CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Students at the Hawaii 2050 event performed an exercise yesterday to demonstrate challenges to communication. Participating were Tyson Agcaoli, left, from Lanai High School, Victoria Zeuner from Mid-Pacific Institute and Dominique Pascual from Waimea High School.
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Hawaii in 2050
After two years of work involving thousands of residents to draft a plan to preserve and improve Hawaii's quality of life, AFL-CIO President Randy Perreira asked a key question: "Will it end up sitting on a shelf?" The Hawaii State Plan "essentially died for lack of use" after former Gov. George Ariyoshi left office, he pointed out.
Perreira was among speakers describing the strategic planning document that attempts to balance the needs of society, the environment and the economy.
The plan was unveiled yesterday to nearly 1,000 people attending a Hawaii 2050 Sustainability Summit at the Hilton Hawaiian Village.
A 25-member task force made up of government, business and community leaders has been working on the plan for the past year. The task force is seeking public comment through November and will then re-work the plan and present it to the Legislature.
Perreira said the task force guiding the draft plan's development is "adamant" about ensuring it won't sit on a shelf.
But one participant, leaving the meeting, questioned whether Hawaii has "the political will" to accomplish goals that often clash. Another said everyone is going to have to be responsible and give up something.
The plan itself says: "Ultimately achieving the goal of a sustainable Hawaii will rest with all of us -- as individuals, as leaders and as a community. It is truly a test of our political and community will."
Pam Tumpap of the Maui Chamber of Commerce said if the Legislature adopts the plan, Hawaii will become a world leader in planning for the future. The plan will be revised every five years to keep it up to date with state, national and world events, speakers said.
No single preferred future emerged in a telephone poll of 2,000 residents conducted to help draft the plan, said SMS Research President Jim Dannemiller. "Different people want different futures with different pieces," he said.
He said people had varying opinions about balancing economic development and protection of environmental, social and cultural factors.
Some wanted goals accomplished with fewer rules and regulations, he said.
Others had strong opinions either weighted for environmental preservation or building a stronger economy, he said.
"Some compromise is going to be needed," he said. "Tough job? I think so. But if anybody can do it, it's the people in this room and the people of Hawaii."
Highlights of the draft 2050 Sustainability Plan
The plan lists five broad goals for a sustainable future for Hawaii: maintaining a diversified and competitive economy, preserving the environment and natural resources, maintaining community and social well-being and providing safety nets for those in need, and perpetuating Kanaka Maoli and island values.
The 73-page plan covers a wide variety of ideas to achieve the goals including:
» Increasing the number of trees "but not in the middle of streets."
» Stopping the diversion of streams and requiring parks, cemeteries and golf courses to use gray water.
» Mandatory solar power in new developments and government buildings.
» Taxing sport utility vehicles.
» Reducing auto sales by 20 percent.
» Designing walkable and bikeable communities, reduce commute time, reduce the number of cars.
» Repealing No Child Left Behind.
» Expanding charter schools and setting up a voucher system for school choice.
» Increasing the number of public officials sending their children to public schools.
» Developing a statewide recycling plan.
» A moratorium on rezoning farm lands and forests and laws to stop development of farm land.
» Increased subsidies for organic farming.
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What kind of a future do you envision for Hawaii?
Meetings to get public ideas and opinions for a final plan to be submitted to the Legislature are being held on all islands next month.
The draft Hawaii 2050 Sustainability Plan can be downloaded at www.Hawaii2050.org for review to provide comments at a community meeting or ideas via the Web site.
Meetings are scheduled as follows:
Big Island
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Hilo: Oct. 3, 6-8:30 p.m., Aupuni Center conference room.
» Kailua-Kona: Oct. 4, 6-8:30 p.m., Gateway Center, Natural Energy Lab of Hawaii.
Oahu
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Honolulu: Oct. 6, 9-11:30 a.m., McKinley High School cafeteria.
» North Shore: Oct. 6, 3-5:30 p.m., Haleiwa Elementary School.
» Windward Oahu: Oct. 15, 6-8:30 p.m., Castle High School cafeteria.
» Leeward Coast: Oct. 16, 6-8:30 p.m., Nanaikapono Elementary School cafeteria. (Tentative, check www.hawaii2050.org for confirmation.)
Maui
» Wailuku: Oct. 8, 5:30-8 p.m., Maui Economic Opportunity office.
» Kahului: Oct. 13, 8:30-11 a.m., Maui Arts and Cultural Center's Haynes Meeting Room.
Kauai
» Kapaa: Oct. 9, 5:30-8 p.m., Kapaa Middle School cafeteria.
» Lihue: Oct. 10, 5:30-8 p.m., War Memorial Convention Center.
Lanai
» Lanai City: Oct. 11, 5:30-8 p.m., Lanai High and Elementary School cafeteria.
Molokai
» Kaunakakai: Oct. 11, 6-8:30 p.m., Kaunakakai Elementary School.