The Conscious Traveler
The following is a guest post by Leah Lamb of Current Green. Original post can be found here.
photo: Erik Charlton / Flickr / Creative Commons
Say you’re in Hawaii and you want to tread lightly…it just so happens that I’ve spoken to a lot of people about how to travel green in Hawaii, and learned, as always, that it depends on where you are and what level of commitment you have. So here ya go, my take on how to travel green in Hawaii. Please feel free to add your two cents.
Extreme Green: This is for you if you think, “Take no prisoners, the environment comes first, I’m so green I’m like camouflage in the forest”
- I won’t insult you with the obvious: you already brought your water bottle, your coffee cup, and your reusable utensils. You’ve already brought your Tupperware with your airplane food so you don’t participate in all of that extra waste.
- Pack it in, pack it out. I’m not kidding. Every single person I have spoken to, without exception, has said that garbage is a serious issue. Hawaii is still new to recycling, and depending on which island you are on, and who are speaking with, recycling has only been around for anywhere between 20-1.5 years. So if want to show the love, take your garbage home with you.
- Public Transportation.
Greensters: This is for you if you think: “It’s hip to be in the green scene: so I’ll do what I can and boast about it over your Mai Tai.”
While at the resort there are a few basic things you can do:
- Make sure your resort recycles
- Vote with your dollar: do some homework and only stay at resorts that have a sustainability director (some do), and at the least recycle. The more people who demonstrate interest in these issues, the more likely hotels will respond to this need.
- Once in your room: turn off your air conditioner and open the windows and listen to the ocean.
- Chill out and post the “do not disturb” sign on your door. You can use the same towels and sheets for a week at home, and you can do it in Hawaii, where water is a precious resource.
- Island hopping? If you choose to use the toiletries they offer, take what you have used to your next location.
At the time of writing this post I haven’t made it to all of the islands. If you know of other good practices that should be added to this list, please leave a comment.
While on Kauai I spoke to a few folks along the way who provided advice that I didn’t expect to hear. Stay tuned and prepared to be surprised by a request of the conscious traveler.
About The Author
Leah Lamb produces Current’s Green Online Channel, a unique forum driven by user generated content. She strives to create a dynamic and interactive online environment that informs and inspires through unique collaborations between bloggers, journalists and environmental thought leaders.