The University of Hawai'i-Manoa went green yesterday.

Green in honor of Earth Day, a worldwide event. Yesterday students and faculty learned about worm composting, solar cooking, TheBus, beach cleanups and organic food from about 100 booths at the University of Hawai'i Sustainability Festival at Krauss Square.

Some scooped up freshly made earth at the compost booth, others tasted hot tortellini from the solar cooking demonstration and still others had their bikes checked out at the Cycle Manoa booth.

The third annual event was sponsored by the Associated Students of the University of Hawai'i and the Sustainable Saunders Initiative, a group that formed and created a model of sustainability at Saunders Hall on campus.

"It's a way to set an example," said Jaime Sohn, ASUH president. "We're here to show that the students are interested in sustainability."

At the www.Styrophobia.com booth, sales director John Sweeney explained how the university food service is now using biodegradable takeout food containers.

"We're changing the world, one plate lunch at a time," Sweeney said. "Everyone is real excited about using these. There's a shift in consciousness. Customers are now demanding that businesses use Earth-friendly containers."

Musicians, hula and music from an outdoor concert featuring Cruz, Lost at Sea, Natural Vibrations and Pressure Drop serenaded the greenies yesterday. Bins were set up for people to recycle batteries of all kinds, shoes, cell phones and other household items.

"Students are real good at effecting change," said Robert Anderson, a ASUH senator and member of the Sustainable Saunders Initiative. "They're passionate and they can help move the island toward sustainability."

For example it was the students who showed the university administration how to save $15,000 a year in energy costs by turning off some lights at Saunders Hall as a way to cut back on the university's $18 million a year electric bill.

Now students are tackling mass transit. An initiative to provide each UH-Manoa student with a bus pass is in the planning stage, Anderson said.

"Why not start with the youngest generation to effect these changes?" he said. "We're the easiest generation to start with because we're willing to listen and to try."

When gas prices climbed to more than $4 a gallon, graduate student Michael Kimmitt began commuting by bicycle. Now he runs a bicycling club called Cycle Manoa, a registered independent organization on campus. Students can stop by the bike club's site behind the St. John Plant Science Lab building on Maile Way on Sundays from 4 to 8 p.m. and get their bikes tuned up for free.

Twice a year the club sells off donated, refurbished bikes as a way to raise money.

"When gas prices went up, there were more bike riders," Kimmitt said. "Now the bike racks are still full."

Student Leanne Malijana wandered about the fair yesterday checking out the different booths. At the solar photovoltaic booth, she was interested in learning about the light-to-electricity technology.

"We only have one Earth," Malijana said. "Really, once the Earth is gone, we will not have any place to live. Mars isn't ready for us yet."