EPA honors isle
cleanup efforts
Hawaii residents who helped preserve Kauai's last undeveloped coastline and are using eco-friendly technology to clean water at a Big Island hotel golf course have been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Malama Maha'ulepu, of Kilauea, Kauai; and David Chai, Morris Takushi and Jan Dill, of Kailua-Kona, are recipients of the EPA's seventh annual Environmental Awards for outstanding contributions in 2004.
"The EPA applauds the outstanding achievements of these environmental heroes," said Wayne Nastri, regional administrator for California, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii and other Pacific Islands. "Thanks to their efforts, our air, water and land will be cleaner and safer for generations to come."
An award ceremony yesterday in San Francisco recognized 37 businesses, government officials, tribes, environmental organizations and citizen activists from the region.
The Hawaii winners and basis for recognition were:
Maha'ulepu is the island's last accessible, undeveloped, coastal area and home to rare fauna and endangered Hawaiian birds. Geologically, the area exhibits 5 million years of change from the oldest lava formations to substantial limestone deposits to sand dunes.
Malama Maha'ulepu works to conserve this unique landscape through guarding endangered Hawaiian monk seal pups; conducting winter humpback whale counts and reef check ocean surveys; organizing beach cleanups, tree plantings and maintenance projects; and educational tours.
» David Chai, Morris Takushi and Jan Dill, for the Living Machine at the Four Seasons Hualalai Hotel, Kailua-Kona.
The Living Machine replicates the natural purification processes of streams, ponds and wetlands by using living creatures to cleanse pollution. The 5th-hole pond at the hotel's golf course has a living machine. It works so well that the pond is stocked with shrimp, oysters and fish that are prepared in the restaurant.
[News] [Business] [Features] [Sports] [Editorial] [Do It Electric!]
[Classified Ads] [Search] [Subscribe] [Info] [Letter to Editor]
[Feedback]
