Life of the Land is a 501(c)3
Charitable Organization.

Community Energy

Life of the Land’s Community Education on Energy campaign  is a multi-pronged, multi-decade drive to shift Hawai`i from its use of  fossil fuels to locally produced indigenous low-climate impact, low-environmental impact, culturally friendly renewable energy resources.

Our goal in this project is to demonstrate that central utility based generation is a 19^th century model that gets in the way of true sustainability. We should instead focus of democratic cooperative approaches to ridding us of the scourge of fossil fuels. The key is local empowerment, that we as a community can shape our own future.

Life of the Land works with community groups around the state, from Ka`u, Kula, to  Kaua`i. We provide technical expertise to groups and individuals including I Aloha Molokai, and Friends of Lana`i. We are the fiscal agent for Keep Our islands Clean (Pepeekeo, Hawai`i).

During 2011 we served on the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission Reliability Standards Working Group (RSWG; Docket 2011-0206); the RSWG Minimum Load and Curtailment subgroup; spoke at the EUCI Conference on “The Future of Renewable Energy Development in Hawaii;” published “Energy Independence for Hawai`i (2030) An Integrated Approach to Economic Revitalization in a Culturally and Environmentally Sensitive Way;” successfully defeated the most expensive (on a $/kWh basis) energy project in state history (Aina Koa Pono); educated the public on the technological, financial, and reliability liabilities associated with the Big Wind (Lana`i and Moloka`i Wind Farms, Inter-island Cable) proposal; raised awareness on the Hu Honua waste-to-energy project; and participated in numerous conferences, forums and social gatherings.

Agricultural

Hawaii imports 90% of its food and exports 85% of its local agricultural production. Life of the Land is working on efforts to increase the local production of food for local consumption.

Sunshine, Open Government

Access to government records is key for any democracy. Currently the Governor and his Cabinet must file financial disclosure statements with the state ethics commission. These are publicly available. Other executives file statements which are not publicly available.

Life of the Land is working to also make publicly available the financial disclosure statements of key commissioners on state boards and commissions which regulate land use (Land Use Commission, Public Lands Development Corporation, Hawaii Community Development Authority, Board of Land and Natural Resources), water use (Commission on Water Resource Management) and utilities (Public Utilities Commission).

Telecommunications

Life of the Land worked on community television productions and on efforts to protect community television and the internet from governmental interference.

Justice

The largest farm labor slavery case in the U.S. occurred in Hawai`i. Life of the Land is educating the public about the importance of understanding where our food is coming from and how the public can get involved.

Environment

Life of the Land works on a variety of environmental issues including endangered species, alien species, the state water code, toxics, coastal impacts, water quality. Life of the Land serves on the Joint Base Pearl Harbor Restoration Advisory Board.

Economic Development

Hawaii is in a recession. It is important to create jobs and protect the environment. Life of the Land participated in discussions surrounding the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings and the need to support local businesses while protecting the environment.

Cultural Impacts