Renewable energy sources will play an increasingly important role in the future of Hawaii and Kahuku. Increasing fossil fuel prices and various subsidies for renewable energy sources will provide increasingly favorable business conditions for this development.

Of current world energy consumption, a little over 13 per cent is derived from renewable sources and about 7 per cent from nuclear power. The remaining roughly 80 per cent comes from fossil fuel. Of the renewable energy sources, biofuel is by far the most common, hydropower comes second, while at this time the other sources represent a very small proportion of energy consumption. Hawaii’s goal is for 12 per cent of all energy used in 2010 to stem from renewable energy sources, compared with 1 per cent in 1997. As for electricity generation, the goal is 22.1 per cent compared with 13.9 per cent in 1997.

KHIS Renewable Energy Innovation Center Drives Development

KHIS’s ambition is to have a leading role in providing learning opportunities for students to explore renewable electricity and heat generation where the ecological, technical and commercial prerequisites are present – primarily within hydro power, biofuel-fired plants and wind power. KHIS REIC, by standing at the forefront and driving development forward within the framework of its commercial activities, can contribute to ecologically and economically sustainable development.

Renewable Energy KHIS administration, teachers, staff, student annual payroll-Investment in personnel resources

Construction-New facility to house programs

Annual KHIS REIC cost-Projects, support and maintenance costs

Scholarships for KHIS students (senior projects)-Increase scholarships would help students complete degrees and get higher paying jobs

Create opportunities for college enrollment
Help students into best colleges

Create opportunities for general scholarships
Create funds for students to pay for college

KHIS students receiving renewable energy scholarships
$2 million per year for 6 year projects

Hawaiian Immersion/Ahupua’a Programs
Create new networking connections with top exports

Increase test scores for college entrance
Extra training and resources can help improve test scores

Junior College/AP Program at KHIS
Provide hands-on cutting edge skills that are now sought after

Provide tutoring for Elementary and High School students
Help student improve learning skills and grades (NHS)

Tie into BOE’s STEM
Experiences tie into all learning skills needed

Create a Renewable Energy library
Put resources in one place

Provide a timeline of technology breakthoughs as a mural
Put in lobby

Build hands-on partnerships with high tech mentors
Lifetime mentors are very important

Create opportunities for higher paying, fulfilling careers
Give Hawaii students a chance for the best careers

Learn and implement leading edge RE technology
Value of new technology being testing in Hawaii first

Help other schools in the state with RE programs
They can get inspired by the youth of the community

More KHIS students enrolling in colleges
Become a role model for Hawaii, the US and the world

Reduction of Brain Drain, more Hawaii Taxes
Share program with other schools so they can also benefit

The facility can become an Alumni house
Share program with alumni

Improve quality of life in Hawaii
Money to keep environment pristine for community and tourists

Promote organic farming in Koolauloa
Reduces cost to import food

Recycle
Money saved, landfills reduced, earthworms used to breakdown PCC waste into mulch

Reduced dependence on oil
Find alternatives to oil, reduce consumption

Fitness/Bike path (plus 2012 state funding)
Encourages fitness, less gas used

Benefits to companies supporting REIC
Incentivize students to work on RE projects and receive recognition, scholarships, awards, macbooks, iphones, etc

Participating sponsors receive great PR by helping students
Media has an easy story to tell

Contests (projects, videos, boards, papers, t-shirt)
Promote programs-KHIS T-Shirt PR campaign

Showcase talent of youth
Give out certificates for work and project completed, for referal letters, college and job application references

Create Hawaii’s 1st sustainable community
Become a role model for Hawaii, the US and the world

Energy self-sufficiency for campus and communities
Companies can test their new RE technology here

Improve recycling efforts, recycling, beach cleanups
Get the word out about saving energy, promoting sustainibility, promoting renewable energy

Make KHIS REIC an honorable cause for the environment
Build a program that people can support

New Renewable Technologies
Once the construction of KHIS Renewable Energy Innovation Center is funded, future money can be invested directly into new technologies since the learning infrastructure has been put into place
There will be multiple ROI’s to measure instead of just one (benefits to students, community, etc)

Help Hawaii restore its ability in ancient times to sustain large populations
Captain Cook estimated 1 million residents living in Hawaii and described Hawaiians as the healthiest people he had ever seen.

Share benchmarks for public to review
Progress of ROI’s to stakeholders. Once the construction of Renewable Energy Innovation Center is funded, future money can be invested directly into new technologies since the learning infrastructure has been put into place

What happens to the youth of Koolauloa if we do nothing and continue on the road of oil dependence?
What kind of legacy are we leaving for them?

Position Kahuku High & Intermediate High School as top public school in Us & News Report
By integrating renewable energy, STEM, mentoring, etc

A $50 million investment can be a solution to multiple issues facing Koolauloa’s residents
Education
Cost of fuel
Getting a good job
Supporting entrepreneurship
Getting scholarships
Slowing the “brain drain”

Learning Skills Developed
Social Science
Natural Science & Mathematics
Technology & Applied Sciences
Arts
Literature
Geography & History