Wind turbines on Maui, Dec. 2006.
Wind, solar, hydro, biogas from waste, and their as-yet-untapped geothermal resources are the reasons why.
But the group’s top recommendation was to look for more ways to conserve energy.
“A megawatt saved is always going to be cheaper than a megawatt installed,” he said.
Absolutely.
Posts Tagged ‘Maui’
Maui could get virtually all its power from renewable sources by 2020
Off the Hana Highway
The Hana Highway is 52 miles of twisty road, often with many one lane bridges. The scenery is spectacular.
Keanae. A sign warns not to get near breaking waves because you could get swept away.
Hamoa Alua island. Trees on top.
Kipahulu bicycle powered smoothie
A little roadside stand in Kipahulu sells fruit and smoothies. There’s no electricity here, so the refrigerator runs by propane and the coffee maker by solar. The blender for smoothies is bicycle-powered. The woman working behind the counter recently escaped from Los Angeles with no regrets.
When the earthquake hit recently, Kipahulu was completely cut off [...]
The Kipahulu Ohana and the Kapahu Living Farm
The Kipahulu Ohana is a community-based group in Kipahulu (near Hana) in Maui engaged in a number of projects such as raising taro, having cultural walks, reclaiming land from invasive species and animals, and important, bringing awareness of traditional Hawaiian ways and culture to all.
In 1995, a small group of Native Hawaiian residents came together [...]
The Kings Highway, Makena
This 6 mile round trip hike is mostly on a lava field, the lava is called a’a. It looks a bit like freshly tilled earth from a distance, but is solid rock. The hike looks easy. It’s not. The trail is filled with loose rocks, and is very scrambly going indeed.
The sign is [...]
Forks and knives made from sugar cane
Sign at Maui Tacos
Surfboard fence
Haiku, Maui.
Cactus in Maui
Yes, in Maui…
Cinder cone
South side of Maui
Some extended native Hawaiian families have rights to land that others don’t. Hey, the land was stolen from their ancestors.
Lahaina Pali trail
This five mile trail is one of the most strenuous hikes on Maui. We did 1.5 miles up a steep grade with lots of lava rock and ended at the wind turbines. They have 180 foot towers and the blades are 100 feet. Probably not many get this close to them, as the hike is [...]
Maui wind turbines
90% of electrical production for Hawaii comes from imported petroleum. In other words, the oil comes in by boat. Yikes. Not real sustainable, is it? However the state is acting fast to create renewable energy.
Just this year, new wind turbines on the West Maui Mountains now provide Maui with 10% of its energy, with plans [...]
West Maui road trip
We drove today around the northern tip of Maui on route 340, skirting the West Maui mountains. The road for at least ten miles is one lane, cliffs on one side and a sheer drop on the other. The views are spectacular in this remote part of the island, however sometimes there is no guard [...]
“Sugar in the Raw”
The sugar in those little brown packets of “Sugar in the Raw” at Starbucks are processed here at Hawaii’s largest operating sugar mill in Maui. It is surrounded by thousands of acres of sugar cane. Next door is the Alexander and Baldwin Sugar Musuem, which explains how the sugar is processed and doesn’t attempt to [...]
Big Island valley
We went on a Cessna ride yesterday, piloted by a friend, from Maui to the Big Island, which about 50 miles across the channel. As you can see, the scenery is amazing. This valley is on the Hilo side of the Big Island.
Old Hawaiian village ruins
East side of Maui, circa 600-700 years ago.
