Sustainable Initiatives by Andrea Dean

On Friday, Oct. 16th, the Kohala Center held a fundraiser for the Hawaii Island School Garden Network on board the Golden Princess, a luxury cruise ship docked in Hilo Harbor. I have never been on a cruise ship and it was definitely an experience. I think it is safe to say that it was a bit of a paradoxical experience for many of the down to earth folks present- the size and opulence of the ship was certainly a long way from the simplicity of the garden. But it was a glimpse into another world and the cause was good, the company excellent, and the food and service over the top. We were served tropical virgin drinks in a theater with fake constellations blinking overhead. We sipped our drinks and nibbled maraschino cherries while Mayor Billy Kenoi, Senator Russell Kokubun and Senator Dwight Takamine stressed the importance of the school garden program and sustainability in general. Nancy Redfeather, Program Director of the Hawaii Island School Garden Network was a passionate and informative speaker, as always. We also saw a trailer for the new film Na Kupu Mana’olana: Seeds of Hope about the future of Hawaii agriculture and our food self-sufficiency movement (see below). Then we were treated to a four course lunch (I am not sure if you are supposed to include dessert when counting courses, but I just did!) Shrimp cocktail to start, followed by a pasta in cream sauce, then the main course- salmon or beef, and then a hot chocolate souffle with some delicious, sweet sauce. Roll me off the ship, please!