The Hawaii Traveler

If you’re one of the 43 million U.S. travelers who is ecologically concerned, you’re probably looking for ways to minimize your impact on the environment when traveling. This is an important consideration for Hawai’i vacationers, since the islands are such a far-flung destination for just about everyone who doesn’t already live on-island.

For starters, the average cross-country commercial flight burns about 100 gallons of fossil fuel and creates nearly 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide per passenger, according to Expedia Travel Trendwatch.

To help offset that kind of an ecological impact, you may want to buy carbon credits when purchasing your tickets. Technically, carbon credits provide a means for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by way of assigning them a monetary value. Buying credits from airlines or travel sites when you buy your tickets gives you the chance to finance green activism for the price of about five bucks per flight. Those dollars go to enterprises such as Native Energy, Carbon Fund, or TerraPass, which invest in and finance green projects such as wind farms and solar energy.

by © marcinkamil

How Else Can I Tread Lightly?

• Observe all laws for protecting marine and land wildlife, particularly endangered species. When the monk seals are sunbathing, take pictures using your zoom lens. It is illegal to touch the turtles, even if they practically swim into you. (They won’t, by the way, as a creature with a hundred years of experience in the water knows how to swim better than you do.)
• Leave coral and sea creatures untouched and undisturbed. Yes, even at Tunnels Beach on Kauai, where the coral reef practically begs you to walk across the top to take a peek into tide pools where you’ll find some of the most memorable sea cucumbers ever. To get a good look at undersea life, grab your snorkel, mask, and fins, and get a real eye-full.
• Wear UV protective clothing in the water, such as rash-guard tee shirts, to reduce the amount of sunscreen in the rivers and ocean. (You’ll save money, too.)
• Plan road excursions carefully to minimize backtracking and unnecessary miles in your car. Ask for a map with your rental car, or invest in a book with detailed maps and directions to your desired on-island destinations.
• Ask about renting a fuel-efficient or hybrid vehicle. Anywhere you’ll want to go will be accessible in an economy car; a smaller vehicle with good gas mileage will not only save the atmosphere, it’ll save you money on gas, which is expensive on the islands.
• Turn everything off before leaving your accommodations for the day. The geckos can hunt bugs in the dark.
• Use your hotel towels and linens more than once.
• Hawai’i isn’t known for its public transportation, but some tours and hotels will take groups to popular destinations, thus also taking care of parking shortages, fees, and the hassle of trying to find things yourself.
• Learn about and look for “green” accommodations, wherever you go.

As one of the greenest places there is, it’s easy to lose yourself in the wonder of the place that Mark Twain called “The loveliest fleet of islands that lies anchored in any ocean.” However, if you pack common sense and mindfulness along with the rest of your things, you and your family will remain in good stead to enjoy Hawai’i for ages to come.

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