Going Green on the Island of Kauai

I am in Kauai enjoying the magnificent scenery and appreciating the earth’s amazing ecosystem.  What I feared was going to be a terribly non-green vacation has actually turned into one that is rather eco-friendly.  The Princeville Resort where I am staying is committed to conservation and stewardship of the land and ocean.  The resort initiated the first plastic recycling program on the island.  In addition to recycling plastics, cardboard and glass, they also make an effort to conserve water and energy by giving guests the option to wash linens and retrofitting the rooms with low energy light sources.

Recycling and conservation of natural resources are some simple ways hotels can help the world.  Like any other business the more customer demand they receive the more motivated they will be to take steps toward conservation.  From now on when I travel I am going to investigate the hotel to see if they are eco-friendly.  It is going to be one of my criteria for future travel.  I always shop around for the best deals and now I will add eco-friendly to my research questions.  This is a simple thing I can do to help the world.  I am not going to change my travel plans or spend a week in a mud hut without air conditioning but I will make the most eco friendly decision possible. 

If the Princeville Resort can establish the first ever recycling program on the island of Kauai I am sure other hotels in major cities can do their part to demonstrate concern for the environment in their area.  Money talks and I am putting my money on eco-friendly hotels.  I hope you will join me.  If enough of us become eco-demanding, hotels will feel the economic pressure and will make changes.  So help the world on your next vacation by supporting eco-friendly travel options.

Ignorance is bliss. Since I started this blog I have become increasingly aware of my little ripple in the world. Every time I accept a plastic bag at the grocery story, I am seized with guilt. When I lazily toss a plastic bottle into the trash, I feel shame. Next week I head to Kauai for a fabulous vacation that I have been looking forward to for six months and I am trying to bat down the thoughts of my carbon footprint that keep cropping up in my mind.

I feel like I should be strapping on a backpack and jumping in my Prius for an eco-friendly camping trip where my carbon footprint would be next to nothing. Instead I am going to a fancy resort where they will be blasting the AC 24/7, laundering around the clock and wasting tremendous amounts of food (breakfast buffet here I come.) As much as I want to do my part to help the world, I am just not a tent pitching, backpack wearing, nature loving vacation kind of gal. I love resorts. I love to be pampered. And I really love Kauai which can only be reached by a huge, emission spewing airliner. Sigh!

So I am going to toss aside my guilt, get on a plane, leave a massive carbon footprint, and enjoy Kauai but I will do a few simple things to go green even while I am on a non-green vacation. I vow to do the following because I can easily work them into my Mai Tai drinking, golf playing, beach lounging schedule on the island.

1. No laundry service: I am only going to be there a week. I do not need fresh towels and sheets every day.

2. No natural souvenirs: I will not disturb the natural ecosystem by bringing home any rocks or shells to decorate my hall bathroom.

3. Be green even if the hotel isn’t: I will turn off lights and air conditioning when I leave the room. I will not take more than I can eat from the buffet even if it all looks really, really good.

4. Carbon offset my flight: At Climate Friendly I can neutralize my carbon emissions by purchasing green energy credits that are used to support new renewable energy projects. According to the site calculator, my trip from San Francisco to Kauai will result in 2.3 tonnes of carbon emissions. By purchasing $51.26 of green energy credits I can neutralize my carbon hit. Small price to pay for guilt free travel.

5. Unplug appliances at home: Since I will be making a huge carbon imprint away from home, I will reduce my carbon footprint at home by unplugging all my appliances. According to the Department of Energy 75% of the electricity used to power home electronics is consumed while the products are turned off.

On the bright side I will not be using any gas while I sit on the beach and the Mai Tai’s come in glasses so no plastic to worry about.

What ways have you gone green on a non-green vacation? I am leaving in 7 days and can use all the tips I can get.