Health, Wellness & Security
For all to prosper, we must have equitable access & ability to satisfy our most basic needs of health & security. Understanding our intricate interdependencies deepens proportionately with enhanced physical, psychological & financial need-satisfaction within our ecological, socio-cultural and economic systems, enabling us to progressively act more efficaciously in the best interests of all.
Principles/Values
Think Global. Act Local.
To help us think globally, we’ve adopted the values and principles of the Earth Charter.“The Earth Charter is a declaration of fundamental principles for building a just, sustainable, and peaceful global society for the 21st century.” To assist us with local action, we have looked to the indigenous wisdom of the ʻAha Moku system. “The ‘Aha Moku system recognizes the traditional geo-political division of each island into ahupua’a (akin to the present-day concept of watershed areas) and moku (a political district of two or more adjacent ahupua’a).”
Vision
To help create a healthy economy that ensures better quality of life for all in a just, equitable manner within the limits of supporting ecosystems.
To help improve our islands’ capacity for enduring self-reliance by balancing ecological, socio-cultural & economic needs through community education & innovation.
Mission
Kevin Vaccarello
Founding Director
Kevin’s a serial entrepreneur & systems consultant who focuses on leveraging web & mobile technologies to improve access to solutions that help improve personal & planetary health. He’s actively working on a scalable prototype of an integrated healthcare, food & educational system in Waimānalo.
Ramsay Taum
Board Chair / President
Kumu Ramsay is a highly sought after international keynote speaker, trainer & facilitator. He’s particularly effective integrating cultural values & principles into contemporary business practices. He leads Hoʻoponopono (holistic mediation) courses & is a lua grand master (Hawaiian martial art).
Dr. Ted Radovich
Board Member
Dr. Radovich is tenured professor at the University of Hawaii’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources. His research program is focused on understanding how crop yield and quality can be optimized in agricultural systems that reduce reliance on conventional chemical inputs and increase use of ecological farming practices.
Remi Kawood
Board Member
Remi comes with a wealth of cultural knowledge & social media skills to efficiently & effectively share information that helps improve the health & wellness of indigenous & vulnerable community members, as well as all others who may find the content of beneficial interest.
Kapi'olei Smythe
Board Member
Kapi’olei is a neuropsychology graduate of Colgate University. Her minor in creative writing amazingly enables her to make even the heady stuff a joy to read. She’s also an excellent photographer, videographer, artist and dancer.
Michael Kramer
Advisor
With an extensive background in social services, education, environment, economics and planning, Michael has maintained a lifelong commitment…
Manuel "Manny" Smith
Advisor
With ʻĀina as his motherʻs maiden name, Mannyʻs geneology has rooted him to the islands giving him the profound kuleana to care for our land…
Jackie Kozak-Thiel
Advisor
Jackie was recently named the City Chief Sustainability Officer of Fort Collins, CO where she oversees their sustainability services, which includes…
Kawika Kahiapo
Advisor
Kawika is a carpenter by trade, an ordained pastor of Ka ʻOhana o Ke Aloha, musician, songwriter, and a board member for the Kokua Hawaiʻi Foundation..
Funders
Non-Profit Love
Through the multiple programs that Sustain Hawaiʻi has created and/or worked on over the past 10 years, we have gained support from many local and national funders. Here is a partial list of our funders (including past and present):
Overview
Previous Work
Our theory of change is simple – help people learn their way to a better world. Since its inception in 2003, Sustain Hawai‘i has and continues to focus upon creating ways to help people experience more sustainable living. Marrying contemporary and indigenous, place-based technologies and knowledge, Sustain Hawai‘i is prototyping and piloting strategies that expedite the transition to that life we want to lead.
Sustain Hawai‘i has 12 years of experience in providing services that support sustainable resource management practices.
Partnerships
Previous Collaborations
A unique, multi-disciplinary team accustomed to working on systems-based projects is needed to achieve our goals for our 21st century ahupua‘a vision. Thus, we implore upon many partners to help us execute our projects.
Collective success demands that each of the core sectors of society (government, business, education, non-profits and community) advance these issues through practical actions. We recognize that transforming our communities’ capacities requires a collaborative effort. It is also an evolutionary process that requires change within each of the core sectors and, perhaps more challengingly, coordinated change across those sectors.
This knowledge heavily shapes our approach. It’s why we first seek to educate about the need and possibility of island self-reliance. Then, we facilitate the identification of priorities, strategic actions and likely barriers to implementation. Finally, we support implementation of innovative solutions both within and across society’s sectors, emphasizing education and entrepreneurship that can accelerate the spread of effective practices.
We’re always looking to have good fun by exploring creative ways to help transform talk story into walk story.
Get in Touch
Walk Story for a Healthy Economy
info@sustainhawaii.org