Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce Announces 'E Malama Aina Festival,' Focus on Sustainability, Alternative Energy, Public Education

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Hilo, HI (PRWEB) July 11, 2008 -- The Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce announces E Malama Aina ("Lets Take Care of the Land"), a 2-day festival Nov. 7-8 at Hilo's Mooheau Park, which will offer consumers and businesses a firsthand look at Hawaii Island innovations and best practices aimed at sustainability. The event is sponsored in conjunction with the County of Hawaii Department of Research & Development. The E Malama Aina Festival is an outgrowth of the Chamber's successful Ag Expo.

The event's co-chairs, Steve Shropshire (Aloha Green) and Richard Ha (Hamakua Springs Country Farms) take aim at the compelling need to inform, educate, inspire and initiate consumer action --- critical public issues in light of oil's continued volatility.

"This year our community--and the country at large--face severe challenges. E Malama Aina will showcase innovation in agriculture, alternative energy, transportation, housing, and education in an interactive village environment, offering consumers a unique, hands-on experience," said Shropshire.

Co-chair Ha added that the organizers have found many on Hawaii Island "who have been engaged in innovative work aimed at sustainability. For example, there's a progressive small company in Hakalau making hydrogen out of energy generated by river water; Native Hawaiian aquaculture practices are being re-introduced because of its inherently sustainable design; and as traditional farmers, we're excited to be inspiring our community with simple, do-it-yourself home gardening innovations."

The event is to have a series of sustainability "villages" staffed by experts in areas critical to our contemporary island lifestyle. A sample section of a "green home" will be erected onsite, showing best building practices, including solar energy and renewable building materials. A miniature ahupuaa is to be on display, depicting land stewardship practices found in traditional Native Hawaiian living.

Additionally, event planners are working with island schools to offer class field-trips to the festival engaging children in interactive sustainability practices first-hand.

Besides all of this, there will be continuous live award-winning Hawaiian entertainment, a variety of food vendors, and a special edition Hilo Farmers Market.

Lalea "Sam" Puluole, executive director of Hilo's Downtown Improvement Association (DIA), a member of the planning committee said "We are fully engaged in this special event, and are excited to see Hilo town evolve into the E Mälama 'Äina homebase."

Aggressive media campaigns are on the way with Oceanic Time-Warner, Hawai'i's cable

television provider reaching more than 400,000 households, through an exclusive media partnership featuring a statewide series of promotional commercial spots. The first of the television promo series features Mayor Harry Kim inviting all of Hawai'i Nei to attend the event. Statewide broadcast will begin in early July, with a special announcement on the Time-Warner OC-16 series "Kamaaina Backroads."?

Hawai'i Island-based filmmaker Roland Joseph Torres is producing a series of short films profiling Hawaii innovators of sustainability, to be broadcast in segments on Kamaaäina Backroads? shown in Hawai'i and the mainland, as well as during the festival in November.

"Ultimately, we see this as an opportunity to partner with our larger community in working toward a better tomorrow," said Shropshire.

For corporate partners, E Malama Aina offers a wide range of opportunities designed to maximize consumer-direct interaction in the first event of this kind in Hawaii.

Sponsorships are being coordinated through the Pacific Media & Learning Trust, contact (808) 333-5764

The E Malama Aina Festival is a project of the Hawai'i Island Chamber of Commerce (HICC). Founded in 1898, the Chamber celebrates its 110th anniversary in 2008. Based in Hilo, the County seat of Hawaii Island, it serves members from East Hawaii as well as member businesses from throughout all of the State of Hawaii, the nation, and internationally.

High and low resolution images are available for members of the media. Please contact Roland at the Pacific Media & Learning Trust, (808) 333-5764

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