Come learn about the latest research into green jobs from the County of Hawai`i and stratagies for partnering for green jobs funding. Specific funding opportunities will be shared. Specific partner opportunities will be shared. Open discussion at the end with panel from the County and State.

This meeting was put together by Hawai`i State Workforce Development.

If you’re into the green jobs movement, this seminar is for you.

Hawaii Island Green Collar Jobs Funding
Click here to download and share PDF flyer for the Green Collar Jobs Funding – Employer Workshop

An employer workshop to be held
Thursday, August 13th 9:00 am to 11:00 am registration: 8:30 am
Workforce Development Division Presentation Room
1990 Kino`ole Street, Suite 102
(Next to Kawate Seed Shop)

Topics of Interest

• Green Collar Jobs and Greener Economies – Brent Norris, Green Collar Technologies
• Green Job Employer – Michael Kaleikini, Puna Geothermal Venture
• Overview of Specific Grant Opportunities Related to Hawai`i Island – John Carroll, Hawai`i Island Workforce & Economic Development Ohana
• How to Establish Partnerships & Alliances to Acquire Funding – Alex Frost, Hawai`i County Research & Development Department and Susan Akiyama, Office of Housing & Community Development

In partnership with:

• Hawai`i Island Workforce & Economic Development Ohana
• Hawai`i County Workforce Investment Board
• Hawai`i Island Chamber of Commerce
• Japanese Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Hawai`I
• Kanoelehua Industrial Area Association
• Big Island Workplace Connection

Call Bunnie Au-Suehiro at 981.2860 ext. 236 for registration & payment information.

Workforce Development Division
1990 Kino`ole Street, Suite 102
(Next to Kawate Seed Shop)

Sustainable Living Educational Series

This year for Earth Day give yourself and the planet the gift of knowledge. Learn how to live a more sustainable life on Hawaii Island. Four evenings of education in various sustainability practices are coming to Kona, Hawai`i. Classes on Sustainable Living will include Rainwater Harvesting, Sustainable Gardening, Sustainability-Applied and Alternative Power Basics. Currently seeking additional sponsors. Part of the 2009 Kona Earth Festival, these classes will offer education, networking and information about green jobs. As with all our events, this series will feature classes with a straight-forward approach to living a more sustainable lifestyle on Hawai`i Island.

Cost $10
Click here to reserve and pay for your seat(s) online.

April 23rd 5:00pm (Registration opens at 4:30pm)
Rainwater Harvesting
Brent Norris from Green Collar Technologies will guide you through basic systems design from rain-barrels for your garden to complete systems for your home and business. You’ll learn the basics of systems safety and techniques to help improve your water quality. You’ll learn things to avoid and things to include in your own system. Ancient and modern applications will be discussed to help folks understand what’s possible and why catching rain water is more important than ever.
Cost $10
Click here to reserve and pay for your seat(s) online.

April 24th 5:00pm (Registration opens at 4:30pm)
Sustainable Gardening with Claudia Ziroli
This money-saving workshop will equip participants with the basic tools to thrive in changing times. Learning to grow some of your own food will help you eat more healthy foods and save money at the grocery. In this one-hour workshop, participants will gain a basic understanding of how to use nature’s principles to produce their own food . We will discuss soil-building strategies, growing techniques and tropical food crops.
Cost $10
Click here to reserve and pay for your seat(s) online.

April 30th 5:00pm (Registration opens at 4:30pm)
Sustainability Applied
This class will help you obtain value from living lightly on the island. Many real-life examples of off-the-grid living techniques will be covered. Self-reliance techniques will be covered for anyone wanting to live a more sustainable life on Hawai`i Island. Specific techniques for living a “greener” lifestyle will be shared and discussed. Join us and learn how to apply various sustainability techniques in your everyday life.
Cost $10 – Reserve your seats!
Click here to reserve and pay for your seat(s) online.

May 1st 5:00pm (Registration opens at 4:30pm)
Alternative Power Basics
Ross Armetta from Alfalfas.net will share valuable insights into various alternative power generation systems. Learn to spec a basic solar system including all the system parts and their relative costs. Net metering and grid-tie options will be presented. Pros and Cons of various alternative energy systems will be presented for discussion. This class could potentially save you hundreds if not thousands of dollars in total alternative energy system costs.
Cost $10
Click here to reserve and pay for your seat(s) online.

Sponsorship Information

Event Sponsors

• Hawai`i County Department of Research and Development
• University of Hawai`i at Hilo Conference Center

Subscribe to our email list and we’ll add your email to the notification and class reminder list. You will then be among the first to know the details of the classes as they happen.

Each Class Costs $10 per seat.
Click here to reserve and pay for your seat(s) online.

Although the official deadline for applications has passed (Feb. 20th), your application may be considered as a alternate. Additional panelists for the moderated panel discussion are also being considered.

To be considered as a backup presenter or panelist, please apply.

Click here for more details and to apply.

The presentation format is divided into two parts.

1. Each presenter will be given exactly ten minutes to give their perspective in their area of expertise at the podium. Multimedia presentations are encouraged. We can help you prepare. If you’ve got specific knowledge in a key area of sustainability for the island, we need to hear from you. 
2. After the last presentation, presenters will sit on stage for a moderated discussion. A moderator will share questions from the audience with the presenters for one hour.

• All presentation applications submitted before February 20th will be considered.
• Applicants must provide completed multimedia or slide presentation by March 2nd. 
• All applications will be reviewed and acceptance notes sent by March 9th. 

A short video will play before and after each presentation. Videos are also okay in your presentations. No sales pitches, looking for facts, come talk story with neighbors.

Consider the following topics of interest to attendees:

• Hawaiian Cultural Practices
• Renewable Energy / fuels
• Green Economy
• Egovernance
• Community Planning
• Food Security and Farming
• Water Supply and safety
• Health and Holistic Practice
• Education / Green Jobs Training
• Natural Shelter / Green Building

The evening will be filled with culture, music, public participation and with your help, a strong educational component.

Click the official event flyer at right to print, download and share.

Click here for more details and to apply.

Final presentation slots and panelists will be announced on March 9th. More information can be found here: http://greencollartech.com/hisf-presenters-home

We’re gathering the questions now. Use the form below to ask your questions. There will also be questions from attendees at the event but questions from the web are being considered first.

cforms contact form by delicious:days

Get in Free, Volunteer! 
Details here.

Speaker and Presenters!
Details here.

Common sense was ordinary hundreds of years ago and ahupua`a wasn’t a grassroots movement or a government mandate. It was a way of life for many more people than currently inhabit Hawai`i Island.

We may be able to sideline ahupua`a through creative technologies but just as we thought coal and oil were the way, these sustainable technologies too will have a certain shelf-life. At least until there’s moving parts that grow themselves. But that’s another discussion.

Today I wanted to champion the fact that you’ve come a long way towards being self-sustainable. You’ve done this on your farms, homes and small businesses. You’ve done things only your family or neighbors know about. Whether you’ve changed a few light bulbs or harnessed power from a stream of water, It’s called, “common sense”. It’s part of the beauty of becoming or living sustainably for yourself. It feels good and there’s a certain freedom you get from cutting your energy bill or eating food you grow. It feels free and it feels good inside. Many of you have left somewhere to be here, just for these reasons. Simplicity, common sense and aloha.

The media would have us think that tax incentives, rebates or programs will bring us into 70% energy sustainability by 2030. The fact is that these same programs have been around for ten years or more. You are the one that will become sustainable and you’ll do it when it makes sense to you. Meanwhile, back on the farm, you are growing your own food and we hear about it.

When the prices of energy go up we find cheaper power. When the price of our food goes up, we learn to farm. When the price of water goes up, we catch it from the heavens. These are the stories that need to be shared.

Common sense, logic and ahupua`a isn’t dead. But in the future it won’t be the smartest, fastest or strongest that survive, it will be the most adaptable. At least that’s what I heard.

Malama i ke aina
Malama i ke kai

Green Collar Technologies will be sharing these stories and hope to provide an online technology platform for you to stand upon and declare your adaptations, your manao and your aloha of freedom.

Let’s hear it. Comments will not be moderated for the next two hours, then you’ll have to register and login to comment.

More Resources

East Maui Watershed Partnership – a ahupua`definition

Hawai`i History.org – a ahupua`definition

Would someone please go and rewrite the definition for ahupua`a definition at Wikipedia?

• The so called, “Green Job” is performed either locally or virtually.
• The so called, “Green Job” benefits residents of Hawai`i.
• Green Jobs Hawai`i means that the job can be applied for in Hawai`i.

Any jobs found on our Green Jobs Hawai`i Job Board can be reported as not being green by sending us a note. Comments are also welcomed below. All comments and reports received will be reported to Simply Hired and their IT Staff.

More Resources

• Green Collar Worker Definition at Wikipedia

Why are we doing this?
We are in the process of defining all of the Green Terms we use on this site to help educate our visitors and prevent any misconceptions of greenwashing on our part. Although being green or treating the environment with respect is nothing new, many of the technologies need both awareness and understanding. We are attempting to help bring about that awareness and understanding in the context of Hawai`i Island.

Be part of the definition process by registering and commenting below. Or send us a note via email.

Read our intentions for using the word, “green” on this site.

External Resources

• Facts for Business – Complying with the Environmental Marketing Guides by the Federal trade Commission

• Six Sins of GreenWashing by terrachoice