Oʻahu is an ideal destination for the conscious traveler. Accommodations, attractions and events incorporate sustainable practices that preserve Hawaiʻi's precious natural resources, and businesses build community-minded programs that benefit Hawaiʻi’s people and culture.

The Hawaiian Islands are on the cusp of the latest green practices, even at the governmental level. In 2021, Hawaiʻi will become the first state in the U.S. to ban the sale of sunscreen containing coral-harming chemicals like oxybenzone and octinoxate. In addition, on Oʻahu all single-use plastics and polystyrene food service items will be prohibited by 2021. Featured below are highlights of local organizations, hotels and businesses that are helping to make the Oʻahu one of the leaders in corporate social responsibility (CSR). 

Sustainable Tourism Association of Hawaiʻi (STAH)

The Sustainable Tourism Association of Hawaiʻi is a non-profit organization focused on protecting Hawaiʻi’s natural and cultural resources through the promotion of responsible tourism and educational programs. To become certified as a sustainable tour operator, businesses must successfully complete an evaluation that measures environmental management tactics such as energy efficiency, water conservation and usage, waste management and more. There are currently seven sustainable tour operators on Oʻahu including Oʻahu Photo Tours, Paradise Helicopters, Dolphin Excursions, Kuaola Ranch Hawaiʻi, Inc., Bike Hawaiʻi, Holokai Snorkel Adventure and Kailua Beach Adventures. To learn more about the certification process, please visit www.sustainabletourismhawaii.org/certification/.

Hawaiʻi Green Business Program (HGBP)

The Hawaiʻi Green Business Program (HGBP) is a free state program that assists and recognizes businesses that strive to operate in an environmentally and socially responsible manner. HGBP currently has four categories including resorts and hotels, office and retail, restaurant and food service facilities, and green events. HGBP is proud to announce the 50 by 2020 initiative targeting 50 businesses, government agencies, and organizations to participate and be recognized in 2020. To learn more about HGBP, please visit Hawaiʻi.gov/">greenbusiness.Hawaiʻi.gov.   

Surfrider Foundation: Ocean Friendly Restaurants (OFRs)

Ocean Friendly Restaurants is a Surfrider Foundation program that recognizes restaurants that reduce plastic waste and implement ocean-friendly practices. Participating restaurants must meet criteria like no expanded polystyrene use, no plastic bags offered, paper straws provided only upon request, and only reusable food ware used for onsite dining. To view the full list of Ocean Friendly Restaurants on Oʻahu, please visit https://oahu.surfrider.org/ofr/. 

In addition to these programs, the following Oʻahu hotels and resorts, activity partners and restaurants are implementing eco-friendly practices and sustainability initiatives across the island. 

Hilton Waikīkī Beach

Clean the World 

• Hilton Waikīkī Beach is an active participant of “Clean the World.” Every day, its housekeeping team collects bars of soap left behind by guests to be recycled into bars of new soap. Rather than landing in landfills, the new soap is redistributed to communities in need around the world. To date, more than two million pounds of Hilton soap and amenity bottles have been diverted from landfills. Other leftover items such as linens, electronics, and older furniture are donated to local schools, shelters and community organizations.

Locally-Sourced

• Hilton Waikīkī Beach’s “Locally Sourced” program focuses on supporting local business whenever possible. Examples include working with local farmers and purveyors for its food and beverage operations such as ʻEwa Farms, Twins Bridge Farm, Kahuku Farm, Haleʻiwa Farm, Mari’s Garden, Ululoa Farm, MauiGold Pineapples, L&R Farm Molokaʻi, Kulana Beef, Love’s Bakery, Lappert’s Hawaiian Ice Cream, Ono Farms, Waialua Chocolate Kona, Tropics Fish, Fresh Island and Garden Valley Isle. Hilton Waikīkī Beach has even partnered with local artist Phil Sabado to create a unique “Ladies Getaway” package. Known for his paintings of Hawaiʻi's nature, culture, people, history and mythology, Sabado’s textiles are part of this unique package.  

Everything but the Kitchen Recycling

• Hilton Waikīkī Beach recycles leftover food from its restaurant, bars, lounge and other special events to a local pig farm. It also recycles cooking oil and grease to a local biodiesel company that makes renewable energy from the used cooking oil.

Shoreline Hotel Waikīkī

Green Key Initiative

• The Shoreline Hotel Waikīkī has a green key initiative in place. When guests arrive, they insert the keycard into the slot, which activates the AC in the room and automatically turns the lights on. The AC is regulated on all rooms, ensuring the AC isn’t overused. When guests leave, they take their keycard with them. Upon removing the keycard, the AC is turned off. This feature reduces the use of energy while the room isn’t in use and guests are out adventuring.

Sustainable Products by Public Goods

• Shoreline Hotel Waikīkī is the first hotel to offer in-room products by Public Goods, a Kickstarter success story and Earth-conscious brand. The hotel adopted a sustainable refill system using stylish and reusable containers made of sugarcane bioplastics. All products are vegan-friendly, cruelty-free, made in the USA, and do not omit harmful chemicals, parabens, and synthetic fragrances.