We all have been hearing a lot about the environment for years now, and most recently the theme has been “Going Green.” Perhaps you’ve been helping out by switching to newer light bulbs, recycling, driving less and/or carpooling. There truly are countless ways to do your part these days.

Well, what about being green on vacation? Anyone that has stayed in a hotel room for more than one night in the past few years probably has noticed those little placards near the towels asking guests to re-use towels and hang them up instead of leaving them for housekeeping. Little things like that pop up here and there, but many resorts are doing more behind the scenes, too.

Take our favorite resort, the Sheraton Maui Resort and Spa, for example. On a recent search at their website for news on whether their new spa will be open in time for our next trip, I found this press release. It lists about a half dozen of the different things that the resort has done in the past few years to try and reduce energy, recycle, and conserve resources to help protect the environment. Some of these seems rather simple, others you probably wouldn’t have noticed.

After all, Hawaii has always fostered a culture that is self-sustaining. Their respect for the land has existed for generations, long before the first visitors from the West arrived. In fact, Hawaii’s state motto roughly translates to “doing what is right in your life and for the land.”

Enter Ecotourism
A few months ago I wrote a review on the newest Maui guidebook from Lonely Planet, and I only briefly mentioned that there was entire chapter devoted to sustainability on Maui. The chapter, titled “Green Maui,” talks about ecotourism and some of the other ways you can make a difference on your next Maui vacation.

One of the organizations the book references is the Hawaii Ecotourism Association, a non-profit group operating out of Oahu that is working to promote “… a new model of sustainable travel and ecotourism in Hawaii …”. So what exactly does ecotoursim mean? The HEA defines it as such:

“… nature and culture based tourism that is ecologically sustainable and supports the well being of local communities.”

Regardless of whether others have a slightly different definition, they all share the same common goal for travel and tourism that is friendlier for the environment.

What You Can Do
For starters, the Hawaii Ecotourism Association website has a great list available: Green Travel Tips for Visitors to Hawaii. It includes many tips from things like packing, dining, and choosing different activities that are eco-friendly. Their website also features an extensive listing of the HEA members, all of whom offer goods and services that strive towards the same ecotoursim goals. The types of organizations listed include restaurants, hotels, tour operaters and others, all who are committed to helping you protect the environment while enjoying the magic of Maui and the other Hawaiian islands.

It should also be noted that in their list of Green Travel Tips, many of the items listed don’t just apply to Hawaii vacations. You can apply much of those ecotourism ideas for travel to just about any vacation destination.

Your Thoughts
Tell us what you think about the concept of being green on vacation and other resources that you have found helpful. When checking out the links above, did any of the tips surprise you or give you other ideas to help the protect the beauty of the Hawaiian islands? Any of the suggestions seem like too much of an adjustment or something you disagree with?

Talk story and let us know what you think. Links to other organizations and articles are also welcome.

Mahalo.
– Kris