Eco-Friendly Oahu
Photo uploaded by athenamat.
It seems like everyone in the travel community is gaining a little green-awareness this year. Delta started an on board recycling program in April, Wells Fargo and other credit card companies announced the arrival of “Green” credit cards and big name car rental companies like Hertz and Avis have been busy all summer long filling up their lots with fuel-efficient hybrid cars.
Many Oahu travelers have already begun seeing the world through green-colored glasses. For this reason, we’ve prepared a check-list of eco-friendly things to do so you feel even better about the way you travel.
- Fly Green. Before you travel, purchase a TerraPass, an affordable way to balance out your environmental impact of the carbon emissions produced by flying and driving.
- Book an Eco-Friendly Hotel. Being eco-friendly is now hipper than ever before thanks to upscale boutique hotels like The Equus which is not only a part of the Green Hotels Association but is also the elder sister to the newest addition to the eco-family, Hotel Renew (opens January 2008). Hotel Renew will not only feature water-saving fixtures, earth-friendly cleaning methods, and an In-Room Guest Recycling Program but the gorgeous limestone and sand-blasted oak woods will make any tree-hugger swoon.
- Purchase Biodegradable Sunscreen. Protect the earth while you protect the skin you’re in! A wide variety of natural, non-toxic sunscreens are available for purchase on the net. If you’re not sure which one to choose, the Modern Kid Stuff Blog recommends Dr T’s Supergloop as the best eco-friendly protection for parents and their kids.
- Enjoy Eco-Education. Hawaii does its part in educating the public about Oahu’s most pristine marine ecosystem, Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve. Not only is every visitor to the bay required to watch a 9-minute film explaining the importance of marine preservation, the video really hits home when visitors take a life-changing look at the reef’s thriving community of fish and coral as they snorkel.
- Reduce Driving Time. When traveling to Oahu’s favorite activities such as Sea Life Park, Diamond Head Lookout, and `Iolani Palace it’s easy to hop on the Waikiki Trolley to reduce the environmental impact of driving a single car around the island. Not only will you take in beautiful island views without checking a map, but you’ll be saving money on gas, too! Kayaking and taking an Oahu bike ride are also fantastic ways to see the islands without setting foot in a car.
For other great ideas on how to travel Green, visit EcoTravelogue, a great resource on all things eco-travel.
Planning a trip to Oahu? Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the Go Oahu Card.
Shannon, these are some great ideas! Planktos.com offers several other eco-friendly options for travelers: http://www.planktos.com/PlanktosStore/FlightOffsets.html. Thanks for the suggestions!
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Great post, and you’ve given me great ideas for our trip this summer. Specifically leveraging carbon offsets for the flights.
We’ll be on Kauai, where getting around is a little more challenging. But as I find any tips specific to there, I’ll re-comment.
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