In terms of environmental awareness, if Hawai'i is an example of a large community supporting a locally burgeoning sustainability movement, and Indonesia is an example of a population largely without the widespread education to care, then New Zealand is the living pinnacle of "what could be." It is, in short, Ralph Nadar's Promised Land, Al Gore's Green Zion. True, the resources needed to sustain New Zealand's population of only 4 million can't compare to bulging nations like the 300 million people of the United States or Indonesia's 220 million, but damn, they are doing a great job with what they've got. Hawai'i should take notice of our southern cousin as our population continues to expand across the archipelago.

Beau Flemister on assignment on New Zealand°s rugged South Island.

The setting of this dynamic theater of eco-friendliness couldn't be anymore fitting. It is a land, two main islands, of shockingly raw and mythic beauty. From the feminine curves of fertile valleys and tumbling hills of the North Island to the masculine frontiers of alpine peaks and craggy, sweeping sea cliffs of the South Island, seeing the country firsthand is like walking through a National Geographic IMAX movie (minus the stale cinema air). Because of the land's vast climatic and geographic diversity, New Zealand has been put on the map among travelers and tourists as the adventure sports capital of the world. If one wanted to skydive over a creeping, prehistoric glacier field, go spelunking in subterranean caves with paths illuminated by a constellation of phosphorescent glowworms or simply just laze in a steamy, volcanic hot spring in a random park with locals, these are just a few of the myriad activities available for the outdoor adventurer.

Outdoor activities are a priority and the country°s well-maintained parks are a testament to the sentiment.

But really, activities aside, just to rent a car and drive for an extended period of time virtually anywhere in the nation is an unrivaled experience. Everywhere you look, the infinite shades, hues, tints, and tones of green prevail. All is growing and thriving. Vines wrap around traffic signs, creeping ferns squeeze against roadsides and plants burst through cement cracks upon public sidewalks, reclaiming what is theirs. And the best part is, ironically, the population supports this natural repossession.

For one, the amount of money the government allots the Department of Conservation is massive. But what the department does with it is even more so, in that the evidence of its positive usage is witnessed across the island nation. First and foremost, every city, town and village is graced with public parksÜtons of them. And not just some dinky, urban green space, but vast parks for walking or exploring. The kind of park a kid (or enlightened adult) could spread his wings and run through. Extensive jungle gyms, workout courses, walking trails and (hold on for this one) zip-lines are par for the course.

Along with making room for natural spaces in municipal areas, New Zealand is entrenched in supporting active, healthy lifestyles. The Department of Conservation also does an unsurpassed job of national park development and maintenance. Thousands of trails along renowned world-class hikes are well kept, well marked and in many instances, made sustainable. In every town (and we're talking every fifty feet) you'll find trash receptacles with designated areas for organic and inorganic rubbish, beset by a larger recycling bin, separating out plastic, glass and aluminum. At every storm drain are various signs warning not to dump toxins because they may lead to clean rivers and lakes.

Of course, farmers' markets abound, verifying the population's collective contra-attitude towards mass-produced food found in supermarkets. Along country roads are signs advertising fresh fruit and vegetables, free range chicken eggs and fresh-roasted coffee beans for sale. And the list goes on.

What makes New Zealand truly an environmental example to Hawai'i and the rest of the world is that their conceptualized vision is not some trendy fad or shallow fa®ade. The majority of the population really does respect their home and ridiculously pristine ecosystem. Furthermore, their democratic choice for a government that supports this broad sentiment is the norm. Conservation of land and resources isn't a debated question anymore; it's a way of life. The Ministry of Education (their version of Hawai'i's DOE) integrates programs into the curriculum such as Enviroschools, an organization that educates in both Maori and English, a wide spectrum of sustainability practices.

At the core, the essential connection that both Hawai'i and New Zealand share is an original Polynesian heritage. Cultural traditions in both distant regions view the land as sacred and have developed complex and sustainable systems of land stewardship, and long before Al Gore told us all we were in trouble. Government agencies like the DOC in New Zealand have recognized the benefit of these traditional systems and continue to integrate that knowledge into their present day society. With Hawai'i supporting almost half of New Zealand's eco-minded population, sustainability for Hawai'i should be a walk in the park.