Category Archives: Mauna Kea

Mauna Kea

Motivation

What is it that motivates me to support the Thirty Meter Telescope, Geothermal energy and the E Malama ‘Aina sustainability festival?

Those three subjects, I firmly believe, give us some transition time as we deal with Peak Oil – a scenario in which global oil production has peaked and every barrel of crude oil drawn from the earth from that point forth is more difficult and more expensive to extract than the barrel before it. This will have enormous, detrimental effects on being able to provide people with cheap food.

I believe we have time to adjust, but, for the sake of our people, we just cannot afford to waste the opportunities available to us.

I am no doom-and-gloomer, but I do believe in being smart about it. For example, when oil was first discovered in Pennsylvania in the 1850s, it would have been foolish to invest in the old technology – a harpoon factory in Lahaina.

Hanalei Fergerstrom and I are both very concerned about “Peak Oil” and its implications. I am a farmer whose kuleana is feeding people. Hanalei belongs to the House of Lono. Lono is one of the four major Hawaiian gods; he ruled agriculture, harvests, weather, sports, and medicine.

Palikapu Dedman and Tom Anthony were distressed the other night because they thought that I was anti-Hawaiian, but nothing could be further from the truth. I am concerned about Hawaiians; I am concerned about all of us.

It is about giving ourselves “transition” time toward a better, more sustainable future. It certainly is not about selling more tomatoes, and I don’t get paid from anything having to do with the Thirty Meter Telescope.

Here is an interesting article about “Peak Oil” and transition.  I think that it is a bit overstated, but the general ideas are valid:

…Fridley, like a few other thinkers, activists and pessimists, could talk all night about “peak oil.” This catch phrase describes a scenario, perhaps already unfurling, in which the easy days of oil-based society are over, a scenario in which global oil production has peaked and in which every barrel of crude oil drawn from the earth from that point forth is more difficult to extract than the barrel before it. According to peak oil theory, the time is approaching when the effort and cost of extraction will no longer be worth the oil itself, leaving us without the fuel to power our transportation, factories, farms, society and the very essence of our oil-dependent lives. Fridley believes the change will be very unpleasant for many people.

“If you are a typical American and have expectations of increasing income, cheap food, nondiscretionary spending, leisure time and vacations in Hawaii, then the change we expect soon could be what you would consider ‘doom,'” he says soberly, “because your life is going to fall apart….”

Read the whole article here.

Mauna Kea

Pahoa Speaks

RLast night was the Thirty Meter Telescope Environmental Impact Statement meeting in Pahoa.

Respected labor and community leader Wallace Ishibashi spoke and said that, as a native Hawaiian, he was okay with the TMT. He said that he respected everyone’s point of view. It was a very heartfelt, eloquent speech. He made people feel comfortable, whether they were speaking for or against the TMT.

Wallace ishibashi

There was a healthy difference of opinion, but everyone was very respectful of each other. Many people expressed the idea that we need to work in cooperation with each other. It felt really good.

RichardPhoto by Damon Tucker

I spoke about the TMT’s annual $1 million community benefit package, which will be used for education. I said that the world has changed and it is no longer about us, but rather the keiki and next generations. “One day the boat not going come.” This contribution to education will help us prepare.

Palikapu Dedman, a member of the Kanaka Council, spoke last night as well. He is determined and articulate, and he always voices his opposition in a booming voice. He boomed: “If not in Hawai‘i, where can Hawaiians be Hawaiians?”

Palikapu owns 70 acres of farmland that he purchased and farms himself. He is self-made, and does not rely on government subsidies. He walks the talk.

At the Hilo meeting, outside of the Hilo High School cafeteria, I had a long, heated and respectful discussion with him. We agreed to disagree. I respect him a lot.

I also had a strong discussion with Tom Anthony outside of the Hilo High cafeteria. Tom is very smart, very articulate, and even more “in your face” than Palikapu. He, too, is a member of the Kanaka Council. We also agreed to disagree.

Kale Gumapac is the alaka‘i (leader) of the Kanaka Council. At the Pahoa meeting, he offered strong opposition to things that diminish Hawaiians’ ability to be Hawaiians.

The mostly Puna-centered Kanaka Council is a coalition of groups with the most passionate, loud and angry voices. Many people are afraid of them, but they are my friends and I like and respect them.

Dr. Henry Yang, Chancellor of UC Santa Barbara and President of the Thirty Meter Telescope corporation, and Dr. Jean Lou Chameau, President of Cal Tech, went to meet with them. After that meeting, where the members expressed their views candidly, Henry told me that it was one of their most valuable meetings.

At the time, some felt that I should not have exposed Henry and Jean Lou to the Kanaka Council and to risk. I knew that though it would be passionate, and maybe unconventional, it would not be risky.

In retrospect, it shows how serious the TMT folks are about trying to understand how people here truly feel.

***

Stunning Shift in Hawaii’s Astronomy is an interesting blog post about the TMT from the Hilo Living blog.

Mauna Kea

Waimea EIS Meeting

Last night I drove back to Hilo from a TMT Environmental Impact Statement meeting that was held at the Waimea Elementary School cafeteria.

I listened to music on my iPhone—from Jimi Hendrix/Purple Haze to Barry White with Earl Klugh and Brudda Iz in between. It never sounded so good. I was in a great mood.

The meeting had gone really well. Penny Keli‘i Vredenberg welcomed everyone, and made everyone feel so comfortable. It felt like we were all in her backyard instead of in a cafeteria.

I talked about the background of how the $1 million community benefit education package came about. I explained that Henry Yang impressed me—he listened. He did not dismiss my advice just because I wore shorts and t-shirts. My advice was for them to go listen to the community.

Henry and Jean Lou flew into Hilo maybe 15 times, and I took them to meet community folks. By last month, they had seen Kumu Lehua and Patrick Kahawaiola four times. At the end, they were old friends.

I told how we advised them a year ago that education for the keiki is the most important thing they could do for the community. Henry committed to this idea.

For nearly a year now, we’ve been working on this on a handshake and it’s very gratifying to now see this in print. But we had no doubt that Henry would make it happen. I’ve said before that Henry is someone I can do business with on a handshake.

I left the meeting feeling really happy. There were people there who were very passionate about their positions. But they, and we, conducted ourselves in a very respectful way.

That’s what I was so happy about. Facing an uncertain future, we need to have a strong sense of community and we need to make more friends and stay closer to our families. And we are doing it right now. It’s all I need to smile.

Mauna Kea

Support for the TMT

It was a coalition of folks from all sectors of the population that came to wave signs the other day.

Signs1
It’s about the keiki. Kumiko S. Usuda, Outreach Scientist (Astronomer) at the Subaru Telescope, and her children.

June & Dina
June Ha and Dina

Signs3
It’s not about us. It’s about future generations. This is Suzy Dill and her future generation.

Signs4
Pete Lindsey and the boys

Signs5
Waiakea High School Robotics club

Signs6
UH Hilo Astronomy/Physics Professor Marianne Takamiya and family

Signs7
left, Barbara Hastings, Outgoing President of the Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce; center, Incoming President Mary Begier

It is not about us anymore. Now it is about the keiki and future generations. It was very gratifying to see high school students, young kids, a hapai mom – the next generations.

The Labor Union and business folks were there, too. Jobs are about families and the here and now.

The Big Island Labor Alliance played an important role. The labor folks tell me that there are by far more Hawaiian workers on the bench now than all the people who testified on both sides of the issue at the Comprehensive Management Plan hearing recently. They wonder why their voices are not heard.

There were educators there, too, who think about the value of new learning.

It was uplifting to hear all the people blowing their horns in support. It was louder this time than last. All kinds of different sounds, especially raucous were the big rigs and their air horns!

Several days ago, University of Hawai‘i President David McClain issued this statement:

After discussions with academic and community leaders on the Big Island, and review with the Board of Regents, I can say that should TMT come to Mauna Kea, the Hawaiian community and community-at-large will benefit through an annual $1 million community benefit package, which will provide funding for locally chosen and managed educational programs on Hawai‘i Island. This will begin once all permits for the project have been received.

The compensation to the University of Hawai‘i, which is expected to begin at “first light,” will be split equitably between a higher education package to be used for selected initiatives of the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo and Hawai‘i Community College on Hawai‘i Island, and observing time for University of Hawai‘i scientists.

David McClain

President
, University of Hawai‘i

We cannot just assume the TMT is coming here, because Chile is trying very hard to attract the TMT.

Please show up to voice your concerns or show your support at one of the EIS hearings, which are coming up and scheduled all around the island. You can look at the draft EIS at the TMT website.

The first round of meetings, referred to as Public Scoping Meetings, were conducted between October 6 and 16, 2008.  Now, these Draft EIS meetings will be held during the 45-day Draft EIS comment period as follows:

  • Tuesday, June 16        Waimea / Kamuela        Waimea Elementary School Cafeteria      5-8pm
  • Wednesday, June 17      Hilo    Hilo High School Cafeteria      4-8pm
  • Thursday, June 18       Pāhoa / Puna    Pāhoa High School Cafeteria     5-8pm
  • Monday, June 22 Ka‘ū    Ka’u High/Pāhala Elementary School Cafeteria    5-8pm
  • Tuesday , June 23       Hāwī / Kohala   Kohala Cultural Center  5-8pm
  • Wednesday, June 24      Kona    Kealakehe Elementary School Cafeteria   5-8pm
  • Thursday, June 25       Honolulu        Farrington High School Cafeteria        5-8pm

These public meetings will consist of the following general components:

  • First hour – Open House, a question and answer period with project representatives around poster displays
  • Presentations by project representatives for half an hour
  • Facilitated public discussion period thereafter
Community, Education, Mauna Kea, Sustainability

Money For Education

This afternoon, University of Hawai‘i President David McClain issued this statement:

After discussions with academic and community leaders on the Big Island, and review with the Board of Regents, I can say that should TMT come to Mauna Kea, the Hawaiian community and community-at-large will benefit through an annual $1 million community benefit package, which will provide funding for locally chosen and managed educational programs on Hawai‘i Island. This will begin once all permits for the project have been received.

The compensation to the University of Hawai‘i, which is expected to begin at “first light,” will be split equitably between a higher education package to be used for selected initiatives of the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo and Hawai‘i Community College on Hawai‘i Island, and observing time for University of Hawai‘i scientists.

David McClain
President, University of Hawai‘i

What catches my attention is the part about an annual amount of $1 million for locally chosen and managed educational programs on Hawai‘i Island.

I know how important early education is. My Pop was the greatest influence on me. I learned the most important things, which lasted through my entire life, when I was 10 years old.

If we teach our keiki the values they need to make a society that is successful and thriving “when the boat no come,” we will have done our jobs. This $1 million that will be dedicated to keiki education annually is key to the survival of future generations. It is no longer about us – it is about the future generations.

We must learn and perpetuate what it was that allowed Hawaiians to survive for hundreds of years out in the middle of the ocean without boats coming in every day with goods from someplace else.

In the future, our values will need to revolve around aloha. We will need to assume responsibility—kuleana. We need to make more friends and stay closer to our families.

We live in the modern world, so how do we use what we have and meld it with the values that worked? We need to have a balance of science and culture in order for all of us to do what we do to help our greater society.

My Pop told me: “There are a thousand reasons why ‘No can.’ I only looking for one reason why ‘Can.’”

***

Yesterday was King Kamehameha Day. I think of King Kamehameha as a doer, not a talker. He took what was available to him and used it to the best advantage.

Statue

Since we are going to do a sign waving in support of the Thirty Meter Telescope today, in front of the King Kamehameha statue, I thought that I would go take pictures.

Over the last couple of weeks many of us did radio spots in support of the Thirty Meter Telescope. Running throughout the spots is the word “pono.” Those ads started running today.

Download HCU_Keawe_Wallace
Download HCU_Richard_Dale
Download HCU_Rockne_Penny
Download HCU_William_Penny

We will have more soon.

***

I went on three live radio programs yesterday morning. First with Kat and Keala at KWXX, then a few minutes with DC at Da Beat, and then on with Ken Hupp at KPUA.

I talked about how I volunteered to be on the TMT committee of the Hawaii Island Economic Development Board when I first heard that the TMT was considering coming to Hawai‘i. I felt strongly that if it was to be done, it needed to be done right. I talked about going to Keaukaha Elementary School to see its principal Lehua Veincent and asking where they go on excursions.

He told me the bus was too expensive so they walked around the community. I was shocked. How was it possible that in the shadows of hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of telescopes on Mauna Kea, Keaukaha Elementary School did not have enough money to go on excursions?

My friends Duane Kanuha, Leslie, Macario and I said, “This no can,” and we decided to do something about it. We went out in the community and told the story. We said that for $600 people could adopt a class at Keaukaha Elementary School, so they could rent a bus and pay entry fees to ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center or another destination.

The idea is to inspire the kids. My Pop inspired me when I was in the fourth grade and his effect lasted a lifetime. I think the same can result from ‘Imiloa.

The Moores, a large funder of the TMT, found out about the Adopt-A-Class project and liked it. They adopted all the students of the Big Island.

I told the audience about the $1 million dollar fund that will be used for the education of our keiki. We are relying on the people we appoint to administer the fund.  We want to appoint people to the Board based on their passion for taking care of the community for the long run.

Mauna Kea

TMT is Pono

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Yesterday I joined a group of community folks who came together to create some radio ads that articulate why the Thirty Meter Telescope is beneficial to us living here on the Big Island. Nobody had an agenda, other than their belief that the TMT is good for people. The ads will run in a few days.

In the final analysis, it is about respect for each other and concern for the future.

I keep coming back to the word “pono” as best describing what we are trying to do. Chicken skin!

From ulukau.org, the Hawaiian language dictionary (and more) on the web:
Pono: nvs. Goodness, uprightness, morality, moral qualities, correct or proper procedure, excellence, well-being, prosperity, welfare, benefit, behalf, equity, sake, true condition or nature, duty; moral, fitting, proper, righteous, right, upright, just, virtuous, fair, beneficial, successful, in perfect order, accurate, correct, eased, relieved; should, ought, must, necessary.

I’ll post the audio of the complete radio session in a few days; in the meantime, here is my own 20-second spot:

Aloha Everyone,

My name is Richard Ha. I’m president of Hamakua Springs Country Farms.  I support the Thirty Meter Telescope. It is no longer about us; now, it is about the keiki and future generations.

The Thirty Meter Telescope will be the biggest and best in the world. The officers of the TMT come from humble beginnings themselves, so they can relate to our people. They understand when we say, We need to plan for our keiki and future generations.

This is an opportunity for all of us to respect, cooperate and collaborate with each other for the good of future generations.

My dad told me when I was a small kid: “There are a thousand reasons why ‘No can;’ I only looking for one reason why ‘Can.’” For the sake of the keiki and future generations, we need to figure out how CAN!

Education, Mauna Kea

Loud & Important Voices

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I’ve written a lot about the educational benefits to our keiki, young people and future generations if the Thirty Meter Telescope folks decide to come to Hawai‘i instead of going to Chile.

Now it’s time to recognize and aloha those folks who have been in the forefront, raising their voices in protest about how much needed to be done to make things pono.

Aloha to Kealoha Pisciotta, Paul Neves, Ku Ching, Hanalei Fergerstrom, the Kanaka Council and others for helping us come as far as we have.

It is because of their tireless efforts that Mauna Kea is now under the control of the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo. They won a lawsuit, and Judge Hara ruled that a Comprehensive Management Plan needed to be made before any further development could proceed. That Plan has been developed and accepted with conditions by the Board of Land and Natural Resources.

I’ve written here before that I volunteered nearly three years ago for a newly formed Thirty Meter Telescope committee at the Hawai‘i Island Economic Development Board. I came to learn a lot about the issues the loud voices were raising, and I was hugely influenced by them.

For example, it struck me that at that time there was hardly any benefit to the Keaukaha community from the multi-million dollar astronomy industry. That’s why we formed the Adopt-a-Class project to send Keaukaha kids on excursion.

The people supporting the Adopt-a-Class project were regular folks, and local business people including the Hawai‘i Island Economic Development Board (HIEDB). They did it for no other reason than that it was the pono thing to do.

At the Hawai‘i Island Economic Development Board, we approached the Mauna Kea issue from the perspective of “What is pono?” Not once did we put economic interests as top priority. I am proud to be a part of this organization.

More than a year ago, Dr. Henry Yang, Chancellor of UC Santa Barbara and the new president of the Thirty Meter Telescope corporation, and Dr. Jean Lou Chameau, President of Cal Tech, came to the Big Island to see for themselves.

At that point, the general consensus of the TMT board was probably that the TMT was going to Chile.

When I first met Henry Yang, I got the feeling he was someone who would truly listen to regular folks’ concerns. After he left, I called my brother Kenneth and told him I was optimistic that things could work out right. I felt then that Henry was someone I could do business with on a handshake. I still feel that way.

Since then, I think they have visited Hilo more than 15 times. Their objective is always to listen and develop relationships. They fly in and out quietly and don’t try to get publicity. And they actually prefer to meet regular people. They visited Keaukaha Elementary School at least four times. And they visited the Kanaka Council, Hank Fergerstrom, the litigants, as well as Hawaiian students and teachers from UH Hilo and Hawai‘i Community College.

We suggested to Henry early on that there must be a community benefit package centering on education for our keiki. He agreed, and for nearly a year the HIEDB has been working on a framework that ensures the money would be spent in a wise and effective way, free of self-interest, solely for the benefit of the keiki.

Now it’s starting to look like millions of dollars in educational benefits can come to the Big Island, free of charge. The rail project on O‘ahu is financed by taxing the people and when they use the rail system the people will pay again. By contrast, if the TMT chooses Hawai‘i instead of Chile, it will put millions of dollars annually into education for the Big Island’s keiki.

The world has changed. Finite resources are facing an increasing population. Programs for the most needy among us are being cut. Education programs are being cut. Out here on our island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, we are vulnerable. Now, it is no longer about us. It’s about future generations.

We have an opportunity now to get millions of dollars for the education of our keiki and future generations.

Are we wise enough to look to the future and dream of what can be? Let’s all go there together.

Education, Mauna Kea

TMT & Money For Our Children’s Education

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Nine months into discussions about what will be important to our community if the Thirty-Meter Telescope (TMT) comes to the Big Island, I feel that we can get at least $100 million for the education of our children over the next 50 years. At a minimum; it could be more.

Last summer, I wrote a post speculating about how the TMT could benefit our island if it were built here on Mauna Kea. I wrote:

I’m on the board of the Hawai’i Island Economic Development Board, and we’ve made it clear that this can only happen if, unlike with previous telescopes, our people clearly benefit from it.

That post last August had a lot of “What ifs,” regarding how our people could benefit from the siting of this telescope here, as opposed to what’s happened with past and current telescopes.

We have made a lot of progress. It’s pretty amazing how far we’ve come, and how many of those “What Ifs” have been addressed.

In their draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), the TMT people have committed to a community benefit package as well as a higher education package. I wrote last week, before the draft EIS was published, that the community benefit package will consist of at least $1 million dollars annually for the education of our keiki.

The higher education package will even surpass the community benefit package.

This means that the TMT will be giving at least $2 million per year, over the next 50 years, for the education of our Big Island children. That’s for both kids in K-12 ($1 million/year) and those in higher education (Hawai’i Community College and the University of Hawai’i at Hilo; $1 million/year).

Two million dollars for education every year for the next 50 years. At least $100 million over the next 50 years.

It’s a far, far cry from the $1/year rent that telescopes pay now.

The money for younger kids is to help kids so they are in a position to succeed when they are in high school-that is the whole objective. It takes smart people to do that; educators, not us. We’re just putting in the framework so the smart people can figure out how to do that in these times. The money would be administered through a foundation by seven people, chosen geographically from around the island. Programs will apply for grants.

From my post last August:

• What if the TMT coming here meant disadvantaged Hawaiian (and other race) students can attend Hawai’i Community College and the University of Hawai’i at Hilo for free?

That discussion is going on right now. People are looking at the “unmet needs” of these students.

• What if we develop a pathway for local people to fill jobs during the extensive construction and operating of the telescope?

The TMT’s Environmental Impact Statement addresses work force development. They are looking at developing the skills of today’s ninth graders, so they will be ready to step into jobs that open up when the TMT is built eight years from now.

• What if we collect all the funds attributable to astronomy and have that money administered by a group of wise people who are chosen specifically to allocate it to the education of this island’s keiki?

The Hawaii Island Economic Development Board set up the framework and governance of this fund specifically for the education of our keiki, emphasizing K-12. It will be administered by the Hawaii Community Foundation.

• What if these credible people fund education programs about the Hawaiian culture and Hawaiian language, and about traditional ways of sustainability, the sciences, job skills and other subjects that prepare our children for a new world where we, living on the island of Hawai’i, might have to survive on what exists here on our island?

We recognize that not all students are suited for a career in astronomy. A certain percentage of this fund is set aside for Hawaiian cultural and traditional approaches.

• And what if this organization exists far into the future and benefits many generations to come?

An annual contribution will ensure this. In addition, wise administration of these funds will ensure benefit to future generations.

• What if, not at the summit though on Mauna Kea, the world’s finest and most powerful telescope looks back in time to the beginning, seeking the answer to the question, “Are we alone?”…

If the TMT helps our people to help their keiki succeed, our people will help the TMT succeed.

…while on the ground, the people have learned how to restore the ancient fish ponds, and are supplementing that with modern aquaculture methods that don’t require oil? And the people on the island’s windward side are using their abundant water to again grow kalo, and growing food with hydroponics, and as in pre-Western times they are able to feed everybody without depending on foreign oil?

A rising tide raises all boats.

It would be the best of the future and the best of the past. What if?

We have some answers to our What Ifs now, and they are pretty impressive.

Education, Mauna Kea

Mauna Kea: The Beginning of “Doing It Right”

The Thirty Meter Telescope project is getting ready to submit its draft EIS.

When I volunteered for the Thirty Meter Telescope committee of the Hawaii Island Economic Development Board nearly three years ago, I said: “If the TMT is to come here, we need to do it right.”

There needed to be big changes:

  • We needed to make sure that the mountain was under the control of the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo. Mauna Kea is the kuleana of Big Islanders, and this was an important change. It happened. A rule making bill passed through the legislature, which gave the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo enforcement powers to protect the mountain.
  • We agreed with Judge Hara that a Comprehensive Management Plan (CMP) needed to be done. The CMP has been done.
  • We’ve said from the start that $1/year rent is not acceptable anymore. Instead of $50 for 50 years, let’s start at $1 million/year, which would be $50 million for the education of our keiki from kindergarden to 12th grade.

As I said nearly three years ago: “If the TMT is to come here, we need to do it right.”

This is the beginning of doing it right.

Mauna Kea, Peak Oil, Renewable Energy Sources

Part 3: We Have Two Good Options

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In Part 1 and Part 2 of this article, we talked about how in just one generation, the U.S. middle class increasingly came under financial pressure. And we talked about how our whole complex economy is now resting on the stressed-out middle class.

We are noticing that as the finite oil supply depletes, the world population increases, and that puts more and more pressure on demand. As prices rise beyond what we can stand, our economy will drop back into recession. It’s a scenario that can keep repeating itself.

There are a couple of “big picture” things that are unique to us living here on the Big Island, which we can use to do something about all this.

1) We can support the Thirty-Meter Telescope (TMT). Now that the Comprehensive Management Plan has passed, there are specifics in place to take care of Mauna Kea and so we can proceed with the Thirty-Meter Telescope process.

The TMT is a $1.3 billion construction project. It will take nine years to build and will employ more than 300 people during the construction phase. These jobs will help alleviate pressure on our middle class.

Many people feel that most oil exporting nations will no longer be able to export oil within 10 -20 years. If so, we will be happy to have a resource like the TMT located on the Big Island.

In steady state operation, the TMT’s payroll will exceed $25 million a year — and it will be around for 50 years after construction is finished in nine years or so. These are steady jobs that will not rise and fall with the economic times. This will be increasingly more important as the economy suffers from rising oil prices.  In addition, the TMT folks are willing to dedicate a significant amount of money to the education of our keiki, K-12 and beyond.

In addition, the TMT folks are willing to dedicate a significant amount of money to the education of our keiki, K-12 and beyond.

Having this opportunity to site the best telescope in the world on our island is a unique opportunity that comes only once in a lifetime. For the sake of the future generations here, we need to make it happen.

2. The other opportunity unique to the Big Island is the possibility of increasing use of geothermal energy as a source of generating electrical power. Geothermal energy is very dependable and steady. It’s the most dependable source of renewable energy we have available on the Big Island. Let’s use more of it, now!

Our electrical utility HELCO is tasked with providing us dependable and inexpensive electrical power. They also have an obligation to give their investors a fair rate of return. They have a two-part problem.

Electricity usage decreases with lower economic activity, yet they need more electricity sales to generate income for their investors. How about increasing the use of electric vehicles to increase sales for HELCO? Simultaneously, we can utilize as much geothermal energy as possible to stabilize the cost of electricity and make our electric grid more dependable.

It takes energy to get energy. The energy left over, after we use some to grow our food, gives us our lifestyle. We in Hawaii can look forward to a good lifestyle if we switch to renewable sources for our energy. And geothermal gives us the best opportunity to maximize all the renewable resources we have available to us.

By supporting the TMT and Geothermal Energy here, we could have good jobs, good education and dependable, reasonably priced energy. As we face an uncertain future, this would not be such a bad outcome!