Hawai'i Hotel Reef Stewardship Guide

Hawai‘i Hotel Reef Stewardship Guide Hawai‘i Hotel Reef Stewardship Guide Table of Contents 1. Overview/Introduction ..............................................3 Calendar of Events .............................................29 Purpose of this Guide ..........................................3 Sustainable Seafood ............................................30 Sustainable Tourism ............................................4 Sundry Stores and Other Vendors ...................33 The Accommodations Industry’s Role ...............4 5. Your Hotel’s Stewardship ..........................................34 Watershed Stewardship .......................................5 How “Green” is Your Property? ........................34 2. Hawai‘i’s Coral Reefs ...................................................6 Creating a Sustainability Plan ...........................37 Basic Coral Biology and Ecology .......................6 Marketability of Sustainability ..........................38 Importance of Reefs .............................................7 6. Recognizing Your Sustainability Initiatives: Reef Status .............................................................7 Certification and Recognition Programs in Reef Threats ...........................................................8 Hawai‘i and Beyond ............................................. 39 Solutions ..............................................................10 Overview of Certifications ................................39 Economic Context and Urgency for Action ...10 Appendices ......................................................................45 3. Reef Stewardship Activities that Reduce Appendix A: Sustainable Seafood Menu Land-Based Pollution ...............................................11 Checklist ...........................................................45 Reefs and Wastewater ........................................11 Appendix B: Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Stormwater Management ..................................12 W atch Consumer Guide for Hawai‘i and Low Impact Development and Design ............14 Chef Buyer’s Guide ..........................................47 More Best Practices ............................................17 A ppendix C: Community Engagement 4. Reef Stewardship Activities that Opportunities ...................................................49 Engage and Educate ..................................................21 A ppendix D: Theme Days, Weeks and Staff Education ....................................................21 Months ..............................................................58 Guest Education .................................................22 Appendix E: Resources to Explore ...................59 Sustainable Marine Recreation .........................24 Appendix F: Seafood Comparison Chart ........61 “Voluntourism” ...................................................25 A ppendix G: Sample Sustainability Beach Cleanups ..................................................26 Statement .........................................................66 Citizen Science ...................................................27 References ........................................................................67 Community Involvement ..................................28 Acknowledgments This guide was collaboratively developed through the contributions of Numerous programs, companies, resorts, organizations, and CORAL staff members (Liz Foote, Juliane Diamond, Lisa Owens Viani, individuals are mentioned in this guide. Although they are introduced Joseph Clerici, Sarah Freiermuth, Marissa Stein, Julia Stewart, Erica in this publication, CORAL does not endorse any particular business, Perez, and Wesley Crile), and includes additional contributions by program, or product. Lauren C. Roth Venu (Roth Ecological Design Intl.), Matt Moore (Roth Funding for this publication was provided by The Keith Ecological Design Intl.), Chris Barzman (Barzman Consulting), Jon Campbell Foundation, The Tiffany and Co. Foundation, NOAA Coral Chin, and Laura Suur. All photo credit goes to CORAL staff, unless Reef Conservation Program, Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, and The Harold otherwise noted. K. L. Castle Foundation. Case studies were compiled through observations made by our team, information submitted by resort representatives, and publicly available information online, particularly the Hawai‘i Green Business Program’s “Their Stories.” Additional resources and an electronic version of this guide can be found on CORAL’s website, coral.org/hotelstewardship. Please feel free to provide any feedback or content suggestions, as well as proposed edits or corrections, to CORAL at [email protected]. 2 Hawai‘i Hotel Reef Stewardship Guide • Print version 1.0 • September 2014 Hawai‘i Hotel Reef Stewardship Guide Overview/Introduction Going Above and Beyond Energy, water, and wastewater are the most popular sustainability areas focused on by the accommodations industry. Your property can make a difference in terms of its “ecological footprint” by systematically addressing these areas of concern, while real- izing significant cost savings in the process. However, there is much more you can do to promote, support and perpet- uate Hawai‘i’s unique natural environment and host culture. This guide will assist you and your property in exploring new approaches, tools, and resources in support of sustainability. Did You Know? The Term ‘Greenwashing’ Originated in the Hospitality Industry The term “greenwashing” Purpose of this Guide originated in the mid-1980s, inspired by the emerging he Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL) Hawai‘i—are seeking a genuine natural and practice of hotels to display has created this resource guide as cultural experience in the place they are a placard offering guests a choice not to have their a means to assist Hawai‘i’s accom- visiting, and are becoming more discerning towels and linens laundered Tmodations industry in recognizing the and aware of “greenwashing.” This guide was daily. In some cases, this importance of, and providing key guidance developed to assist your property in taking initiative—framed as a for, the implementation of stewardship and meaningful steps toward sustainability, with means of “saving the environment”—was seen as less sustainability measures within the resort the health and well-being of our corals reefs than genuine if the practice community of Hawai‘i. We recognize that in mind. was not properly executed, there are many resources from within our This resource guide can help your prop- or while other less-than- environmentally-friendly community and internationally and there- erty take stock of its own operations, review practices were occurring fore wanted to compile and make them and be inspired by examples of others’ within the same property readily available to empower those of you efforts, and find resources to assist in at the same time. The term has been generalized and in the Hawai‘i resort community to take on implementing new strategies within your now essentially means new and additional sustainability initiatives. own property. As many resorts in Hawai‘i disingenuous marketing We have also made it a point to connect are situated along the shoreline, they play focused around unsubstan- these activities to our coral reef ecosystem, an important role and shoulder significant tiated or dubious “green,” “eco-friendly,” or “sustain- as there are many things your property can responsibility to serve as a “line of defense” able” claims. More and more do to directly and indirectly support reef for the coastal ecosystem. Suggestions in consumers are becoming conservation. We will also demonstrate the this guide, and additional technical resourc- highly attuned to greenwashing and will instead value of taking these steps, not just from a es will provide the accommodations indus- seek out more genuine conservation standpoint, but from a mar- try the tools you need to ensure that you experiences and products. keting perspective. An increasing number are helping to maintain a healthy coastal of visitors worldwide—and particularly in environment. Hawai‘i Hotel Reef Stewardship Guide • Print version 1.0 • September 2014 3 Hawai‘i Hotel Reef Stewardship Guide Overview/Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................................. Sustainable Tourism he World Tourism Organization (www.unwto.org) defines sustainable tourism as tourism that meets the needs of present tourists and host regions, while Tprotecting and enhancing opportunities for the future of the tourist sector. It takes into account environmental, economic, and socio-cultural aspects of development (Cox et. al, 2008). Sustainable tourism in Hawai‘i “honors Hawai‘i’s host culture, its people and their history; protects its unique natural environment; and engages local communities” (Hawai‘i Tourism Strategic Plan 2005-2015, p.27). Hunter and Green (1995) developed a list of criteria for Highlighting and interpreting Hawaiian culture is a key part of sustainable tourism that includes: 1) follow ethical princi- sustainable tourism. ples that respect the culture and environment of the area, the economy and traditional way of life, and the political with regard for the protection of the natural environment patterns; 2) involve the local population, proceed only with for future generations; 5) plan in a manner integrated with their approval, and

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