HPU receives Hawaii Green Business Award

HPU was the winner of a 2016 Hawaii Green Business Award, Green Events category, for its Presidential Lecture Series on Global Leadership and Sustainability. The award was presented to HPU President Geoffrey Bannister, Ph.D., by Governor David Ige on Friday, April 22, at the Governor’s Office at the Hawaii State Capitol. Representatives from HPU who worked on the lecture series, and representatives from Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc., grant funder, attended the presentation.

The University’s Presidential Lecture Series on Global Leadership and Sustainability provides a unique opportunity for members of the HPU and greater Hawaii communities to engage with nationally and internationally recognized leaders and hear their insights on critical topics related to environmental sustainability.

HPU promoted a number of sustainable practices, including electronic communication and social media, to promote the lecture series. Attendees were encouraged to use alternative transportation to and from the events. The tableware was reusable or compostable, and recycling and composting helped divert a significant portion of the events’ waste.

The lecture series events were held at Aloha Tower Marketplace (ATM). In 2015, HPU invested in Sika Roofing’s EnergySmart Roof®, LED lighting, and low-flow bathroom toilets and sink faucets in an effort to help reduce operational costs and environmental impact of the ATM facility.

More information on the 2016 Hawaii Green Business Award program is posted here, and information on the HPU Presidential Lecture Series on Global Leadership and Sustainability is posted here.        

Pictured Front: Lianne Yamamura (HPU), HPU President Geoffrey Bannister, Ph.D., Governor David Ige, Cassie Carter, Ph.D. (HPU); Back: Chris Aguinaldo (HPU), Tara Wilson (HPU), A.J. Halagao (Hawaiian Electric Industries), Alan Oshima (Hawaiian Electric Company), Regina Ostergaard-Klem, Ph.D. (HPU), Luis Salaveria (Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism), Dingilizwe Ncube (HPU), and Lisa Rodrigues (HPU)