Kahuku Renewable Energy Innovation Center

Vision

To be recognized by the Ko’olauloa community and state government as Hawaii’s best provider of renewable energy educational services and a leader in local sustainability initiatives.

Mission Statement

To be the most innovative group you’ll find on Hawaii to make our islands (ahupua’a) both sustainable and affordable for families.

Goals

• Identify and develop synergistic partnerships with organizations that foster renewable energy projects such as wind, solar, biomass (biodiesel and ethanol), tidal, wave, and other renewable resource companies.

• Promote “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” programs. Measure our communities’ recycling efforts. Reduce waste in our landfills. Turn waste into clean energy. Put KHIS and our KREIC logo on Foodland’s new recyclable shopping bags and work with kahuku.org to produce KREIC apparel for us.

• Integrate STEM into KHIS biochemistry/renewable energy educational curriculum and within KHIS’ small learning communities. Share our programs with other schools and community members.

• Host statewide renewable energy competitions 2 weeks after the State Science Fair in March.

• Provide $1 million each year in scholarships, college opportunities and careers to KHIS students working on sustainability projects. Grants will help students network with renewable industry experts, get job experience through senior projects and internships, earn scholarships, college opportunities and high paying jobs that will allow them to stay on the islands with their families. High paying jobs in a low-income community will pay back the investment in grants paid by the government.

• Acquire $1 million for equipment and resources each year to create renewable energy projects.

• Create a Ko’olauloa Sustainability Club for students and community members. Have 2 paid part-time positions at KHIS help administer the program from the new biochemistry lab at D103/104 on Wednesdays from 1:30-3:30 pm. Partner with the KHIS Environment Club.

• Develop eco-tourism jobs for KHIS students after 2:30 pm at First Wind.

• Write grants to acquire training resources, pay honorariums to sustainability experts, host renewable energy competitions, etc. Work with DBEDT, First Wind, Blue Planet Foundation to encourage young people to solve sustainability challenges.

• Promote safe bicycle baths that will link our Ko’olauloa communities. Deadline 2012.