Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 31, 2008
Plastic Free Haleiwa Off to a Great Start
Today the Kokua Hawai'i Foundation, along with other Haleiwa business owners, made a presentation to the North Shore Chamber of Commerce on an exciting new project, Plastic Free Haleiwa, for the small beach town of Haleiwa, Hawaii.
Plastic Free Haleiwa is a coalition of community members and business owners striving to educate the stores, restaurants, and patrons of Haleiwa Town on the environmental and health benefits of going plastic free in order to minimize the consumption and pollution of plastics in our islands.
The coalition’s message was met with resounding support. Business owners and managers eagerly signed their names to the list of supporters pledging to make a commitment to reduce and ultimately eliminate their businesses’ consumption and distribution of single-use plastic. Styrophobia and Sustainable Island Products, both local suppliers of biodegradable bags and food containers, were present at the Chamber meeting to pass out information on on-island availability and pricing.
This is grassroots movement started when the North Shore-based nonprofit Kokua Hawaii Foundation received requests by residents and storeowners to help Haleiwa become a ‘greener’ town. Owners of The Growing Keiki and Food for Thought have been instrumental in leading the charge. “For an ocean community like Haleiwa, plastics can be a serious problem. By serving my meals in biodegradable containers, I have the
peace of mind knowing that when people take their to-go orders down to the beach, their food will be healthy and the environment won’t be harmed,� says Kelly Tsutsui, co-owner of the new eco-friendly restaurant Food For Thought.
Businesses who sign up for the new coalition will receive a ‘Plastic Free Haleiwa’ placard designed by local artist Heather Brown, which can be displayed in their storefront and restaurant windows. Patrons will be able to identify coalition members and support the businesses that are making an effort on this front. Many of the coalition members will be offering a discount to customers that bring their own reusable bag.
The movement to eradicate single-use plastic has both global and local momentum. Recently, cities such as San Francisco, Portland and Annapolis have passed plastic-free legislation. In 2003, South Africa was one of the first to take measures against single-use plastic, followed by Ireland and Bangladesh. China is the latest country to come out and ban the use of plastic bags across the entire nation.
On Oahu, the City Council of Honolulu has 18 Sustainability Bills and Resolutions that were introduced by Council Members Donavan Dela Cruz and Ann Kobayashi. Bill 84 will put a ban on non-biodegradable plastic bag use. This month a new State bill, HB2495, was introduced which would prohibit the use of polystyrene
(styrofoam) as a disposable food service-ware product.
A tremendous amount of public support has been seen for these bills, but they will need an even larger public response in order for Hawaii government officials to take notice.
“We’re excited to support the recently proposed plastic free legislation at the City and State levels with this grassroots campaign,� says Kim Johnson the Executive Director of the Kokua Hawaii Foundation, “What you can do to show your support is simple:
1) contact your representatives in support of these bills,
2) patronize local merchants that are Plastic Free Haleiwa coalition members and
3) remember to bring your own bag to the store!�
For more information visit http://www.kokuahawaiifoundation.org.
Coalition Members to date include:
1. Art...Is
2. Bali Moon
3. Cafe Haleiwa
4. Cholo’s
5. Crank and Carve
6. Deep Ecology
7. Del’s Photo Lab
8. Direct National Lending, Haleiwa
9. E Pili Mai Weddings
10. Food For Thought
11. Global Creations Interiors
12. The Growing Keiki
13. Haleiwa Active Healing
14. Haleiwa Art Gallery
15. Haleiwa Joe’s
16. Heather Brown Art
17. Jack Tyrrel Inc. Realtor
18. Killer Tacos
19. Kono’s
20. Lisa Carley Skin Care
21. North Shore Therapeutic Massage
22. Oceans In Glass
23. Ohana Island Homes
24. Paradise Real Estate
25. Patagonia
26. Salon Atlantis
27. Scoop of Paradise
28. Sharks Cove Grill
29. Silver Moon Emporium
30. Storto’s
31. Styrophobia
32. Surf Child
33. The Sand Castle
34. The Soap Cellar
35. Town and Country Mortgage
36. Twelve Tribes
37. Waialua Soda Works
For a PDF of this page,
CLICK HERE.