A staycation (or in the UK, a holistay) is our favorite portmanteau for 2011. In response to the sharp downturn in our nation's economy and rising concerns about fuel-induced global warming, this neologism first achieved popularity around 2007. Since then, the word has become so popular it was added to the 2009 edition of The Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Defined best in the Urban Dictionary, a staycation is a vacation that is spent at one's home enjoying all that home and one's home environs have to offer. While the idea of vacationing near home may not seem titillating to someone, say, in Oklahoma, the new pop-culture phenomenon suits us in Hawai'i just fine. After all, we are residents of a tropical destination and neighbor islands offer a change from the norm without going far.
When it comes to accommodations, don't assume sustainability equates to camping. As environmentally responsible residents, it is our duty to seek out properties where we can continue to practice the lifestyle we lead. Which hotels are environmentally conscious? Which are sourcing locally grown food and using alternative energy? Which hotels are conscious of their footprint and their role in the community?
The Hawaii Green Business Program has been working to help guide hotels toward more efficient, environmentally conscious operations and recognizes those who have successfully gone "green." To date, the program has recognized over 25 hotels statewide. Hotels and other hospitality facilities can also become official Energy Star-certified buildings, signifying that they are in the top 25 percent nationwide in energy efficiency performance. Pair that with a fresh meal made with local ingredients and you don't need to go far for a holiday.
Hotel Hana-Maui
Location: Hana, Maui
This serene property traces its roots to 1946 vintage Hawai'i. Although ownership has recently changed, this hotel will always be deeply rooted in Hana living. Sustainability is the mode of operation for most staff who, by default, live by the time-honored island principle of taking only what you need.
Maui No Ka 'Oi is Hotel Hana-Maui's mantra and it is highly likely most guests leave the property understanding why. Soaps and lotions in the hotel and spa are Maui-made, organic and natural. Their restaurant chefs collaborate with local farmers and fishermen to obtain the best island produce Maui has to offer. Cooking oil from both hotel restaurants is collected for conversion to bio-diesel. Office paper is shredded and provided to local flower growers to be used as packing for flower shipments and cardboard is given to a local nursery to control weeds. Sheets, towels and linens are made from organically grown cotton and with their recycled teak furnishings, chemical free lanai hot tubs and endless ocean views, you can't help but feel your step lighten.
Hawai'i Island Retreat at Ahu Pohaku Ho'omaluhia
Location: Kohala, Big Island
Hawaii Island Retreat at Ahu Pohaku is an alternative boutique lodge nestled among towering ironwood trees. The resort was constructed with the intention of teaching visitors how to live in harmony with the earth. The lodge produces all of its own electricity through photovoltaic panels and a windmill.
Amongst the 50-acre retreat you will find an abundance of organic vegetable gardens and fruit trees. Over 60 percent of the food used in their kitchen is grown in these gardens and fresh-squeezed juice from their fruit trees is served daily. Hotel activities include gardening and cooking classes so guests can learn simple and effective ways to grow and prepare their own foods. All organic waste is composted, including all of the hotel's non-toxic paper products, which are recycled as mulch on garden paths.
Reusable water bottles are given to each guest and dispensers of filtered drinking water are available throughout the hotel. Future plans for 2011 include adding to their energy producing capabilities as well as the installation of a solar-heated hot tub. Long-term plans include producing methane to power their backup generator and establishing fishponds for food production. This lodge sends the message that with the right amount of initial investments, luxurious and sustainable living are, in fact, compatible.
Aqua Hotels & Resorts Hotel Group
Location: Honolulu, O'ahu
As a boutique Honolulu hotel group, Aqua Hotels & Resorts has mastered the art of exceeding the sustainability standards. When Aqua redesigned many of their Waikiki Beach hotels, they instituted eco-friendly policies and procedures that fostered local and international recognition.
Aqua Resorts is a member of the Green Hotels Association, a group of environmentally friendly hotels that institute programs to save water and energy. In 2010, Aqua Bamboo & Spa was among nine hotels recognized for their efforts in environmentally friendly business practices and was presented with a Hawaii Green Business Award by former Lieutenant Governor Duke Aiona. Aqua is also a member of the Hawaii Ecotourism Association, a non-profit committed to protecting Hawai'i's unique natural environment and cultures.
From their water saving aerator replacements to heating their water with solar power, Aqua is taking the sustainable hotel handbook and making it their mission. During the last three months of 2009 their sustainable practices resulted in saving over 15,000 gallons of water, diverting more than 7 cubic yards of waste from the landfill, averting more than 135 pounds of air pollution and saving more than 9,241 kilowatt-hours of energy.
Aqua also prides itself on their commitment to the community and supporting local environmental causes. In the past two years, Aqua sponsored such efforts as an expedition to Midway Atoll to document the impact of plastic pollution, as well as funding for a documentary about the Pacific Garbage Patch. As Aqua continues to grow their boutique hotel group in Hawai'i, let's hope their eco-initiatives grow with them.
Fairmont Kea Lani
Location: Wailea, Maui
Over the past nine years the Fairmont Kea Lani has successfully implemented more than 50 environmentally friendly initiatives in their hotel. From cutting-edge technology to locally sourced cuisine, the Kea Lani makes the list as one of Hawai'i's most earth friendly luxury properties.
In 2005 the resort installed Aqua Recycler, a laundry water recycling system that filters detergents from the water so it can be reused. In less than six years, this system has saved over 50 million gallons of water. Most recently, the resort installed eco-MODE Thermostats in all guest rooms. Individual thermostats are connected to the hotel's computer system and automatically turn the air-conditioning on and off in conjunction with guests check-in and out. This smart thermostat also shuts off the air conditioner when the lanai doors are open. After detecting a guest has left the room, it adjusts the temperature five degrees higher.
For the third year in a row the hotel will team with local non-profit agency Kanu Hawaii, pledging to reduce consumption and waste. In 2010, 134 employees committed to conserving water and electricity at home and at work, recycling and avoiding single-use plastic bags. Together, the employees of the Fairmont saved more than 1 Megawatt of electricity, kept a half-ton of waste out of the landfill, used 41,000 fewer plastic bags and save more than 800,000 gallons of water in just one year.
The Fairmont Orchid
Location: Kohala Coast, Big Island
On the Kohala Coast of the Big Island, the Fairmont Orchid mirrors similar environmental responsibility to that of its sister property on Maui. From support for local, sustainable agriculture through innovative partnerships with farmers, to ongoing water quality monitoring of Pauoa Bay through a cooperative grant with the University of Hawai'i at Hilo Marine Sciences Department, the Orchid is blooming.
At the resort's well-known Brown's Beach House, sustainable seafood is at the forefront. Fairmont has made a comprehensive, company-wide commitment to the environment and to sourcing local, organic and sustainable items wherever possible. Guests enjoy delectable culinary creations fresh from their onsite garden, featuring a variety of fresh herbs, Kabocha pumpkin, sweet potatoes and other organic vegetables. The orchard is not to be outdone with an extensive variety of fruit trees and edible plants: Kaffir lime, citrus, papaya, star fruit, mango, apple bananas, lilikoi, guava, even pineapples and ti leaves. For all of you foodies, this is your Fairmont.
Four Seasons Resorts Lana'i at Manele Bay
Location: Manele, Lana'i
The Four Seasons Resorts Lana'i is one of many luxury hotels to implement a "green team," a group of environmentalist who evaluate initiatives and challenge the resort to reduce their carbon footprint.
Just over a year ago they were celebrating the Lana'i Combined Heat & Power (CHP) Unit, located at their Manele Bay property. As the first utility-owned CHP system in Hawai'i, the unit°s strategic location at the Four Seasons Resort Lana'i has the benefit of not only providing the majority of the resort°s electrical needs, but also recovering the waste heat that would otherwise be released, providing cool and hot water for the resort. In addition to energy efficiency, both properties use 100 percent resort gray water for irrigation on their golf greens and lawns. As the island's main revenue generator, the Four Seasons has a bright future of state-of-the-art sustainability.
Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa
Location: Po'ipu, Kaua'i
The Grand Hyatt Kaua'i is all about energy efficiency. Their energy conservation initiatives have resulted in a decrease of over 1.8 million kilowatts per year of energy used, as compared to 10 years ago. The resort boasts an extensive solar photovoltaic system, including a photovoltaic covered employee parking lot, the first of its kind in the state. For the rest of the rooftops, nearly 60,000 square feet of roof is covered in grass to reduce cooling needs. The heat produced by their air-conditioning system is captured and reused to heat water for the guestrooms and pools. Currently, the Grand Hyatt Kaua'i is the only known hotel in Hawai'i with a Green Car Hawai'i program, renting hybrids by the hour or day. And for those looking for travel philanthropy, the Hyatt's Enrich program provides the opportunity to enhance a vacation by getting involved in the island community. The resort has partnered with four diverse non-profit organizations including regular beach cleanups with The Surfrider Foundation.
In January 2011, the resort implemented a massive switch to LED light bulbs, a $500,000 investment. Each month, the Grand Hyatt diverts an average of 11 tons of recyclables from the landfill and organic waste from the kitchen goes to pig farms. Everything about this property feels sinfully luxurious, but even the Cashmere-soft robes are made from 100% recycled plastic bottles.
Eco-lodging Resources for Hawai'i and Abroad
Dept. of Business, Economic Development & Tourism
hawaii.gov/greenbusiness
Eco Green Hotel
ecogreenhotel.com
Eco Hotels of the World
ecohotelsoftheworld.com
Hawaii Ecotourism Association
hawaiiecotourism.org
The Center for Responsible Travel
responsibletravel.org
The International Ecotourism Society
ecotourism.org