Blue Planet Foundation

We wanted to mahalo and say a hui hou to our Policy Analyst, Jodi Robinson. For the past two legislative sessions, Jodi has lead our advocacy efforts, helping to pass key climate and clean energy policies that benefit all people of Hawaii. Besides being such a wonderful ambassador for Blue Planet, Jodi has just been a joy to work alongside and we will miss her very much! 🫶🏽

Are you ready to put your knowledge of energy, history, and pop culture to the test? Join us for Trivia Night at The Lei Stand! Enjoy unique food and drink offerings as you battle it out for fun prizes, including gift cards from Whole Foods and Zippy’s.

📅 Date: Thursday, June 27, 2024
🕒 Time: 6:00 – 8:30 pm
📍 Location: The Lei Stand, 1115 Bethel St.

Gather your friends and coworkers in a team of up to 6 or come solo and join a team on the spot. All team members must be 21+. RSVP today at bit.ly/4cmXf4i linked in our bio.

Do you know a teacher or educator? Please share this opportunity for a FREE Climate in the Classroom professional development workshop, led by our Education DirectoR. This online session is designed for educators who work with students in grades 6-12 and will equip attendees with SDG- and NGSS-aligned content covering the latest in climate science, Hawaiʻi’s education and energy landscapes, and strategies to amplify youth voice in and out of the classroom.

Thursday, June 27, 2024
12:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Online workshop via Zoom
Cost: FREE

Attendees will also receive a complimentary Energy Kit, which includes ready-to-use presentation slides, interactive board games, clean energy classroom posters, and other digital educator resources.

Reserve your spot today at https://lnkd.in/gZjZ4Ui8 linked in our bio.

from Climate Crew member, the talented . Thank you for creating these beautiful and meaningful pieces! 🫶🏽

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These five pieces were designed for the Blue Planet Foundation as a gifts to be given to their donors as a thank you for their annual support.

1. Thank You for Growing with Us
- The left hand incorporates exclusively native species of plants found across Hawaii. The symbolic joining of hands is meant to represent the growth between not only the Blue Planet Foundation and their partners but people and nature.

2. Currents of Change
The swirling pattern around the islands represent the currents that flow around our islands.
*A map of Hawaii currents was consulted

3. One Ocean Rings
- The ocean is depicted as a single body of water to show what connects all of us.

4. ‘Āpapapa
- ‘Āpapapa, the Hawaiian word for reef, depicts exclusively native species of coral and fish found on Hawaiian reefs.

5. Water Drops
- Each droplet represents one of the Hawaiian Islands and shows the ways in which we can generate waves around the world.

After four months of action, the 2024 legislative session came to a close. This session saw a few energy and climate wins, but more importantly, was pivotal in advancing recovery and resilience efforts in Hawai‘i, particularly in response to the wildfires on Maui. We want to send a warm mahalo to all who supported Blue Planet’s policy priorities and engaged in the legislative process.

Want to make an impact next legislative session? Sign up for our Climate Advocates email list linked in our bio to receive updates on key legislation, digestible explanations of the impacts and implications of the proposed bills, and draft testimony to make it easy to make your voice heard.

 

What are energy codes and why do they matter?

Energy codes establish the minimum energy efficiency standards for new and renovated buildings, ensuring that new technologies, materials, as well as better approaches to health and safety, can be incorporated into the next generation of buildings.

Read our latest blog post (link in bio) for a deeper dive into cracking the energy code!

Congratulations to the graduates of Blue Planet’s Climate Crew Cohort V! Over the past 6 months, these 25 youth climate leaders from across the state completed over 118 Climate Actions, including home energy audits, testimony on climate policies, engagement with state legislators, media appearances, social media content creation, and other impactful projects in their communities. The students also worked under mentorship of community organizations to help solve real-world climate issues.



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Mahalo to our sponsors, mentors, and community partners who make this program possible for youth across Hawaii!

Sponsors: , , , , Atherton Family Foundation, Johnson ʻOhana Foundation

Community Partners: , , .eva, , Shifted Energy, , L.E.I. Foundation

Help HB 1828 pass its final hearing! 📢

This measure updates and extends the state’s energy efficiency portfolio standards (EEPS) to align with Hawaii’s goal of 100% clean energy and net-zero emissions by 2045.

Hawai‘i residents pay the highest electric bills in the nation. Energy efficiency is an accessible, affordable, and equitable way to lower electricity bills for local families, and reduce carbon emissions that are fueling the climate crisis.

HB 1828 has its final hearing tomorrow — please help this bill move on to the home stretch of the legislative process by submitting testimony by today, Monday (4/1).

Visit the link in our bio for bill details and sample testimony. Mahalo!

   

It’s not too late to join today’s EV charging station installation webinar! ⚡️Register for free at the link in our bio and we’ll see you at noon.

Installing public electric vehicle charging stations on your property can boost business and attract new customers, while supporting statewide efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Plus, there are more tax credits and rebates available than ever before!

Hear from a panel of experts about the installation process and the many benefits:

Steven Bakovic - 
Kyle Cremer - 
Kevin Hachey - 
Sage Lang - 
Moderated by Marie O’Grady, 

Help SB 2122 pass its final hearing! 📢

This measure updates and extends the state’s energy efficiency portfolio standards (EEPS) to align with Hawaii’s goal of 100% clean energy and net-zero emissions by 2045.

Hawai‘i residents pay the highest electric bills in the nation. Energy efficiency is an accessible, affordable, and equitable way to lower electricity bills for local families, and reduce carbon emissions that are fueling the climate crisis.

SB 2122 has its final hearing this week — please help this bill move on to the home stretch of the legislative process by submitting testimony by this Wednesday (3/27).

Visit the link in our bio for bill details and sample testimony. Mahalo!

     

Supercharge your property today!⚡️

Installing public electric vehicle charging stations on your property can boost business and attract new customers, while supporting statewide efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Plus, there are more tax credits and rebates available than ever before!

Join the webinar on Wednesday, March 27 from 12:00 - 1:00 PM to hear from a panel of experts about the installation process and the many benefits:

Steven Baikovic -
Kyle Cremer -
Kevin Hachey -
Moderated by Marie O’Grady,

Register via Eventbrite at the link in our bio. See you there!

The American Lung Association (ALA) published a report last month that shows how decarbonizing ground transportation can prevent asthma attacks and respiratory diseases in millions of children.

Ground transportation is one of the biggest contributors to air pollution, and children are especially vulnerable, because their bodies are still developing and lack the defense mechanisms to protect themselves from infection.

Read more about how transitioning to EVs is an investment in our children’s health at the link in our bio.

The first National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) funded charging station in Hawaiʻi is live! ⚡️

The EV charging station at the Kahului Park and Ride along Kuihelani Highway on Maui consists of four fast chargers, and was selected because it’s accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and its location is adjacent to the Maui Alternative Fuel Corridors.

Charging will be FREE to the public through March 10th. 🙌🏽

 

Say hello to our clean transportation intern, Ayu! 👋🏽 She has been the creative mind behind our recent transportation-related content, and is helping with Blue Planet’s initiatives that increase awareness and access to clean mobility options.

Ayu is a third-year undergraduate student pursuing a Liberal Arts Degree with a double concentration in International Studies and Environmental Studies at Soka University of America.

Pacific Biodiesel is expanding their regenerative agriculture project to Kaua’i! This multi-year partnership with the US Army Corps of Engineers will take locally grown crops, like sunflowers, and turn them into culinary oils and biodiesel to power the island. Pacific Biodiesel is contributing to our islandsʻ sustainable economy with renewable fuels that are grown in Hawaii, produced in Hawaii, and used in Hawaii! 🌻🌻🌻

Read more about the project at the link in our bio.

In Coltura’s first-ever analysis of US gasoline consumption, the “Cracking the Gasoline Code” report found interesting insights about gasoline users. ⛽️

Superusers — the top 10% of private, light-vehicle drivers — burn 35% of the gasoline in the country. Disproportionately living in rural areas, Superusers are burdened with high gasoline costs and longer commutes to work, school, and other essential services. The report finds that helping Superusers make the switch to EVs will not only reduce their high cost of transportation, but also dramatically cut US carbon emissions by 243 million metric tons annually – more than cutting all aviation emissions (202 million metric tons). 🤯

Read the full report linked in our bio to learn more. Hopefully we can use the lessons learned to find to ways to support those who could benefit the most from switching to EVs.

Support needed for HB 1828! 📢

This measure updates and extends the state’s energy efficiency portfolio standards (EEPS) to align with Hawaii’s goal of 100% clean energy and net-zero emissions by 2045.

Hawai‘i residents pay the highest electric bills in the nation. Energy efficiency is an accessible, affordable, and equitable way to lower electricity bills for local families, and reduce carbon emissions that are fueling the climate crisis.

HB 1828 has a critical hearing this week — please help this bill move on by submitting testimony by Tuesday (2/27).

Visit the link in our bio for bill details and sample testimony. Mahalo!

Today, we say a hui hou to our Executive Director, Melissa Miyashiro 💙

For the past decade, Melissa has played an integral part in Blue Planet’s work, helping to pass game-changing climate policy, launching educational programs that uplift youth leaders, and making Hawaiʻi a beacon for local advocates across the globe to be champions for protecting the planet and the places they call home.

We will miss Melissa’s bold and empathetic leadership, but we look forward to watching her continue to uplift the nonprofit sector as she steps into her new role of President and CEO of the Hawaiʻi Alliance of Nonprofit Organizations (HANO) in March.

Melissa, thank you for all you have done, you will always be a in our hearts. 🫶🏽🌎

Wondering how you can make your commute more sustainable? Hawaiʻi has a variety of transportation options that will save you money on gas, parking, all while reducing your climate impact. We’ve compiled a list of multimodal transportation options, by island, in our latest blog post linked in our bio!

This legislative session, Blue Planet is prioritizing policy solutions that align with the state’s decarbonization pathways, while also addressing affordability and accessibility for all people of Hawaiʻi.

These measures fall into three key areas of focus:

1️⃣ Prioritizing affordability through energy efficiency
2️⃣ Taking bold action on clean transportation
3️⃣ Support for geothermal and hydrogen research

Read the blog post linked in our bio for details on the proposed measures in our 2024 Policy Package.

Our Executive Director, Melissa Miyashiro, had the honor of moderating a panel at RE+ Hawaii on the role of microgrids in ensuring resilience during Hawaii’s climate emergencies. Panelist included Kirstin Punu (), Keith Yamanaka (), Ted Peck (.energy), and Jared Leader ().

     

Touring Young Brothers to learn about their leadership on sustainability in Hawaii’s shipping industry. Here are a few highlights:

⛴️ Their new fuel-efficient fleet of tugboats exceed industry emissions standards and reduce climate pollution by up to 90%
🚐 They are switching their ground fleets to electric vehicles
🌎 They are implementing other measure that work towards Hawaii’s decarbonization goals

Mahalo to the Young Brothers team for all they do to keep our islands connected!

We wanted to say mahalo and a warm farewell to our Education Fellow, Lucie K**r! Over the past 16 months, Lucie gave 55 presentations to over 2,000 students in classrooms on O‘ahu, Maui, and Hawai‘i Island. 🤙🏽

“I really enjoyed talking to so many students and seeing how much they care about their communities and the environment, at all ages. I think that Hawai‘i’s future is in good hands as this younger generation gets involved more and more,” said Lucie on some of her takeaways from her time as Blue Planet’s Education Fellow.

💙

We are looking for a college student or recent graduate who wants to help grow public awareness and expand the markets of advanced vehicle technologies, alternative fuels, and practices that improve efficiency in the transportation sector. Learn more and apply at the link in our bio before December 28, 2023. Mahalo!

We are excited to introduce our fifth Climate Crew cohort! From the rural town of Volcano to the heart of Honolulu, these 25 passionate and inspiring high school students represent the next generation of climate leaders in Hawaiʻi.

Visit the link in our bio to read more about cohort V and how they will be tackling the climate challenge over the next 7-months.

You can still support Blue Planet through Foodland’s Give Aloha campaign! Throughout the end of September, you can make donations of any amount up to $249 to Blue Planet by using code 78620 at any Foodland or Sack N Save store statewide. Foodland and the Western Union Foundation will match a portion of each donation! 🤙🏽🌎

#78620

Mahalo, , for featuring Blue Planet’s local efforts to tackle climate change! 🌎💪🏽

Read the full article at the link in our bio.
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fights climate change with local action: through advocacy at the Legislature, student outreach and programming, and community challenges that encourage broad participation. ⁠
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Melissa Miyashiro, executive director of Blue Planet, says the nonprofit’s work at the state Capitol this year helped persuade lawmakers to pass energy efficiency laws, one being SB 691, which expands the list of products sold in Hawai‘i that must meet minimum water and energy efficiency standards. ⁠
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It takes more than just the state’s core group of climate practitioners to succeed, Miyashiro says. “It’s not just a clean energy or environmental challenge, it’s a human challenge, and has connections to all industries and all sectors. We hope that we’ll see folks in different sectors coming to the table and sharing their perspectives.” ⁠
⁠
Photo by: Elyse Butler

Apply now for Climate Crew Cohort V! 🌎

This unique 7-month learning experience for high school students across Hawaiʻi combines professional development training and hands-on learning opportunities to build the next generation of climate leaders. Cohort V runs from November 8, 2023 - May 5, 2024.

High school students can apply before October 8, 2023 at https://bit.ly/44zXJQg linked in our bio.

Our Education Director visited schools on Kauai and Moloka’i to engage with students on topics of climate, clean energy, energy efficiency, and energy equity. We’re gearing up to launch our next Climate Crew cohort, and are excited to recruit a diverse and passionate group of high school students from all islands!

Visit the link in our bio to learn more or to apply for Climate Crew Cohort V 🌎

 

Join Blue Planet, , and fellow participants to celebrate the 2023 Hawaiʻi Commute Challenge! Enjoy food from Moku Kitchen, live entertainment, and opportunities to connect with clean transportation organizations and resources in your community. We will be announcing the overall Commute Challenge winners and giving out prizes! 🏆

Date: Saturday, Sept 9, 2023
Time: 11:00am - 2:00pm
Location: The Barn @ SALT (327 Keawe St, Honolulu, HI 96813)

RSVP at the link in our bio ✅