Isolated

It seems like whenever people think of "paradise", the first thing that comes to mind is Hawaii. The weather is nearly perfect all year around and the people make it even better. However, what many don't really know is how expensive it really is to maintain this "paradise" and the fact that it affects the cost of living for the residents of the state so greatly, which pretty much adds insult to injury where everything else in the state tends to cost around 20% more than on the mainland.

Alternative energy sources have been the topic of numerous debates; especially in the university setting. I have done some research on the Hawaii 2050 sustainability plan that focuses on a sustainable Hawaii, by the year 2050, and a huge portion of that plan is based around alternative power sources. What I found quite interesting from the presentation was the fact that the best places to build alternative energy plants is on a separate island.

The capital city of Honolulu is located on the island of Oahu and is the most power hungry city in the state. There have been recent plans to build windmill farms on the island of Molokai because of the amount of land available, but also because of how windy the island generally is. However, plans have faced problems due to the locals protesting about protecting the land. Geothermal energy from the volcano located on the big island of Hawaii was another possibility brought up in the presentation that could possibly bring similar problems as on Molokai. The locals here seem to have a strong appreciation for "keeping the country, country", but at the same time complain about how expensive the cost of living is. Perhaps a compromise is in order?

The potential for renewable energy in Hawaii seems to be limitless. Hawaii offers a surplus of natural resources for various types of renewable energy rather it be from the wind, lava, ocean, or sunlight. It may however, take time for us to get used to these changes and many may be totally against it, but we must realize the fossil fuels are a finite supply that some theorize may be past the half way point of the world supply. It is definitely time for a change and once we set the example (hopefully with the Hawaii 2050 sustainability plan), the rest of the world will follow.

Resources:
Hawaii 2050 Sustainability Plan