Winners of the 3rd University of Hawaiʻi President’s Green Initiative Awards were honored in a ceremony on February 8 at Hawaiʻi Community College’s Pālamanui campus as part of the 6th Annual Hawaiʻi Sustainability in Higher Education Summit.

The awards recognize student initiative, innovation, creativity and civic engagement in campus and community sustainability with cash prizes totaling more than $40,000 from the Hawaiian Electric Industries Charitable Foundation, Johnson Controls, the Castiglione A. Casauria Foundation and Trane Comprehensive Solutions.

“We are grateful for the support of our partners who sponsor these awards every year,” said UH President David Lassner. “They help us recognize, honor and reward the amazing work of our students, faculty and staff across all ten campuses as they innovate, collaborate and lead in amazing ways to inspire us in advancing sustainability across all ten UH campuses and the state.”

UH President’s Green Initiative Award Winners

Green Project Implementation Awards

The award recognizes student-driven sustainability projects on-campus or in the community with measurable outcomes. The honorees receive cash awards of $5,000–$10,000 to implement their project.

Agile Power Project (Hawaiian Electric Industries Charitable Foundation Green Project Implementation Award)

Providing agile power quality monitoring to support the UH net-zero energy mandate and microgrid operations at UH Mānoa.

Providing agile power quality monitoring to support the net-zero energy mandate and microgrid operations at Mānoa. Solar-Biodiesel-Aquaponics Project (Johnson Controls Green Project Implementation Award)

Efficient Production of food using solar/biodiesel powered aquaponics systems at Kapiʻolani CC

Efficient Production of food using solar/biodiesel powered aquaponics systems at The ʻUluNui Project (Castiglione A. Casauria Foundation Green Project Implementation Award)

Planting 10 ʻulu (breadfruit trees) from at least 3 different species of breadfruit and 10 niu (coconut trees) from at least 4 different species of the coconut family which are expected to produce fruit year-round at the UH West Oʻahu campus.

Planting 10 (breadfruit trees) from at least 3 different species of breadfruit and 10 niu (coconut trees) from at least 4 different species of the coconut family which are expected to produce fruit year-round at the West campus. Hahai nō ka Ua i ka Ululāʻau – Rain Always Follows the Forests (Castiglione A. Casauria Foundation Green Project Implementation Award)

Increase propagation of mea kanu (native plants) through hands-on workshops and service-learning opportunities to create a living resource for our entire campus and the community.

“The complex and interconnected challenges of our times—climate change, sustainability and resiliency—will require new ways of thinking, being and doing if we are to solve them,” said Matthew K. Lynch, UH System sustainability coordinator. “The creativity, passion and sophistication recognized through these awards can give us all hope for a brighter future.”

Green Student Leader Awards

The award recognizes students who take on leadership roles in sustainability related activities on campus and in their communities. The honorees receive up to $1,000 each from Hawaiian Electric Industries Charitable Foundation, Johnson Controls and Trane Comprehensive Solutions

Kasey Buchanan, UH Hilo—Johnson Controls Green Leader Award

For campus waste reduction and student sustainability initiatives.

For campus waste reduction and student sustainability initiatives. Kara Spaulding, UH Hilo— HEI Charitable Foundation Green Leader Award

For developing sustainability curriculum in the arts, and perpetuating natural and cultural resources.

For developing sustainability curriculum in the arts, and perpetuating natural and cultural resources. Joshua-Nazareth Agno, Hawaiʻi CC —Johnson Controls Green Leader

For developing and perpetuating sustainable living, agriculture and conservation.

For developing and perpetuating sustainable living, agriculture and conservation. Juanita K. Thompson, Hawaiʻi CC –Pālamanui—Johnson Controls Green Leader Award

For dedication to wiliwili and lama trees, and perpetuating natural and cultural resources.

For dedication to wiliwili and lama trees, and perpetuating natural and cultural resources. Boysie Burdett, Honolulu CC —Johnson Controls Green Leader Award

For campus waste reduction and student sustainability initiatives.

For campus waste reduction and student sustainability initiatives. Kahiau Kauluwehi, UH West Oʻahu — HEI Charitable Foundation Green Leader Award

For restoring ʻāina momona (abundancy to the natural environment), and leading by example with the spirit of aloha.

For restoring momona (abundancy to the natural environment), and leading by example with the spirit of aloha. Blaire Langston/Erika Peralta, UH Mānoa—Johnson Controls Green Leader Award

For campus waste reduction and student sustainability initiatives.

For campus waste reduction and student sustainability initiatives. Nicole Chatterson, UH Mānoa— HEI Charitable Foundation Green Leader Award

For advancing sustainable materials management and zero-waste initiatives across campuses.

For advancing sustainable materials management and zero-waste initiatives across campuses. Haunani Kane, UH Mānoa— HEI Charitable Foundation Green Leader Award

For embodying the values of aloha ʻāina (reciprocity with natural environment), mālama honua (caring for island Earth), ʻimi ʻike (seeking wisdom) and mauō (sustainability of well-being) and fearless exploration of indigenous ancestral knowledge systems and western empirical sciences.

For embodying the values of aloha (reciprocity with natural environment), mālama honua (caring for island Earth), (seeking wisdom) and mauō (sustainability of well-being) and fearless exploration of indigenous ancestral knowledge systems and western empirical sciences. Kammie Tavares, UH Mānoa—Trane Comprehensive Solutions Green Leader Award

For innovative data modeling and analysis of sea level rise, and perpetuating natural and cultural resources.

Faculty and Staff Leadership in Sustainability Awards

This award recognizes excellence among UH personnel to lead sustainability initiatives across operations, curriculum, research, engagement and cultural connections.

Jackie Lindo, Kapiʻolani CC —For developing innovative place-based curriculum in sustainable economics.

—For developing innovative place-based curriculum in sustainable economics. Robert Silva, Honolulu CC —For restoring ʻāina momona (abundant land) and commitment to teaching sustainability in the trades.

—For restoring momona (abundant land) and commitment to teaching sustainability in the trades. Daniela Elliot, Leeward CC —For spearheading place-based horticulture, sustainable agriculture and campus waste reduction initiatives.

—For spearheading place-based horticulture, sustainable agriculture and campus waste reduction initiatives. Kiana Frank, UH Mānoa —For developing innovative ʻāina -based curriculum in microbiology.

—For developing innovative -based curriculum in microbiology. Tiana Henderson , UH West Oʻahu —For creating a flourishing community through cultivating a flourishing campus garden and commitment to na mea waiwai (our cultural and natural resources).

, West —For creating a flourishing community through cultivating a flourishing campus garden and commitment to na mea waiwai (our cultural and natural resources). Tasia Yamamura, UH West Oʻahu —For creating a flourishing community through cultivating a flourishing campus garden and commitment to na mea waiwai (our cultural and natural resources).

Also recognized was UH Hilo student Fera Davis who was awarded the Alaska Airlines Environmental Endowed Scholarship for academic year 2017–18.

About the Annual Hawaiʻi Sustainability in Higher Education Summit

Delegations from all 10 University of Hawaiʻi campuses gather annually to learn together from local practitioners, national subject matter experts and each other. This year’s summit included peer-to-peer faculty development about teaching climate change and related sustainability and resilience issues across disciplines, as well as sustainability-focused course development working sessions.