Ulupono Initiative

Last year, 93 lives were lost on Hawai‘i’s roads and 40% were pedestrians or cyclists. Why are our streets so dangerous? National speaker Angie Schmitt visited O‘ahu with a clear message: it doesn’t have to be this way. She shared the strategies that could make a difference — we should move quickly to implement them. Read more: https://lnkd.in/g-WK3WyJ #RoadSafety #UluponoInitiative #PedestrianSafetyCrisis

Jeremy Kimura, Ulupono Initiative’s director, freshwater, was invited to present to global water experts at the 14th annual Jeju Water World Forum in October to help strengthen Hawaii’s sister-state ties with Jeju. Kimura shared insights about Hawai?i’s unique hydrogeology and the shared challenges of protecting aquifers from climate change, groundwater pollution, and land use changes. These discussions highlight the critical need for global collaboration in water resource management. Check out some photo highlights from the conference! #Sustainability #WaterManagement #ClimateAction #UluponoInitiative

Unlocking Opportunities: 2025 Agriculture Grants for Kaua'i's Non-Profit and Farming Community . . The County of Kaua‘i’s Office of Economic Development (OED) recently announced the FY25 Agriculture Farm Expansion Grants Program and is accepting proposals. ??This competitive grant opportunity is designed to advance Kaua‘i’s agricultural industry through farming and ranching expansion investments across the island. ?? Key Details: ?Grant amounts: $15,000–$100,000 ?Total funding: $400,000 ?Applicants must be non-profit organizations working with the farming community ?Submit proposals through Amplifund Grant To find out more about the 2025 Agriculture Farm Expansion Grant program and request for proposal go to kauaiforward.com/afeg25/. #kauai #OED #AgGrant #FarmGrant #GrantRFP #KauaiFarmers #KauaiRanchers #KauaiNonprofit #AgricultureGrant

How can we reduce energy costs, reduce emissions, and boost infrastructure resilience in Hawai?i? In our latest “Talk Story” episode, Ulupono Initiative’s Michael Colón interviews Hawai?i’s Chief Energy Officer, Mark Glick, to answer these critical questions. Mark shares his insights on Hawai?i’s ambitious goal of achieving 100% renewable energy by 2045, along with recent discussions on liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a potential bridge to low-carbon energy. He also covers ongoing efforts to explore geothermal energy expansion and the critical need for community engagement to make it a reality. ?? Tune in for an in-depth look at what’s happening behind the scenes to power our state sustainably. https://lnkd.in/gnpP37sh #UluponoInitiative #SustainableEnergy #CleanEnergyHawaii #TalkStory Hawaii State Energy Office

Driving Hawai‘i’s EV Future Forward! Ulupono has urged the Hawai‘i Public Utilities Commission to take a bold stand on EV charging rates. The goal? Affordable, fair, and accessible charging for all, with smart solutions to support our clean energy vision. From flexible rates to strategic charging locations, we’re advocating for a system that makes EV charging easy and competitive with gas while boosting solar energy use. Curious how this could change the way we charge up in Hawai‘i? Read Ulupono's full recommendation at the link and let us know your thoughts in the comments. https://lnkd.in/gA2SyXwc #UluponoInitiative #EVcharging #CleanEnergyHawaii

?? What’s the future of fresh water in Hawai‘i? Dive into it with Jeremy Kimura, Ulupono’s Director of Fresh Water, as he joins PBS Hawai?i “What School You Went?” podcast! ??? In this talk story with Ron Mizutani, Jeremy shares what we need to know about recharge, restoration, and conservation to protect our islands’ most precious resource. https://lnkd.in/g63PBZiv #PBSHawaii #WhatSchoolYouWent #WaterSustainability #Wai

Highlights from the 77th Hawai‘i Farm Bureau Convention! This year, Hawai‘i’s agriculture community came together to tackle pressing challenges facing our islands’ farms. From impactful policy discussions to hands-on farm tours showcasing local innovation, we united with a shared vision for a sustainable future in Hawai‘i agriculture. A special mahalo to the leaders, advocates, and attendees championing the future of Hawai‘i’s farms. Congratulations to Micah-Seth Munekata Munekata, Ulupono’s Director of Government Affairs, on being awarded Outstanding Friend of Farmer — recognition for his dedication and support of our local ag community. ?? Together, we’re building a stronger tomorrow! State of Hawaii Department of Agriculture College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources at UH-Manoa KōHANA Rum & Kitchen Kirstin Kahaloa #HawaiiAg #HawaiiFarmBureau #SustainableHawaii #AgInnovation #FriendOfFarmer

Four years ago, Hawai‘i pioneered Performance-Based Regulation (PBR) to accelerate our progress toward the State’s 100% renewable energy goal by 2045. Ulupono Initiative is now suggesting updates such as using past data to simplify how electric utility rates are set, making the process quicker and less costly. Navigate to the link in our bio to learn more about these suggestions to the Hawai?i Public Utilities Commission (PUC)! ???? Check out the full article through the link: https://lnkd.in/g7ZQ6YFg. #CleanEnergy #RenewableHawaii #SustainableFuture

Celebrating Teamwork and Impact! ?? We are proud to share that the Ulupono Initiative team shone brightly at the 41st Annual PRSA Hawaii Koa Anvil Awards, bringing home four prestigious honors! This recognition reflects the combined efforts of our dedicated team and partners working to uplift communities and advance sustainability across Hawai?i. From supporting local food access with “DA BUX” to championing community voices in energy projects, these awards highlight our commitment to creating a resilient and sustainable future for our islands. Take a further look at the awards via the link. Mahalo to PRSA Hawai?i and to all our partners who share this journey with us! #CommunityImpact #KoaAnvilAwards #UluponoInitiative #PRSA https://lnkd.in/gyXeiCY7

Career Opportunity – O?ahu RC&D is hiring ?? If you’re passionate about food systems, grant management, or directly supporting farmers, there are three new positions at O?ahu Resource Conservation & Development Council. Join the team to advance local food systems, conservation, and community empowerment: ??Associate Director of Food Systems – Oversee programs to strengthen local food systems, collaborating with partners across Hawai‘i. ?? Grant Manager – Be the expert in managing ORCD’s grants, from proposals to project completion. ?? Farmer Grant Writer – Help local agricultural producers secure funding, directly supporting Hawai‘i’s farmers' growth and sustainability. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, with the next deadline on November 15, 2024. Positions will stay open until filled. Ready to make an impact in O?ahu? ?? Apply today ?? https://lnkd.in/e2i937QN.