in Kapolei to hear from the public on Bill 3, which would rezone certain West Oahu farmlands at the site of the proposed Hoʻopili housing development.

The development will not proceed if the city maintains the current zoning of Restricted Agricultural.

The meeting will be held at:
Kapolei Hale, 1000 Uluohia St, Kapolei, HI 96707. The meeting begins at 5 p.m. On-site registration for speaking is from 4 p.m. - 5 p.m. See the complete meeting agenda.

You can submit testimony online by March 1 at http://www.honolulu.gov/ccl-testimony-form.html. On the same form, you can sign up to speak at the hearing as an alternative to on-site registration.

THE AGENDA SPECIFIES THAT ORAL TESTIMONY WILL BE LIMITED TO ONE MINUTE PER SPEAKER.

Committee Chair Ikaika Anderson has said that the meeting will continue on March 5, 9 a.m. at Honolulu Hale, with more testimony allowed followed by a vote on whether to advance the bill. (See the image of the Star-Advertiser news item below.) Anderson has said one may testify at either the Kapolei meeting or the Honolulu meeting, but not both.

Please note: As of 2/28, this meeting continuation does not appear on the City Council calendar and Bill 3 does not appear on the regular March 5, 10 a.m. Zoning & Planning Committee agenda. To be sure your voice is heard, please submit your testimony by March 1 especially if you will not be attending a hearing to testify.

See Also

Civil Beat article, Disappearing Farmland: Hoopili Continues the Trend
More information about Hoopili and video of past testimony before the state Land Use Commission is available at http://www.stophoopili.com/

Big Island farmer talks Transition in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Fri, 27 Feb 2015 21:19:33 GMT

Richard Ha, President, Hamakua Springs Country Farms DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARADVERTISER.COM

Richard Ha is the president of Hamakua Springs Country Farms on the Big Island and part of Hawaii Island Energy Cooperative. With a proposal to sell Hawaiian Electric Industries (HEI) to the Florida utility NextEra Energy Inc. on the table, the cooperative wants to be ready if doors open up to implement a different model along the lines of Kauai Island Utility Cooperative.

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser ran an interview with Ha in the February 27, 2015 edition. While not specifically referring to Transition with a capital T, Ha addresses many Transition issues: peak oil, local control, alternative energy, local agriculture, and challenges faced by young farmers.

We have excerpted several passages. The full article is available to subscribers by logging in.

Honolulu Star-Advertiser
February 27, 2015
Richard Ha
The Hawaii island farmer is an outspoken advocate for sustainable energy
by Vicki Viotti

excerpts:

"Back around 2005, 2006, 2007, we started noticing our input costs were going up. It didn't take us long to figure out that it's all related to oil. That's why I went to the first Association for the Study of Peak Oil conference [in 2007].
…
"...if you look at it on your financial statement, and just look for utilities cost, or fuel, that's not all the effect of oil price. Petroleum prices affect the price of everything, because it's plastics and everything.
…
"I've been to five of these oil conferences ... and as I started to get into it I realized it's a lot more complicated than I thought. It involved oil, and next it involved natural gas. And the characteristic of natural gas is that the natural gas wells deplete in five years.
…
"The big oil boom we had, the shale oil boom we had from 2008 to now, is made up of a whole bunch of small wells to produce the amount that we do. But it depletes so quickly that we gotta replace 40 percent of it, just to stay even.
…
"But the problem after that is, how much oil and gas do we actually have? And some credible studies say we don't really have that much. We think we do, and we're the Saudi America. And I worry, because we are so vulnerable here in Hawaii. So we've got to hedge our bets.
…
"...Kauai Island Utility Cooperative. They came over and gave a briefing.
And the people decided, wow, that's kind of interesting, because Kauai had been actually able to get their electricity rates to go down over the 12-year period. Everyone else went up. On top of it ... it's a co-op, so the people own the utility. And if the utility makes money, the people get the rebate. ... So people thought, "Why don't we just look at that option?"
…
"The issue is, if we did not look into it and prepare, so that if the opportunity arose we could make an offer, we would never be in the game. We could never exercise the option.
…
"I was the only person to have gone to five peak-oil conferences for all of Hawaii. So, I felt an obligation to kind of say what I had heard, and warn people. So I kind of was stuck with the kuleana, they say, eh? Responsibility. I didn't really want to do this. I was just minding my own business before this happened.

"You know what happens when you go to five? Over a period of time you get to see who said what, and you get to see who's credible and not. And if you're an observer and trying to figure out motivation, pretty soon a pattern starts to evolve. And then you can feel more confident that what you think is happening is actually happening.
…
"I think ag and energy are inextricably entwined. I see so many young folks want to get into agriculture. I mean, everybody's talking about school-to-farm programs, and all kinds of stuff.

"But then when you look at how many young folks are going into farming -- and I kind of know how hard it is to be successful in farming -- I see they're having a hard time making money.

"My basic idea is that, if we are looking for food sustainability, it's about farmers farming. And I would say if the farmers make money, the farmers will farm.
…
"What has happened, in my mind, is that oil prices quadrupled in the last 10 years, and we have not seen the consequences of that."

Join us for a Thanksgiving Day potluck

Wed, 19 Nov 2014 23:46:33 GMT

November 27 (Thursday), 2 - 5 p.m.
ProtoHUB, 458 Keawe St, Honolulu

Still thinking about your Thanksgiving Day plans? If so, consider coming to the the Transition Oahu potluck. This year we'll be at ProtoHUB, the new co-working / innovation space in Kakaako.

Arrive between 2-2:30 and listen to music and mingle while dishes are arranged for serving. We'll do a welcome & intro about 2:45 and start the potluck at 3.

Transition Mapping: In addition to sharing food and conversation, we'll introduce a new project to literally put Transition and sharing-related resources on the map -- for example, CSA farms, eat-local restaurants, co-working locations, community kitchens, DIY educators, etc. Can you picture an app for that? We'd love your input and energies as we get the project rolling.

Tune into HPR-2's Bytemarks Cafe on Wednesday, Nov. 19 at 5 p.m. (KIPO – 89.3 FM). David Atcheson of Transition Oahu will be on to discuss the project.

What should I bring?

Please bring your own own re-usable eating and serving ware to minimize waste. We'll have access to the kitchen at ProtoHUB for prepping/washing up.

We are encouraging plant-based dishes and offerings. Transition Oahu and Positive Media Hawaii recently hosted a screening ofCowspiracy. This highly recommended film makes a persuasive case for the myriad of benefits that would result from moving to a plant-based diet, including greatly reduced greenhouse gas emissions, food sustainability, and better health for people, land, and water. Our potluck can be an event that, in its own small way, encourages our society in that direction.

If you'd like some ideas for dishes, we've pulled together a few resources:

Do whatever works for you and we'll look forward to seeing you! The event is free but donations to help pay for the space will be gratefully accepted.

On Facebook? You can RSVP here. Or contact usthrough our website (RSVP is optional but appreciated).

Event web page »

Hawaii Climate Summit - Public Policy Briefing Oct. 14

Tue, 07 Oct 2014 04:52:44 GMT

Climate Briefing for Policy Makers & Public
Hawaii Climate Summit
Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Three briefings to choose from -- each will take place at the Hawaii State Capitol Auditorium, 415 S. Beretania Street (Lower Level) on Tuesday, October 14.

Session 1 – 10:00 am to Noon
Session 2 – 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Session 3 – 7:00 to 9:00 pm

Complete information: See the PDF flyer.

Register: brownpapertickets.com/event/888042

Parking info: goo.gl/TccrzT

They will be important briefings covering recent scientific observations on planetary changes and the substantial, accelerating impacts they will have on climate and life here in the Hawaiian Islands. Our islands are more vulnerable to the effects of climate change than any other place in America. The public, policy makers and business leaders all need to understand the coming changes and what they portend. This is vital emergency-climate-preparedness information.

Whether or not you think you are well informed about climate change, be prepared to be unprepared for what you will hear and see. The under-reported aspects of the causes, effects, risks and timing of climate change may significantly alter your worldview. Our situation can be mitigated if we take the warnings seriously.

Since time is short until October 14th, as a service to your colleagues, family and friends, please forward the email you received and its attachments widely, post in high visibility areas at work and in public spaces, social media, and place on email lists you subscribe to.

Three speakers will make presentations based upon research and on the ground observations of changes in the elements of Earth's ecosphere that will come to dominate our lives in the next couple of decades.

Dr. Camilo Mora, University of Hawaii Associate Professor, lecturer and researcher with particular interests and expertise in Macroecology, Conservation Biology, and Biogeography.
Keith Nealy, communications consultant specializing in Climate Change and the collapse of social and economic systems and has been a communications consultant to Exxon, AT&T, Forbes, Pfizer, SONY, American Express, Federal Express
Stuart Scott, Deputy Director General of IESCO (International Ecological Safety Collaborative Organization), Chief Ecological Officer of NagaCorp, Ltd, international presenter and advisor and participant at UN climate negotiations.

This briefing is vital input for policy makers in the State of Hawaii, and for Oahu, Hawaii's most densely populated island.

Please post and share!

ShareFest Honolulu is Saturday, Sept. 20 at UH Manoa!

Sat, 06 Sep 2014 02:02:21 GMT

Join us in a fun and inspirational day of sharing at the UH Manoa Sustainability Courtyard. Exchange books and seeds, enjoy the community potluck, learn a new skill, write a poem, bring your bike by the repair station, upcycle a t-shirt, learn about sharing initiatives around town, and more!

Children welcome -- Madame Butterfly will be there from 1:30-4 p.m.! Bring a book, toy, and/or game to swap!

For complete info, including what to bring, visit: ShareFest Honolulu »

On Facebook? RSVP at our ShareFest event on Facebook and get late-breaking updates.

Please help us spread the word by forwarding this email, posting the link to social media, and telling your friends and family. Thanks!

click image for larger version

Transition Oahu potluck is July 10; topic is bicycling

Wed, 09 Jul 2014 01:11:50 GMT

Transition Oahu Potluck
with brief presentation by
Travis Counsell, Hawaii Bicycling League

Thursday, July 10
6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

667 W Hind Dr, Honolulu, HI (map)

Transition Oahu potlucks are a chance to enjoy good food and conversation with Transition Oahu community members.

Along with a dish to share, please bring your own plate and utensils to minimize waste.

Guest Presentation
Cycling and cycling infrastructure like bike lanes, trails, and a bike share program will be significant component of a more convivial, less carbon-intensive Hawaii in the years ahead. We will have a brief guest presentation by Travis Counsell, project manager for Hawaii Bicycling League's Walk-Bike-Drive Education program, about HBL's work and what's ahead for Oahu cycling.