SustainLane 2006 US City Sustainability Ranking
Honolulu: Almost Paradise
People know Honolulu, of course, for its location, location, location. The ocean acts as a giant thermostat, warming and moisturizing Arctic winds over thousands of miles. By the time that air gets to Hawaii, it's a balmy 78 degrees
Though Honolulu's population is smallish, at about 375,000, in a single month just as many tourists can pass through the city. Honolulu is also an important transit hub, with a lot of global freight and military traffic.
The need for sustainability can be especially acute for island cities because of their partial reliance on faraway supplies and processing. Honolulu has made strides toward sustainability, but could benefit greatly from further efforts.
Honolulu is doing well compared to other US cities, and in certain areas it deserves praise and emulation. In terms of energy, transportation, and overall sustainability planning, however, Honolulu doesn't distinguish itself from the pack. It has an opportunity to wrangle more energy from its breezy and sunlit clime. Almost 80 percent of the city's energy comes from oil, and it has virtually no renewables in its total energy mix. Honolulu, already blessed with so much, could show us how to maximize nature's gifts-and truly shine as a sustainability leader.
