Smart Living Hawaii

Today we will continue our Sustainable Leaders series and have a Talk Story with Jacob Roberts, Eco Rotary Club of Kakaako’s current president. We will chat all about our Rotary Club, how it differs from some of the other Rotary clubs out there, the environmental impact and the cool volunteer projects we work on in Hawaii!

Jacob is a field sales consultant at Sunrun, Specializing in helping homeowners transition to clean, affordable, and reliable energy sources, he emphasizes reducing carbon footprints and cutting electricity costs. His dedication to environmental preservation and sustainability is rooted in his academic background in marine biology and sustainable management. He has a bachelor's degree in marine biology from UC Santa Cruz and an MBA in sustainable management from Presidio Graduate School.

His foremost objective is to facilitate environmental rejuvenation within his lifetime, striving for the restoration of biodiversity and natural equilibrium in ecosystems. His approach centers on sustainable urban development, permaculture, renewable energy, and the soil food web. As a certified soil food web consultant, he collaborates with clients across various scales, from residential gardens to expansive farms and urban environments, in advancing sustainable practices.

Eco Rotary Club of Kaka’ako:

Vision Statement

To build a sustainable planet and future.

Mission Statement

Create sustainability through initiatives, innovation, education and strategic partnerships with local and global communities. Inspire and empower others with leadership, collaboration and service. 5 Areas of Focus:

1.    Environment

2.    Food Systems

3.    Clean Energy

4.    Waste Reduction

5.    Climate Action

More Info & Contact:

Today we will continue our Sustainable Leaders series and have a Talk Story with Ryan Naka, Director of Philanthropy and Marketing for Project Vision Hawaii. We will zero in on Project Vision Hawaii, homelessness and how we are tackling this housing crisis we face as a state. From Emergency Proclamations, respites, shelters, and long-term housing for the houseless, we will share how Project Vision Hawaii is making a difference!

Ryan Naka is the Director of Philanthropy & Marketing for Project Vision Hawaii. He got his start in fundraising while working on political campaigns which eventually led him to PVH in 2020. Since then, Project Vision Hawaii has grown from a couple dozen staff members to over 100 statewide. Ryan also a Realtor with the Smart Living Hawaii Team and works as a Business Consultant for his family’s company, Charley’s Taxi. 

Project Vision Hawaii started in 2007 providing vision screenings in Title I schools across Hawaii, hence Project "Vision". Throughout the years, PVH evolved into a multifaceted nonprofit organization, leveraging partnerships with government agencies, businesses, and other community partners to maximize its impact.

PVH continues to adapt and evolve in response to the ever-changing needs of the community. With a steadfast commitment to its founding principles of compassion, collaboration, and empowerment, Project Vision Hawaii remains a shining example of grassroots activism and collective impact, inspiring positive change for generations to come.

More Info & Contact:

Today we will continue our Sustainable Leaders series and have a Talk Story with Rob Van Tassell, the President and CEO of Catholic Charities Hawaii. Not only will we learn about their expansive services, we will zero in on housing for the people of Hawaii. Robert “Rob” Van Tassell is a leader with more than 20 years of experience in non-profit management, including social service, affordable housing, community development and organizational leadership. Named as CEO and President of Catholic Charities Hawai‘i in November 2019, Rob leads a statewide agency of more than 40 programs and services serving our 80,000 clients a year. As with other social service agencies and non-profit organizations, the demand for assistance has increased exponentially during this COVID-19 pandemic and economic downturn. The leadership team at CCH has risen to the occasion amplifying and multiplying their reach with new programs, innovative technology solutions, and an increase in advocacy for those in most need. Prior to joining Catholic Charities Hawaii (CCH), Rob served as a vice president at Catholic Charities in Seattle. In this role, he led the development of over 30 housing projects and their related social services. A collaborative leader, Rob focuses on building assets and wealth for, by and within communities. Rob’s previous experience includes positions in the private sector such as developing affordable housing, Accounting Director at Starbucks Coffee Company and Accounting Manager for Blue Cross. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Washington. He and his wife reside in Honolulu, have three daughters and one grandson.

Today we will continue our Sustainable Leaders series and have a Talk Story with Rebecca Staron the founder of HI-RES Grant Writing and Consulting. We will learn about the world of grant-writing and what it takes for sustainable nonprofits to secure grants and funding.

Rebecca began her career in a small Connecticut restaurant and was immediately hooked on feeding people. She attended Johnson & Wales University earning Bachelors degrees in both Culinary Arts and Nutrition.  During this time, she participated in a term abroad in Singapore and Thailand doing an intensive study of South East Asian cuisines, it was here she fell in love with international cuisine, spicy foods, and traveling. 

After over 20 years in various facets of the food service industry Rebecca decided it was time for a change; however, her passion still remained food and feeding people.

Rebecca formed HI-RES Grant Writing and Consulting to help bring her passion for food and sustainability to organizations and communities on a larger scale. Through grant writing she discovered that she can take the knowledge and experience she’s amassed over the years and help communities in ways that she had never imagined before. She is very passionate about food literacy and expanding access to healthy foods for everyone through improved food systems, hands on education, and sustainable farming and gardening programs. Her and her team work in Hawaii and across the United States to help organizations find and secure funding to elevate their work and create a positive impact.

Rebecca believes that together we can achieve greater food sovereignty and better health in our communities while still being good stewards to the environment and working to regenerate the world around us.

Rebecca Staron:

Today we will continue our Sustainable Leaders series and have a Talk Story with Neil Sims the founder and CEO of Ocean Era, Inc. We will learn more about fisheries, farming fish and limu and the innovative work he is doing in this space to be more sustainable, regenerative and kind to the environment we live in.

Neil is Founder and CEO of Ocean Era, Inc., in Kona, Hawai’i, working in developing offshore culture systems for marine finfish - such as kampachi, snappers, mahimahi, and herbivorous reef fish - and tropical macroalgae, and exploring microbial biodigestion of macroalgae.

Neil was born in Australia, and worked initially in marine resource management in the Cook Islands. He has lived in Kona for the last 30 years, working for a series of start-ups at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii (NELHA): initially in pearl oyster hatchery systems and pearl farm development, and then in marine fish hatchery production and offshore aquaculture.

Neil has founded commercial offshore kampachi farms in Hawaii and Mexico. He led the Velella projects: an untethered, offshore ‘drifter pen’; and an unmanned net-pen operation in 2,000 m of water, 10 km offshore. Ocean Era is planning to deploy an offshore macroalgae array in Kona, and is applying for permits for an offshore fish and macroalgae farm off Oahu, and offshore permits in the Gulf of Mexico, off Florida.

Neil sits on the Aquaculture Stewardship Council’s Technical Advisory Group, and is a NELHA Boardmember. He holds a B.Sc.(Marine Biology) from James Cook University, in Queensland, and a M.Sc.(Zoology) from University of New South Wales, Australia.

Neil Sims:

Today we will continue our Sustainable Leaders series and have a Talk Story with Dr. Albie Miles, where we will be discussing Hawaii’s food systems, the need for a comprehensive food system plan and food system resilience and disaster preparedness for Hawaii. We will learn about the Hawaii Food Summit coming up in December 2023 and how we can participate in Hawaii's food security, plan and legislative session in 2024.

Today we will continue our Sustainable Leaders series and have a Talk Story with Quinn Vittum, Executive Director of Reuse Hawaii. We will learn about construction and the huge carbon footprint it leaves behind. From demolition to new build its waste is massive and we must find solutions to this problem…thanks to Quinn and his team, they are paving the path to our future!

Quinn Vittum is the Executive Director of Re-use Hawaiʻi. He co-founded the organization in 2006 after founding a Habitat for Humanity ReStore and Olympia Salvage, an independent non-profit, both in Washington State. Quinn’s life mission is to create a more sustainable world by helping create innovative solutions to the demolition and disposal paradigm. With a talented staff of 37 people, Quinn oversees Re-use Hawaiʻi’s Deconstruction and Material Redistribution Programs, including a recent expansion to Hawaiʻi Island. Quinn studied Fine Art and Sustainability at SUNY New Paltz, the University of New Hampshire, and Evergreen State College. As an Omidyar Fellow and through his work with the Hawai’i Leadership Forum, Quinn aims to help Hawai’i navigate its waste management challenges and develop a more robust circular economy in the State. Quinn sits on the Board of Directors of HEMIC Insurance, Hawaii’s largest workers' compensation insurance carrier.  He lives in Kaimuki with his wife, Kara, and five-year-old son, Skylar. 

Connect:

Today we will continue our Sustainable Leaders series and have a Talk Story with Matthew Gonser, the Chief Resilience Officer and Executive Director of Oahu’s Resilience Office: Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency. We will learn what Oahu as a county has for Resiliency Goals and how we are implementing those goals.

Since January 2021 Matthew Gonser serves as the City and County of Honolulu Chief Resilience Officer and Executive Director of the City’s Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency. He joined the City and the Resilience Office in October 2017 and previously served as Coastal and Water Program Manager. Prior to joining the office he served for nearly six years as the Community Planning and Design Extension Agent with the University of Hawai‘i Sea Grant College Program.

Connect:

Today we will continue our Sustainable Leaders series and have a Talk Story with Nicole Chatterson, the Director of Zero Waste Oahu.  We will dive into their mission, partners, initiatives and resources for our community and breakdown waste and how we can tackle this beast!  

Nicole is the co-founder and Director of Zero Waste Oahu and also has her own consulting firm focused on developing sustainable strategies, corporate sustainability and responsibility metrics and business plans that focus on the ESG. What is the ESG you ask? Well it stands for Environmental, Social & Governance…what you need to measure a company’s sustainability & ethical impact.  We originally met when she was working at the University of Hawaii System Office of Sustainability as a coordinator and never had the chance to do a podcast until today!  She has also worked at the Kupu Hawaii as a Program Director where she managed and mentored cohorts of fellows working on sustainability projects throughout Hawaii. These ranged from sustainable seafood, to waste reduction, to clean transportation.  She received her Bachelor’s Degree at California State University Long Beach and moved to Hawaii and obtained her Master’s here at the UH Manoa. 

Today we will continue our Sustainable Leaders series and have a Talk Story with Brittany Zimmerman, the CEO and Chief of Innovation of Yummet. We will go into depth on Circular Living and focus on the future of waste. How we can transform our waste to concrete, hydrogen, water and biochar through Yummet's technologies, biomimicry and indigenous practices to empower communities to truly become sustainable.

Brittany Zimmerman:

Before founding Yummet (Yamay), Brittany served as a NASA Principal Investigator and Aerospace Systems Engineer developing life support systems for long-duration spaceflight and habitation. She has committed herself and her company to bettering the conditions of humanity and is implementing her multidisciplinary expertise of space systems to make life support technologies easily accessible and affordable for terrestrial humanity, us right? ​ Brittany holds an M.S. in Space Studies with a focus on Bioregenerative Physical-Chemical Environmental Control and Life Support Systems for Long-Duration Human Spaceflight.

Ms. Zimmerman has been repeatedly recognized for her innovation and leadership:

·    >95% Proposal Selection - Exceeding $85 Million in Awards

·    SSPI Promise Award Recipient

·    SSPI 20 Under 35 Award Recipient

·    3X NASA Principal Investigator

·    Technologies selected for the ISS, Artemis Program, DoD

·    Future Space Leader Awardee

·    Analog Astronaut: Inflatable Lunar/Martian Habitat, Crew 3

·    Analog Astronaut: Mars Desert Research Station, Mission 171

Connect:

Today we will continue our Sustainable Leaders series and have a Talk Story with Michael O’Keefe, the Deputy Director of the Department of Environmental Services. Jumping into landfills and hurdles we face with our waste here on Oahu.             

Mike has worked in the City & County of Honolulu’s Department of Environmental Services (ENV) for 15 years, including 10 years in its Refuse Division, 3 years in its Office of Administrative Support (OAS), and 2 years as Deputy Director.  In Refuse Mike oversaw ENV’s solid waste collection, recycling and disposal operations, the landfill and H-POWER.  In OAS Mike oversaw ENV’s long range CIP planning and budgeting, GIS, labor relations, wastewater customer service, and safety.  Mike also manages ENV’s financial model and its wastewater revenue bond program.  Mike has a Master’s Degree in Urban Planning from the University of Southern California and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Hawaii.

Today we will continue our Sustainable Leaders series and have a Talk Story with Indy Rishi Singh who will be discussing community development, cooperatives and why regenerative civic engagement is so important to our communities today.

Today we will continue our Sustainable Leaders series and have a Talk Story with Hiro Nago, the President of EM Hawaii, LLC and one of the team members of the Genki Ala Wai Project. We will learn about EM ®, Effective Microogranisms ® and ways we can use them to heal our soils, fresh water sources like our Ala Wai Canal (with Genki Balls) and more! EM ® in many countries is providing solutions to problems we face globally such as food production, depletion of natural resources, environmental pollution, food safety, nutrition and health!

Hiro Nago: Hiro’s ancestral roots come from Gushikawa- Okinawa in Japan. His grandfather immigrated at a young age and moved his family to various islands and finally settled in Kula, on the island of Maui. His father was raised on a vegetable farm and Hiro grew up in an environment of naturally grown foods and having fond memories of visiting the Maui farm. This led Hiro to change his major from engineering and earned a bachelor’s degree in horticulture from the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa.

After graduation, Hiro wanted to learn more about his Okinawan roots, so he lived and worked as an assistant English teacher for Intermediate and Elementary schools in a small rural town called Sashiki for five years. Inspired after attending several lectures in Okinawa and reading “An Earth Saving Revolution” by Prof. Teruo Higa. Hiro decided that promoting the benefits of EM® and getting away from the overuse of chemicals would be his life mission.

He joined EM Research Organization as a researcher in 1995 and opened the branch office (EMRO HAWAII), Inc. in 1996 to share the benefits of this amazing technology. Hiro then had the opportunity to take over and reorganize as a locally owned company EM HAWAII, LLC since 2006 and has over 24 years of experience with “Effective Microorganisms®”.

Today we will continue our Sustainable Leaders series and have a Talk Story with Sean Anderson and Greg Williams w/ Full Circle Farm. We will talk about the Full Circle Farm they established and how their regenerative practices with composting, chickens, food scraps and more lead to healthy soils. From what was once waste going to our landfills and our H-POWER incinerator we now have alternatives that can be solutions for Hawaii’s future.

Gregory Williams, began working in regenerative agriculture in Hawaii in 1998, working with the first organic sprout farm on Oahu to scale production island wide. In 2002, he began working in education bringing elementary school children from urban areas to organic farms for immersion experiences in Southern California. Gregory has over a decade of experience in operations and logistic management. He’s passionate about closed loop systems and helping build catalyst hubs that support change for the greater good.

Sean Anderson has over ten years of experience in regenerative agriculture and composting. His degree in Global Studies from UC Santa Barbara helped build his global perspective and systems-based approach to problem solving. Sean is enthusiastic and passionate about composting and regenerative practices and shares his excitement through various educational tours and demonstrations hosted on their farm, in schools, and other organizations.

Today we will continue our Sustainable Leaders series and have a Talk Story with Joseph Valenti w/ the Albizia Project. We will talk about the Albizia tree, an invasive tree here in Hawaii and solutions due to it’s rapid growth as it takes over our Hawaii forests. From building homes, furniture and now surfboards, there is much to learn about this species and how we can restore our native ecosystem.

Today we will continue our Sustainable Leaders series and have a Talk Story with Sandy Ward, the co-founder and executive director of the Malama Puuloa Program. Greatest goal is to restore Puuloa, Pearl Harbor and they focus on community stewardship, education and partnerships. We will learn more about what they do, how they support our keiki and students and how they work within the community for a more vibrant and thriving community in the future.

Sandy is a Retired public teacher with 38 years of experience connecting students to place-based, project-based, inquiry-based learning. She has a Masterʻs of Science Education from Lewis and Clark College. Here is a quote from Sandy: "As someone was a teacher in Mililani 25 years, and now loving the opportunity to work with youth all over `Ewa, I want to create pathways to a better future for them! I believe with all my heart in a future of restored abundance for Pu`uloa and the surrounding `Ewa Moku and Itʻs an honor to help grow the next generation of empowered change-makers!"

Instagram: @malamapuuloa

Today we will continue our Sustainable Leaders series and have a Talk Story with Jake Johnson at Hale Partners where we will be discussing the successes and hurdles of building affordable housing in Hawaii. We will also learn about Homeaid Hawaii and what they do for our community, the newly built Kama’oku Kauhale, tiny home community for veterans and the homeless and where we see these developments headed as we tackle affordable housing.

Jake Johnson: For over 15 years in Hawaii, tastemaker Jake Johnson has been passionately dedicated to his craft in the construction industry. From designing and building track homes to custom high-end luxury prosperities, Jake has performed an array of visionary and versatile production styles. Prior to the development of Hale Partners LLC, Jake is the founder of his own company, Jake Johnson Designs. In addition, he has led a private investment management company the last five years, focused on renovating and new construction. Jake uses a network of subs and specialty contractors to complete the project on time and comply with budget standards. Jake is also a prominent philanthropist in the local community. As executive on the young leaders board of Make a Wish Hawaii, he provides support to fundraise and help grant wishes of children with life threatening diseases. He is also a board member on Homeaid Hawaii, which we will dive into a little later.

Instagram:  @jakejohnsondesigns

Today we will continue our Sustainable Leaders series and have a Talk Story with Bavan Nadarajah, as he shares the Lunch Out Of Landfills program he started in his high school. We will learn about a program that can be adopted in just about any town across America to help keep food, waste and recyclables out of the landfills while working with our youth. We will also dive into the mind of this 18 year old to get a better understanding of the younger generation’s views on sustainability, climate change and the environment. It was amazing to me to see students in high school so passionate, driven and accomplished before entering college that I felt this was a worthy podcast to share! May this empower our youth and give hope to our future!

Bavan is an intern at Bar-T Mountainside Ranch who is a student currently on a gap year. I don’t have a huge bio of all his schooling and extensive career path over the past 20 years because he is ONLY 18 years old! But what he has accomplished in his high school career has been impressive. He is a recent graduate from Oakdale High School in Maryland and has chosen to take a year off before starting college to complete what he began in High School. Bavan started a composting program in his high school with the goals of reducing food waste and redirecting excess resources from schools to local food banks by connecting building services, teachers, and school leadership with his team at Lunch out of Landfills. His efforts have drafted and passed bills in legislation, raised grants and funding for these programs, invited him to speak at national and international conferences and now he is on a mission to expand.

Instagram:  @bavan_nadarajah

Today we will continue our Sustainable Leaders series and have a Talk Story with Lindsay Correa, the Business Development Director of AirCare Hawaii and also a Healthy Homes Consultant. AirCare Hawaii helps create a safer, cleaner environment in your home, office or building. From indoor air quality, extensive mold testing, allergen testing, duct cleaning (HVAC) or emergency response to environmental problems they are here to serve and educate you! Today we will dive deeper on ways to make your home healthier, learn some myths and facts on mold, tending to allergies within your home, indoor air quality control.

Lindsay Correa was born and raised on the island of Oahu. She grew up paddling for outrigger, surfing, playing waterpolo and volleyball. She graduated from La Pietra and went to college in Oregon, at Southern Oregon University. She made her way back to the islands and started her career with the family business in 2008! She holds a Healthy Homes and Mold Assessment Certification and is currently training for her Council-Certified Indoor Environmental Consultant Certification. She grew to love this field and how it helped many people live healthier lives. Helping people and building relationships has been Lindsay’s passion since childhood and she enjoys being able to do that every single day.

Today we will continue our Sustainable Leaders series and have a Talk Story with Kiersten Faulkner, the Executive Director of Historic Hawaii Foundation. We will learn how Hawaii’s Historic buildings, structures, objects and sites play a huge role on our future. Diving into our past and our Hawaiian culture not only reveals a sustainable way of life they once lived but also unfolds a thriving community that worked together with the land, ocean and people. Preservation is precious…lets learn why today…

Kiersten Faulkner is the chief executive of Historic Hawai‘i Foundation and oversees all aspects of its preservation programs, strategic planning, business lines and operational matters. Prior to joining HHF in 2006, Faulkner was a Senior City Planner for the City & County of Denver. She holds a Master of Arts in Urban and Environmental Policy from Tufts University and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners.

Today we will continue our Sustainable Leaders series and have a Talk Story with Noel Morin, the leader of Hawaii Electric Vehicle Association and the Big Island EV Association. We are going to learn about Electric Vehicles from the basics up to the latest and greatest! And also discussing our carbon footprint around transportation and how we as a state can improve. From being more efficient with your gas cars to not needing a car at all, we will learn some tricks, tips and truths about EV.

Noel is a Silicon Valley product management veteran. He is a small business owner, climate action advocate, and supporter of sustainable transportation and renewable energy. He is on the board of several organizations focused on climate action, sustainability, and resiliency. He leads the Hawaii Electric Vehicle Association and Big Island EV Association. Noel has driven an electric vehicle since 2011. He powers his home and cars with solar. He resides in Hilo.

Today we will continue our Sustainable Leaders series and have a Talk Story with Todd Boulanger, Executive Director of Bikeshare Hawaii, aka Biki. We will dive a little deeper into Bike Sharing, transportation, parking, traffic and mobility and how to solve these problems we face as a city, state and community.

Todd Boulanger: Boulanger has more than 20 years of experience in transportation planning and mobility consultation with a special focus on roadway safety audits, researching trends, operations and performance reviews, operating bike transit hubs, and mobility services. Previous to Biki, Boulanger served as the principal of Urbane Streets in Vancouver, Washington, where he consulted on street design, operations and policy as it affects allocation of public space for active transportation and traffic safety and developed and supervised the design of new bike parking facilities nationwide. Prior to Urbane Streets, Boulanger served as the senior transportation planner for Vancouver’s Neighborhood Safety & Livability, Transportation Services.

Today we will continue our Sustainable Leaders series and have a Talk Story with Jim Murphy, CEO of Honolulu Habitat For Humanity. We will learn how Honolulu Habitat for Humanity works and serves the community with every house that they build. They work with the community, government agencies and homeowners to build the homes while helping solve our affordable housing shortage or should I say crisis. Let’s find out how we can support them in their mission of seeking to put God’s love into action to bring people together to build homes, community and hope.

Jim Murphy: 

Originally from Chicago, Jim and his wife moved to Honolulu in 2013. He has been the CEO of Honolulu Habitat since 2014 leading the organization through significant growth and alignment with the community.

Jim’s background in nonprofit management drew him to Hawaii as an opportunity to work with the diverse nonprofits and communities they serve. He holds an MBA from North Park University, specializing in nonprofit board development. He is a Weinberg Fellow and sits on the board of Kumu Kahua Theatre and the Hawaii Alliance of Nonprofit Organizations where he is the current Chair.

Having doubled their housing production in recent years, Honolulu Habitat and the Board has embarked on a 5-Year Strategic Plan committing to tripling the number of families served, completing 40 houses and 25 critical home repairs.

Today we will continue our Sustainable Leaders series and have a Talk Story with Joshua Powell the CEO of Revolusun. We will jump into the future of solar, HECO’s new program that pays cash upfront to get battery storage on your home and how this helps create a more resilient grid through virtual powerplants. We also discuss Revolusun and their additional projects, services and programs w/ HECO that differentiates them from others. What you learn from this podcast is very timely and relevant with the high gas prices, HECO's new programs and the Coal Plant expected to close later this year...

Joshua Powell: An Architect Entrepreneur focused on the evolution of distributed resilient renewable energy systems and integrated design in residential and mixed-use and commercial development. What does that mean? Well, Solar being the contributing factor. Multi-billion dollar construction portfolio on projects ranging from commercial and industrial to single family, hotel and retail with over 100MW of solar energy and storage development and installation. Objective: A Wild and Living Planet with and Abundant Global Clean Energy Future.

Today we will continue our Sustainable Leaders series and have a Talk Story with Vincent Tai, an architect, builder, developer and visionary. We will learn more about the home he has built here in Hawaii, 2184 Round Top Drive in Makiki Heights and how his ideal home has features we all should consider as we move to a greener Hawaii.

He worked for architectural firms in California and Hong Kong after graduating from UC Berkeley and has been a registered architect since 1971. He formed Tai Associates, Architects and was the sole principal of his private practice with staff of 25 in San Francisco since 1975 and he semi-retired in 2000. The firm provided architectural services for many private and public clients. He was a recipient of numerous national and local design awards. His architectural projects include University of California at Berkeley student housing, SF City College Library, U.S. Post Office, Federal Express cargo building at SF airport, joint venture architect for public parking structures at SF International Airport, interiors of 1,500-room SF Marriott Marquis, Bank of America branch banks, etc. Apart from being an architect, since 1976 Mr. Tai also acted in the capacity of a real estate broker and developer with extensive background in acquisition, financial packaging and development.

A Talk Story with Lauren Roth Venu as we dive deeper on Hawaii’s Fresh Water and how we as a state manage our precious resource. From storm water runoff to irrigation, quality of water to green infrastructure, there is so much to learn about Hawaii’s water system, our history, our current situation and how people like Lauren are solving the problems we unknowingly created over time.

**Note, this podcast was recorded prior to the Halawa Shaft shutdown and Red Hill Contamination. But this podcast was very timely as it walks us through Oahu's water resources and water resiliency. This goes to show how important this resource is to Hawaii and our people and how we must be good stewards from here on out regardless the circumstance. Listen in and learn how we can all be community contributors for our future!

Lauren Roth Venu is passionate about developing strategic, innovative solutions to build water resiliency.  As the Founding Principal of Roth Ecological Design Int. LLC, Lauren strives to bridge her background in ecological design, the water sciences and policy to elevate site design by maximizing onsite water conservation, reuse and stormwater recharge practices that meet the triple bottom line. Her educational background includes B.A. in Environmental Science with a specialty in Water from the University of Colorado at Boulder; a Master of Science in Oceanography from the University of Hawai‛i at Manoa; a graduate of the Proper.net Leadership Program from the United Nations University / East-West Center; and is a fellow of the 2015 Water Leadership Institute (Water Environment Federation).  Lauren is a frequent lecturer and published author on ecological design and green (water) infrastructure.  She also has served on a variety of public service roles for the State of Hawaii and the City of County of Honolulu. Last but not least is her recent technology company we will later discuss, 3RWater.

Today we will continue our Sustainable Leaders series and have a Talk Story with Ben Pilat, the Chief Operating Officer of HNL Tool Library. This nonprofit provides tools to lend out to the community and so much more! We will also touch on the construction industry and how it contributes to waste in our landfills, water and air pollution and climate change. This nonprofit not only provides a much needed service but is also part of the solution to a more sustainable Hawaii.

Ben Pilat joined HNL Tool Library in early 2020 and enjoys working on projects where art and technology meet. Before joining the library, Ben worked primarily as an educator and theatrical lighting designer. With experiences that range from Head of Production\Design at Pepperdine University to Lighting Director at Los Angeles Ballet. Ben brings a diverse set of skills to his current role as Chief Operating Officer and is proud to serve the mission of pooling our resource wealth, providing a platform for education, and helping to build a more sustainable Hawaii.

A shout out to Elia Bruno, the founder of HNL Tool Library. He founded the library in 2015 while earning a degree in sustainability studies at UH Manoa. He would have been here today but spotty reception on the Big Island made that a challenge for our zoom recording today.

Today we will continue our Sustainable Leaders series and have a Talk Story with Stuart Coleman the Executive Director of WAI, Wastewater Alternatives & Innovations. We will go over cesspools & failing septic tanks and how they harm our oceans and drinking water. 53 million gallons of raw sewage is dumped into our oceans and drinking water everyday! If you know nothing about what I just said, keep listening, you will learn so much in an hour and hopefully feel compelled to share with others! Working to reduce sewage pollution and restore healthy watersheds and coral reefs!

Today we will continue our Sustainable Leaders series and have a Talk Story with David Sands, who has been building homes with bamboo for over 25 years and through his innovative spirit it has led him down paths unchartered. Therefore always needing to be the first in what he has accomplished and provide a product and service we all so desperately need to adopt, not only here in Hawaii but across the world. David has solutions to problems we face with climate change, affordable housing, deforestation, carbon sequestration and more! One word, BAMBOO…

David Sands is an architect, LEED accredited professional who co-founded Bamboo Living and created the first certified and permitted bamboo homes in the world! He also founded another real cool company called Rizome that grows bamboo, makes bamboo lumber while sequestering carbon at rates 10 times faster than trees! Very excited to share these innovative concepts with you all today and I am sure you will learn a lot!

Email: david@rizomeco.com 

Today we will continue our Sustainable Leaders series and have a Talk Story with Bill Howes, a local, sustainable farmer and owner of Kolea Farm, a permaculture farm with organic and sustainable farming practices. His farm is located in Pupukea, Haleiwa, North Shore and they often have a food stand at the entrance of their farm. Let’s hear Bill’s story and take a stroll down the history of Kolea Farm and what it has blossomed into today! We will dive into permaculture, WWOOFers, organic farming, air-layering and a secret to his prize crop and more!

Bill Howes is a family-man who stumbled across permaculture back in the early 1990s and this way of life became his way of life to this very day. I usually have a more detailed bio but we will have Bill tell us his story through this podcast.

Today we will continue our Sustainable Leaders series and have a Talk Story with Mike Davis, a farmer, foodscaper who will not only talk about the businesses and nonprofits he partners with to fulfill his life mission but to also jump into Permaculture, what it means, how it works, why it’s such a buzz word these days and how it can transform the way we live today. This podcast will take us all over the map and hopefully inspire you get connected with the land in some shape or form!

Mike Davis is a World traveler. Has a Bachelors in Biology. Is a Sailor. An I-group Coordinator for the Mankind Project and core member in PermablitzHI and last but not least, he is Self - Employed with his company, Edible Landscapes and More.

Today we will continue our Sustainable Leaders series and have a Talk Story with Sheila Alston with WellnessRE Magazine, a magazine that brings health and home together. We will discuss the importance of a healthy home and what that entails and how to get your free monthly subscription! With this pandemic and city shutdowns, more than ever we are spending a lot of time at home and wanting a clean environment. Healthy Homes are the wave of the future so let’s learn more!

Sheila Alston is a REALTOR® and certified health coach in north San Diego county.  She is combining her passions of health and home through her new digital magazine WellnessRE™.  While diet and exercise are important, they aren’t the only factors that lead to a healthy lifestyle.  At WellnessRE magazine, they believe that the home environment plays an integral part in how we feel on a day to day basis and directly promotes or inhibits overall wellbeing.  They share insights from home wellness experts across the country to help our readers create a home environment that is healthier, more comfortable and joyful to live in.

Today we will continue our Sustainable Leaders series and have a Talk Story with Phil Acosta with Aloha Harvest. We will learn about this amazing nonprofit focused on eliminating hunger by preventing food waste. How their process works, how to get involved and what their future looks like for our community in need.

Phil assumed the position as Executive Director of Aloha Harvest on September 2019 and has since modernized their fleet and doubled its staff. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic crisis, Phil has led the Aloha Harvest team to step up and meet the community’s growing need for food assistance, nearly tripling the volume of food that they redistribute throughout O’ahu, and quadrupling the organization’s operating budget. Prior to Aloha Harvest, Phil and his family started up their own nonprofit organization in Jan 2016, providing homeless services to under-resourced communities on the North Shore, Central and Leeward Oahu, serving as one of the founding Officers and Executive Director and he currently volunteers as the Governance Chair for the Waikiki Health Center Board of Directors.

In his previous lives, Phil managed several enterprise-level IT projects with the Hawaii State Department of Human Services and US Department of Defense. He was also as an educator for over 10 years, working with children from Pre-Kindergarten to 12th grade.

Today we will continue our Sustainable Leaders series and have a Talk Story with Surfrider’s Doorae Shin, the Coordinator for our Oahu Chapter. We will learn about the Surfrider Foundation, their passion projects, updates on the plastics ban here on Oahu, the Ocean Friendly Restaurant Initiative, a new pilot program called Full Cycle Takeout and whatever else we can squeeze in under an hour! 

The Surfrider Foundation, founded in 1984 is dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world’s oceans, waves and beaches for all people, through a powerful activist network. The Surfrider Foundation is a largely volunteer-run organization. Nationwide, there are 80 local chapters doing the grassroots work along with 100 youth clubs.

Doorae Shin is currently the Coordinator for Oahu’s Chapter and she previously served as the Program Manager for the Plastic Free Hawaii program of the Kokua Hawaii Foundation, and she started her career as a college activist at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa. As a student, she led a successful campaign to ban Styrofoam from food establishments on campus and acted as the first ever Student Sustainability Coordinator in the UH Office of Sustainability.

Today we will continue our Sustainable Leaders series and have a Talk Story with Henry Gabriel, the Recycling Branch Chief for the City and County of Honolulu. We will dive into what’s trash, what’s not, how our system works here in Hawaii, especially here on Oahu and answer a bunch of questions I am sure you all have wondered about over the years. How much trash do we make? Where does our trash and recycling go? How does it all get sorted? What programs do you offer? Future Plans?

Today we will continue our Sustainable Leaders series and have a Talk Story with Daniel Anthony, a local, sustainable Hawaiian farmer and charismatic entrepreneur that will take this podcast on a rollercoaster of topics pertaining to his every day life as a family man, taro farmer, poi pounder, activist, teacher, philanthropist and more!

Daniel Anthony is the founder and partner of Mana Ai and Executive Director of Hui Aloha Aina Momona He also has his newest venture, Aloha Organic where he sells products that help grow healthier, natural food and crops. He has a supportive wife and six keiki who all play an active role in his life and businesses. He crosses paths with many through his ventures and today we will explore a little more…

Today we will continue our Sustainable Leaders series and have a Talk Story with Chance Correa, the owner of Sustainable Services Hawaii and Malama Aina Landscape. We will learn about this small business here in Hawaii, how it is diversifying its services to provide sustainable alternatives and how their journey has been before, during and hopefully after the COVID Pandemic. Did you know how many toxic things are used in mainstream landscaping today? What alternatives are there? Turning your backyard into a harvest and more!

Chance Correa is 35 years old, born and raised in Kailua, a 4th generation Portuguese/Hawaiian graduate from Kalaheo High School. With gardening and the importance of sustainability instilled in him by his grandmother, he started working in landscaping and landscape maintenance. He quickly excelled, learned the industry and was surprised by the amount of toxic chemicals used with the companies he worked for. Therefore, when he established his own company, Malama Aina Landscape, he wanted to “Be The Change” and instill his core values of increasing awareness and the importance of sustainability through his business.

Did you know that October is World Vegetarian Awareness Month and what better way to bring awareness to a plant-based diet than to introduce you to a local vegan cheese company who makes vegan, plant-based, gluten free and soy free cheeses, pates, spreads and chorizo here on Oahu!  Green Terra originated in 2019 right before this world pandemic and we will hear how Rebeca Garcia, the owner of Green Terra has managed to grow her business during this crazy time.  We will also dive into, what is Vegan Cheese?  What is it made from? How do you make it? Where do I buy it? And more!

Rebeca Garcia was born and raised in Valencia, Spain. When she was 21 years old, she moved to Portland, Oregon as an Au Pair, and a couple years later, became an International Student with the goal of studying Education because that is what she studied in Spain. In college, she met her husband Josh, and they moved to Hawaii in 2016. Rebeca worked as an assistant lead teacher in a preschool for almost three years and decided it was time to open her own business, Green Terra at the end of 2019. 

Today we will continue our Sustainable Leaders series and have a Talk Story with Anu Hittle w/ the state government of Hawaii’s Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission. We will cover Climate Change, what our state's commission has put together these past two years focusing on ground transportation and sea level rise, dabbling into the Paris Agreement and more!

Anukriti (Anu) Hittle staffs the state government of Hawaii’s Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation commission, and is Adjunct Fellow at the East-west Center. Before coming to Hawaii, she was a climate change researcher in Washington DC with the World Resources Institute, an activist at Greenpeace, and a professor at Washington University in St Louis, where she co-led the RINGO observer delegation for COPs 20, 21 and 22. Her background is in International Relations (from Columbia University) and Forest Resource Management (from Duke University), with a focus on economics, policy and law.  Aldo Leopold said “There are some who can live without wild things, and some who cannot.” Anu is someone who cannot.

Today we will continue our Sustainable Leaders series and have a Talk Story with Scott Cooney as we dive into his eco-entrepreneur endeavors and sustainable initiatives over the years.

Scott is a serial eco-entrepreneur who has started 5 mission driven companies. Pono Home, where he currently serves as CEO, has grown from Scott’s living room to a downtown office and 12 employees. The company has reduced more than 200 million gallons of water consumption and 15 million pounds of carbon pollution per year and saved its customers more than $3 million a year on their utility bills. He has also started Pono Home Essentials and will dive into that business as well. Scott is also a speaker, author, educator and consultant over the years. He continues to speak to audiences about sustainable business, solutions to climate change, media matters, and zero waste issues. He has many awards under his belt and one to walk the talk as we all work hard towards a better Hawaii for our future.

Today we will continue our Sustainable Leaders series and have a Talk Story with Will Giese, the Executive Director of Hawaii Solar Energy Association. We will learn about this great organization, solar facts you may not know, along with clean energy policy and city & county permitting that may affect you!

Will Giese is a wealth of knowledge in the solar world and focuses on policy analysis, creation and advocacy of clean energy policy through the use of rooftop solar hot water and PV. He is heavily involved in regulatory and legislative issues regarding solar energy in Hawaii and is also the current chair of the Sierra Club of Hawaii's Energy Sub-committee, where he advises the chapter on a variety of clean energy policies impacting the state. He has experience in utility policy, solar PV and solar thermal energy systems design, natural gas policy and regulation.  Mr. Giese holds a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Public Policy and Sustainable Development from the University of Tennessee - Knoxville and a Master’s degree at the University of Hawaii – Manoa in Public Administration where he graduated with honors. He lives with his fiancé, Jessica, and his Red Nose pitbull, Eva!

Today we will continue our Sustainable Leaders series and have a Talk Story with Sandra Adomatis, a national speaker on the topic of Green and Energy Efficient House Values. We will cover actual values of the different Green features one will have in a home, learn the appraisal process and how much you can save on your utility bills.

Today we will continue our Sustainable Leaders series and have a Talk Story with John Shipman, Senior Director, National Training Business & Education for Franklin Energy and also with us today is Simone Dadsetan w/ Surterre Properties in Newport Beach, CA. We will talk about Green Building & Sales: what is trending, where the future lies and learn from California’s current movement as it is ahead of Hawaii in many ways.

John Shipman is Senior Director, National Training Business & Education for Franklin Energy, and is an award-winning and nationally recognized thought leader in green real estate practices and innovation of sustainability and resiliency practice. A pioneer in training and mentoring of real estate professionals on green and resource efficient homes and the benefit of an energy efficient economy. He has trained more than 5,000 Real Estate Professionals in the practice of green real estate and green building fundamentals. In 2014, the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) awarded him with its national Evergreen Award and named him its NAR Green Instructor of the Year. For Franklin Energy, John oversees training business professional development activities, national professional training program implementation, outreach, partnerships, and innovation activities. He will actively participate in and manage training business program and training and engagement activities. John holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from UCLA and a Master of Science in Environmental Studies with a focus on Human Behavior & Society and the Environment from California State University, Fullerton.

Simone's area of expertise is in energy efficiency and Green Homes. Passionate about helping others understand and create a more sustainable lifestyle, she is driven by how much support and value a Green Home offers her clients. She has been a NAR GREEN designee for several years in California and is a strong proponent of environmental sustainability and green living. She loves educating her team of energetic professionals by holding workshops that teaches them about what a Green Home is and informing her clients on the benefits of creating a Green Home for themselves.

Today we will continue our Sustainable Leaders series and have a Talk Story with Howard Wiig, a seasoned Energy Analyst for the Hawaii Energy Office. We will be talking about Hawaii’s Energy Building Codes and how this will affect the future of Hawaii and our sustainable initiatives. Here are a few topics that might spike your interest to keep listening: How Hawaii’s energy building codes work, green building codes, money savers, differences between LEED and current codes, air tight homes, 2020 national code changes and more!

After managing many federal energy-saving projects, Mr. Wiig started managing energy building codes and was soon attending national energy code conferences, testifying before county councils, meeting with builders, vendors and union leaders and forming alliances with governmental and non-profit entities. With his expertise and accomplishments, Howard finds himself on numerous energy committees and councils, chairing many of them. He has been instrumental in creating codes that save energy and money for states and our counties. He also hosts a bi-weekly show for Think Tech Hawaii titled “Code Green,”. He is President of the Illuminating Engineering Society-Hawaii, past President of Engineers and Architects of Hawaii and co-founder and 13-year veteran of “DBEDT for Business,” the department’s Toastmasters club.

Today we will continue our Sustainable Leaders series and have a Talk Story with David Pang, owner and partner of Malama Eco Products. We will be discussing alternative single use products that are eco-friendly, cost-effective and will help eliminate plastics and Styrofoam in the marketplace. We will also go over bioplastics, bio-degradable, degradable, compostable, recycled & Polylactic Acid (PLA) to get a better understanding of which products out there are safer for our environment.

David H. Pang is a partner with Hawaii-based ‘Ilio Products, maker of Malama Eco Products and Teeth Treat™. A pet industry veteran with more than two decades of experience, Pang began his career with Hawaii pet food, then to a pet product distributor, then store owner, internationally and now a focus on ‘Ilio Products. Pang partnered with Mike Choy in 2008 to create ‘Ilio Products, developing and importing pet products and eco-friendly products to Hawaii and the mainland United States. Pang studied marketing at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and is a 1988 graduate of Kaimuki High School.

Malama Eco Products we designed to help people of Hawaii save money on products they buy every day. Currently Hawaii buys over 100,000,000 lunch plates per year that is enough trees to cover the island of Kauai cut down every year, and this is only for lunch plates. This does not include dinner, snack plates, bowls, or luau tray. All Malama products are designed to have little or no impact on our environment, yet affordable for everyone every day.

Today we will continue our Sustainable Leaders series and have a Talk Story with Dr. Jodi Nishida, the founder of The Keto Prescription. We will chat about the buzz word, KETO and explain the Keto diet that everyone has been talking about. The myths, the truths, what works and why. 

Dr. Jodi is a Doctor of Pharmacy certified in both cardiovascular disease management and ketogenic nutrition.  She is a speaker, author, mom, and huge local advocate for keto.  You can find her doing educational videos and posts on social media when she isn't seeing patients in her keto clinic.  She works closely with both in-house physicians and/or your doctor to help you heal and lose weight safely.  Dr. Jodi is the pharmacist who wants to help get you off your medications because she understands the dangers and risks of western medicine.

Today we will continue our Sustainable Leaders series and join some of the keynote speakers and panelists from the Hawaii Agriculture Conference 2019 held at the Hawaii Convention Center.  We will begin w/ Taylor Kellerman, Board President of the Agriculture Leadership Foundation of Hawaii and Director of Diversified Agriculture & Land Stewardship of Kualoa Ranch.  We will then jump right into the two keynote speakers, Jamie Tuuta & Michelle Galimba and close w/ three other speakers from the conference: Stephanie Mock, Jayme Barton and Jacob Tavares.

Jamie Tuuta, keynote: Chair of the New Zealand Tourism Board, which is responsible for marketing New Zealand as a global destination. He is inspired by the opportunities for New Zealand to be an exemplar for other countries. He is also the Chair of Māori Television, Te Ohu Kaimoana (the Māori Fisheries Commission) and Taranaki Mounga, an ambitious project with a vision to restore ecological resilience to more than 34,000 hectares from the mountain to the sea. As the former Māori Trustee and CEO of Te Tumu Paeroa, he administered 100,000 hectares of Māori land throughout the country. Jamie is passionate about investing in innovation and increasing the economic and environmental performance of New Zealand’s primary industries, particularly the Māori pastoral and fishing sectors, and developing the capacity and capability of Māori.

Michelle Galimba, keynote: Michelle runs Kuahiwi Ranch w/ her brother, Guy Galimba. Their family ranch provides locally grown beef to supermarkets, farmer’s markets and restaurants on O‘ahu and Hawai‘i Island. She grew up on dairy farms in Hawai‘i and has been involved with her family’s ranch since it started on abandoned sugar-cane acreage in the early 1990’s. Having grown up in agriculture in Hawai‘i, she has seen first-hand the stresses and constraints which make farming and ranching particularly challenging. She is interested in the key role that agriculture, small farms in particular, plays in addressing the big challenges of our time: economic inequity, political dis-enfranchisement, biodiversity loss, and climate change. Michelle has served on the State of Hawai‘i’s Board of Agriculture and is currently a Director of the Farm Credit Service of Hawai‘i and other agricultural and conservation programs and non-profits. IG: @kuahiwi_ranch | www.kuahiwiranch.com

Stephanie Mock is the Sustainable Manager, Kualoa Ranch and moderated the panel on Cultivation, Carbon and Collaboration: Adapting the Carbon Model for Hawaii's Farms and Ranches. IG: @kualoagrown & @kualoaranch 

Jayme Barton, Program Lead, Healthy Soils Hawaii was a panelist on panel above | jaymebee@gmail.com | IG: @jaymebee

Today we will continue our Sustainable Leaders series and have a Talk Story with Daniel Dinell, the President of Trees for Honolulu’s Future, a nonprofit that envisions a tree-filled island that preserves and enhances our quality of life, especially in the face of climate change. We will dive into the benefits of trees and how it affects our community, climate and future!

Daniel Dinell is former President of Hawaii Coffee Company where he led the company to record sales volumes and re-branded the icon Lion Coffee brand. Previously he worked for Hilton Grand Vacations and Hilton Hotels in positions in Tokyo, Los Angeles, and Honolulu. Born and raised in Honolulu, a product of the Hawaii public schools, Dinell holds a BA in political science from Colorado College and attended graduate school as a Monbusho Scholar at the University of Tokyo.

Today we will continue our Sustainable Leaders series and have a Talk Story with Lala Nuss, founder of Conscious Concepts. We will chat about the travel industry, tourism in Hawaii, eco-tourism and how Lala found her place and purpose through her travels and career.

Lala Nuss, born, raised and educated in Hawai'i with over 15 years of professional experience around the world in the hospitality & travel industry for multinational cruise lines, private aviation companies and hotel chains within operations, sales, marketing, sustainability and events.  The past 10 years have been dedicated to re-cultivating root relationships and re-purposing that international corporate experience to be of service to reshaping and redefining community resiliency from a place-based perspective.