MAYOR ENGAGES ISLAND YOUTH

IN SHAPING THE FUTURE OF OAHU

With the understanding that the future of our island home rests with our youth, Mayor Mufi Hannemann has taken steps to engage them at all levels, from elementary school students to high school students.  The student volunteer activities coordinated by the City include Make-a-Difference day, Earth Day, various community-service projects designed to improve our watershed, the teen environmental video project, and co-sponsorship of the Youth forum of the 2050 Sustainability Task Force.

The Mayor’s 21^st Century Ahupuaa Youth Ambassadors is his innovative approach to inspiring young people to care for the environment.  This youth board will devise new strategies to educate and involve their peers in the future of their island home.  As the mayor described in his state-of-the-City address earlier this year, the 21^st Century Ahupuaa approach to the environment honors the cultural traditions of the past on the maintenance and care of island resources with the complementary use of modern technology.  This approach to sustainability is one the mayor seeks to use within the City and County of Honolulu to ensure the island remains the best place to live, work, and raise a family.

The Ambassadors’ first meeting will be held December 2, 2007, at Honolulu Hale.  They will discuss the City’s Energy and Sustainability Task Force report and discuss their interests with respect to our island’s sustainability.

More than 30 high school students from across the island have been invited.  Many of these students attended the mayor’s community meeting on recycling for youth held at Iolani School this May and have participated in City-sponsored stream cleanings and storm-drain stenciling events.  Students were also recruited from Hawaii Kai and Mililani, the two communities where the City is conducting its pilot curbside recycling program.

Mayor Hannemann said, “It is clear to me from my public appearances and discussions with Oahu’s youth that they understand the need to actively work to ensure that our environment is maintained and improved.  They do not feel inconvenienced by the extra effort to recycle or weigh the environmental consequences of their actions.  We need to harness that energy, enthusiasm, and commitment.  I am pleased to have this exemplary group of students serve as Ambassadors.  They were nominated by their schools because of their commitment to the environment and their leadership potential.  It is expected that these Ambassadors will share what they learn with their families, schools, and communities to allow us all to improve the stewardship of our island’s natural resources.”

Earlier, Mayor Hannemann invited students to visit the City’s Discover Recycling Fair held September 20-22 at the Neal S. Blaisdell Arena.  The City sponsored buses for more than 40 schools to send students to the fair, which featured recycling information, recycled content products produced in Hawaii, local recycling companies’ services and programs, a Trash2Fashion show, music, workshops on starting recycling programs, and recycling fundraising programs.

More than 7,300 students and adults attended the three-day event.

Mayor’s 21^st Century Ahupuaa Youth Ambassadors

Shalom Bacos of Nanakuli High School

Christopher Ballesteros of Damien Memorial High School

Michael Bouchard of Damien Memorial High School

Camila Chaudron of Punahou School

Stephanie Chin of Iolani School

Jam Nicole Cristobal of Waipahu High School

Raquel Dela Rama of Waipahu High School

Natalie Fukuhara of Aiea High School

Raenaa Fukushima of Mililani High School

Elyssa Grief of Punahou School

Paul Iona of Kamehameha School

Sheldon Kaopuiki of Nanakuli High School

Marlee Kealoha of McKinley High School

Kimberly Lee of Punahou School

Andy Lieu of McKinley High School

Jenny Luu of Farrington High School

Te Jay McGrath of Aiea High School

Bailey Miller of Kaiser High School

Trinity Nguyen of Aiea High School

Kelly Park of Kaiser High School

Devra Purkiss of Kapolei High School

John Pyun of Kaiser High School

Mark Rulona of Iolani School

Andrew Simeona of Castle High School

Remington Taum of Kaiser High School

Nakisha Tauvela-Lewis of Aiea High School

Hana Thompson of Campbell High School

Kent Yamada of Mililani High School

Kimberly Yuen of Kapolei High School

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Contact

Bill Brennan, 527-6928