To A Sustainable Island Future
Puali‘ili‘imaikalani Rossi - Hawaiian Studies & Anthropology
A View from the College
April12, 2019
Puali‘ili‘imaikalani Rossi BA, MA
Hawaiian Studies & Anthropology
I am always in awe of the spectacular beauty that surrounds our campus. From the backdrop of Waiʻaleʻale, to the fronting mountain range of Hōkūlei, our campus is enveloped in a natural environment that’s incomparable. It is a constant reminder of our responsibility to keep our island as pristine as possible.
In the last few years, we have seen a positive change in our community as more and more people are focusing on what a sustainable island should be. Our campus is no exception; many of our faculty and staff are involved in activities that promote awareness of our changing environment and are working towards protecting the resources of our home. We are examining the traditional practices of our kūpuna and discussing ways to use these methods in today’s world. We are more aware that the ʻāina is not ours to do as we wish, but that we have a kuleana to make it better for future generations. The efforts to promote a more sustainable campus, a more sustainable island, are not always easy, but they are necessary.
What has been amazing is that a lot of our campus leaders in this initiative are our own students. From our new compositing project to promoting zero waste events, our students are leading the change to making Kauaʻi Community College a model sustainable campus. Students are realizing their social responsibilities and why sustainability is important for our health and well being. They are motivators for all of us, as they engage in these projects that will enrich the lives of those around them.
This April, our campus is coordinating our annual Earth Day celebration on April 22, 2019. However, in keeping with the philosophy that one day is not enough, events will be happening throughout the entire month. It is our way to connect community and campus, with one focus in mind: a sustainable Kauaʻi.
Please stay posted on the events to come, and join us!