Life Of The Land Hawai'i

Enough water for ethanol -- Sean Hao, Honolulu Advertiser, October 8, 2006

Biodiesel, ethanol in race to fill 'er up: Proponents of both fuels compete for research money, tax credits --
Eric Phillips, Pacific Business News, September 4, 2006

Kaka'ako activists mark victory with ho'olaule'a -- Rod Ohira, Honolulu Advertiser, July 31, 2006

Out of gas: Ethanol’s promises have been big. Has it failed to deliver? -- Joan Conrow, Honolulu Weekly, June 28, 2006

Senate kills bill to allow housing on ag lands -- Derrick DePledge, Honolulu Advertiser, April 6, 2006

HECO promises plant would use ethanol -- Nelson Daranciang, Honolulu Star Bulletin March 22, 2006

Energy plan touts $6.3B in savings -- Kevin Dayton, Honolulu Advertiser, January 31, 2006

State to pay $52M for polluting waters -- Jan TenBruggencate, Honolulu Advertiser, October 7, 2005

Who Grows There? Hawai‘i is a hotbed for crops of genetically-modified organisms—GMOs. But is anyone keeping an eye on these experiments?-- Joan Conrow. Honolulu Magazine. September 2005

UH vows to hold off genetic tests with Hawaiian taro: Researchers will consult with native Hawaiians on cultural concerns -- Honolulu Star Bulletin, May 25, 2005

Brave New Oil-Scarce World: Will peak oil spur economic collapse or resourcefulness in Hawai‘i? -- Ragnar Carlson, Honolulu Weekly, May 04, 2005

Rail debate focuses on taxes -- Mike Leidemann, Honolulu Advertiser, February 26, 2005

Bill would ban lights shining on ocean -- Gordon Y.K. Pang, Honolulu Advertiser, January 30, 2004

Life of Land suggests Hawaii comply with Kyoto -- Pacific Business News, August 1, 2001

Life of the Land is a Hawaii-based, Hawaii-focused environmental and community action group. Founded in 1970, the mission of Life of the Land is to preserve and protect the life of the land through sustainable land use and energy policies and to promote open government through research, education, advocacy and, when necessary, litigation. We believe that people are part of the environment. We are known for research, research, research. We cover complex issues such as genetic engineering, climate change, and quality of life issues. LOL is a 501(c)3 charitable organization. We do not attend fundraisers, testify for/against political and/or administrative candidates, nor do we rank candidates. We work on issues not people.

Contact: Life of the Land, 76 North King Street, Suite 203, Honolulu, Hawaii 96817, Executive Director: Henry Curtis, henry.lifeoftheland@gmail.com * Assistant Executive Director: Kat Brady, katbrady@hotmail.com

Life of the Land was founded before the first Earth Day by a group of young women activists. We are a Hawaii-based, Hawaii-focused environmental and community action group. We are a non-profit group working in the public interest.		Land Use Currently there are many important land use struggles occurring: Turtle Bay, Queens Beach, Aina Haina, Kaka`ako, Ka'u.
Climate Change is perhaps the most critical planetary issue. Melting of all of the Greenland and Antarctica ice caps would raise world sea levels by 200 feet. A rise of just 3 feet would put Waikiki under water. Climate Change can lead to more intense hurricanes and cyclones, changing habitat patters for native and alien species, and numerous other impacts. Life of the Land published a special issue of our Ka Uila Newsletter focusing on Global Warming		Good Government Campaign Kofi Annan re Climate Change (November 2006): ''The few skeptics who continue to try to sow doubt should be seen for what they are: out of step, out of arguments and just about out of time.''
Hawai`i unfortunately has the dubious distinction as being THE most oil dependent state in the nation as well as having the highest utility rates. Although our archipelago is blessed with almost every resource known to man (and woman) we continue our overdependence on imported fossil fuels. Several years ago Life of the Land embarked on our Clean Energy Now! Campaign. Our goal was to create statewide interest in energy issues and to educate communities on different clean energy options that we could work on together. Life of the Land is known for our research, and we share our findings to help the community better frame the issue and to focus its energy on some crucial policy changes to create a sustainable future. We have been successful, as today there are more community people testifying and commenting on energy issues than ever before. Our research and community organizing skills were instrumental in defeating Hawaiian Electric Company’s ill-conceived proposal for a 138,000 volt power line traversing Wa`ahila Ridge. Wa`ahila Ridge, the closest forest reserve to urban Honolulu, is now preserved for future generations! This GREAT victory has encouraged other communities with similar struggles to persevere. Life of the Land continues our campaign for Hawai`i’s energy sustainability by involving independent power producers and continually building our coalition for Clean Energy Now!		Genetic Engineering comprises several fields: the creating of new life-forms for food, clothing, shelter, medicine. Locating existing life-forms through legal (bioprospecting) and illegal (biopiracy) methods. Patenting of life-forms. Bioterrorism. Life of the Land focuses on the big picture. Society should be judged by how we treat the poorest sectors of society. Everyone should have adequate food, shelter, education, employment and a living wage. Life of the Land supports Quality of Life issues. Life of the Land publishes a newsletter: October 2004 LOL Newsletter We need to work in coalitions to effect meaning change. Here are some links of interest: Environmental Links -- Energy Links -- Life of the Land Contact Life of the Land is fiscal sponser for Community Alliance on Prisons (CAP).
Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO) talks about renewable energy while promoting one more fossil fuel power plant at Keahole (Big Island), Maalaea (Maui), and Campbell Industrial Park (O`ahu). The Hawai`i Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has opened a docket (a quasi-judicial contested case hearing) to examine HECO's proposed 2009 power plant at Campbell Industrial Park. There are three parties in the docket: HECO, LOL, and the Consumer Advocate. HECO favors a fossil fuel power plant to eventually become an ethanol-fueled power plant. They have 16 witnesses. The Consumer Advocate has one witness. Life of the Land is proposing Ocean Power (Sea Water Air Conditioning (SWAC), ocean-based Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC), and wave power). We favor tearing down the Honolulu Power Plant adjacent to Aloha Tower. LOL is raising the issues of climate change, air/water emissions, environmental justice, and the false promises of ethanol. HECO Proposed 2009 Power Plant		Toxics Campaign Life of the Land was the only environmental group to sit on Department of the Defense, EPA, Congressional authorized community-military boards monitoring and advising the military on cleaning up toxic sites at present and former military sites in Hawai`i.. We sat on the Schofield Barracks Technical Review Committee, the Air Force's Central Oahu Restoration Advisory Board, the Air Force's Hickam AFB Restoration Advisory Board, the Navy's Pearl Harbor Restoration Advisory Board. Henry Curtis served as Community Co-Chair of the Hickam RAB from 1996-2005. LOL also closely monitors the Del Monte Superfund site, and numerous Brownfield and pesticide contamination sites. We secured $220,000 to test soil in the Village Park area of Waipahu. LOL also is concerned about the use of pesticides, herbicides, widespread dioxin contamination, the use of Depleted Uranium in Hawai`i (halflife of 2.3 billion years), and the failure of the military to clean up off-shore areas of contamination such as Waianae and Kaho`olawe. In the early days of LOL (1971), we filed a successful lawsuit against the Navy requiring an Environmental Assessment for Kaho`olawe.