honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, April 3, 2007

Hawai'i 2050 needs input from all of us

StoryChat: Comment on this story

It goes without saying that Hawai'i is a special place. It's a place where people work hard to retain links with Hawai'i's history, to maintain its special lifestyle and culture and to create a viable future for generations to come.

But we also face daunting challenges: a growing problem with homelessness; a healthcare crisis; spreading traffic congestion; and urbanization in competition with agricultural lands. As an island community we also grapple with finding balance, as we deal with with an overdependence on oil, a reliance on imported food and an economy that is heavily dependent on tourism.

We must deal with those issues and more if we are to create a better future.

To help us get there, the Legislature in 2005 established Hawai'i 2050 and the Hawai'i 2050 Sustainability Task Force to create a plan for "a sustainable Hawai'i" by 2050. This plan, due in December, will guide decisions made by policymakers and communities for a long time to come.

The task force is looking for input from residents statewide. Meetings have been scheduled on six islands through May 8. (For a schedule, go to www.hawaii2050.org.)

What kinds of jobs do you want for your children and grandchildren? What educational opportunities should be available to them? How can we control traffic and sprawl? How do we cut our dependence on oil? How do we insulate ourselves from shipping disruptions? What is your vision of Hawai'i in 2050?

These are critical questions that you can help answer to ensure that Hawai'i continues to reflect our cultural values well into the future.

So take the time to get involved. Attend one of the meetings. Make your voice heard. Our future is far too important not to step up and make a difference.