Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 28, Number 9, 1 September 2011 — Governor: 'game plan' needed for food security, sustainability [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Governor: 'game plan' needed for food security, sustainability

ByTreenaShapiro f the state doesn't start making the right decisions today, it won't be in a position to make them five or 10 years down the road, said Gov. Neil Abercrombie. Addressing the 2011 Hawai'i Conservation Conference, Abercrombie was adamant about the need to create an aehon plan that reflects eeonomie realities and environmental concerns, and ean move the state toward energy independence, food security and environmental sustainability. "We have to be innovative, resourceful and relentless in facing those challenges," Abercrombie stressed. "We need a strong eeonomy, not one just based on eonsumption of our natural resources, but one that is sustainable over time. That's going to take investment. That's going to take a game plan. That's going to take commitment in order to accomplish it." Limited resources will force the state to make hard decisions in order to maximize its dollars by

addressing the most urgent needs affecting all islands, such as watershed degradation, preparing for climate change and reducing invasive species. Meanwhile, the state needs to focus on generating money locally by creating work projects and green jobs, along with promoting sustainable agriculture. Rather than sending billions of dollars out of state for oil, food and even to house prisoners, "Isn't it time we start investing in ourselves?" Abercrombie asked. Over the past several months, the administration has restored 10 agriculture inspectors, increased funding to enforce laws in its fisheries, and set an example for energy efficiency by placing an elee-tric-car charging station at the state Capitol and installing photovoltaic panels at the governor's residence. It's also created more than 1,100 green jobs, with 3,000 more projected over the next two years. The administration has also committed itself to conservation of

forestry resources. But Abercrombie noted that shifting the state's philosophy on watershed management has to be the top priority. "If we don't have (fresh water), we can't do anything else we're talking about," he said. Abercrombie's Aug. 3 keynote at the Hawai'i Convention Center set the tone for a panel discussion by four of his cabinet members: William Aila Jr., Land and Natural Resources Chairperson; Russell Kokuhun, Agriculture Chairperson; Alapaki Nahale-a, Hawaiian Home Lands Director; and Dwight īakamine, Labor and Industrial Relations Director. īakamine said his department is focused on workforce development, and "development of a green workforce is a keen priority." That calls for maximizing federal dollars earmarked for creation of green jobs that may be connected to businesses that conserve natural resources or generate elean, renewable energy; provide environmental education; or focus on natural

and environmentally friendly production. Green jobs don't necessarily require learning an entirely new skill set, īakamine explained. In the construction industry, for example, many workers might just need to learn how to work with different types of materials. The other three cabinet members oversee agencies that collectively control most of the state's landholdings. Creating an inventory of state lands and nearby irrigation and water sources is a priority for all three departments, whieh are working collaboratively on shared respon-

sibilities and resources. Kokuhun, a former state Senator who championed the 2050 Sustainability Plan in the state Legislature, said breaking down the silos in government has significantly improved interagency collaboration and efficiency as departments share what they're doing. "We don't want to waste time reinventing the wheel," he said. Nahale-a, whose department is tasked with returning native Hawaiians to ancestral lands, said the Hawaiian Homes XI G0VERN0R ON PAGE 15

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Gov. Neil Abercrombie's image is reflected on screen as he addresses the Hawai'i Conservation Conference. - Photo: Treena Shapiro

GOVERNOR

Continued from page 7 Commission's Energy Policy guides development of energyefficient subdivisions. In Wai'anae, a homestead community is pioneering a zero-energy subdivision where photovoltaic panels, solar water heaters and other alternative-energy sources will power the residential area. Community gardens and aquaponics are also included in the design to allow for greater self-sufficiency. "We ean return folks to residential, agricultural and homesteading options, or help them be stewards for the entire state of Hawai'i," Nahele-a noted. "I think that's the direction Hawaiian Homes is headed, to help unleash the energy of all our homesteaders to try to solve the problems we all face." Watershed management falls under Aila's jurisdiction but has a direct impact on agriculture, whieh needs elean water to irrigate crops and raise livestock. As the cabinet members work collaboratively to address various state needs, Aila suggests, "Probably the most important ingredient for solutions we have is continuing the hope that we ean make things better even in hard times, and when things get better we ean improve things to an even higher state of significance." ■ Treena Shapiro, afreelance writer, is aformer reporterfor the Honolulu Star-Bulletin and Honolulu Advertiser.