GOVERNOR LINGLE PRESENTS INNOVATION AWARDS
For Immediate Release: June 30, 2008
HONOLULU – Governor Linda Lingle today recognized three recipients of the Governor’s Innovation Awards for their ingenuity and commitment to developing creative ways to improve Hawai‘i and help the state meet the challenges of the 21st century.
Governor Lingle initiated the Governor’s Innovation Award to acknowledge and encourage innovation across all sectors statewide. The awards, which are being presented monthly, recognize deserving individuals, companies, nonprofits, organizations and government agencies that are developing innovative products, services and processes. The award is part of the Lingle-Aiona Administration’s Hawai‘i Innovation Initiative, a comprehensive plan to transform Hawai‘i’s economy from one dependent on land development to one that builds on the human ingenuity and ability to innovate and compete successfully in the global economy.
“This months’ Innovation Award recipients are outstanding examples of how innovation can help address many of the challenges facing society and can be employed in all sectors of our community,” said Governor Lingle. “These individuals and organizations have taken innovative approaches to protect our environment, help at-risk youth become leaders in their community and expand students’ learning beyond the traditional classroom setting.”
This month’s Governor’s Innovation Award recipients are:
Innovation by an Individual: Erwin Hudelist
Erwin Hudelist, president of Hagedone Printing, has implemented innovative solutions to make Hawai‘i’s largest printing company more environmentally friendly and Hawai‘i a cleaner, greener state. The company Hudelist joined in 1998 was once cited as a heavy industrial polluter. Under his leadership, the company adopted new printing processes and technologies to reduce the emissions from evaporated inks and solvents. To reduce the amount of paper waste, Hudelist implemented a paper recycling effort that has recycled more than 3,000 metric tons of paper waste that otherwise would have ended up in landfills. The earnings from the paper recycling are used to purchase more recycled paper for other print orders.
Hudelist also implemented the PaperBack Program six months ago that allows the customer or end user to return used paper for recycling and reuse. Printers and other companies on the mainland that are now implementing similar programs have sought permission to use the PaperBack name, which Hudelist coined. In addition, he developed the MailBack Program which allows mail recipients to return mail once a month to the source to have it shredded and recycled for free.
Innovation by an Organization: Wai‘anae Community Re-Development Corporation
The Wai‘anae Community Re-Development Corporation has developed innovative programs to improve the lives of young people from O‘ahu’s Leeward Coast and mobilize them to become leaders and “agents of change” in their community. The programs merge education, economic development and Hawaiian cultural elements to help young people overcome a myriad of obstacles, including teen pregnancy, school drop out, alcohol and drug use, homelessness and arrests.
The core of the program involves Ma‘o Organic Farms, which teaches youth organic farming, while fostering youth leadership. The program teaches the importance of organic agriculture and developing sustainable community food systems, and provides hands-on training that balances the study of contemporary agricultural science with native Hawaiian knowledge and traditions. The farm will be a local supplier of Whole Foods.
Innovation in Government: West Hawai‘i Explorations Academy Public Charter School
As a public charter school, West Hawai‘i Explorations Academy (WHEA) has developed innovative teaching methods that focus on outdoor environmental science learning that will instill a lifetime of innovative thinking in their students. The school has developed a wide array of research-based practices that allow its students to interact and learn in the community via long-term projects, instead of primarily in a traditional classroom.
At any given time, there may be up to 40 student-directed projects operating both on and off campus, including a live shark and ray exhibit, seahorse and clownfish propagation, octopus intelligence, solar car development, sustainable agriculture, watershed restoration and preservation of endangered old-growth dry forest trees.
WHEA also serves as consultant for other Hawai‘i schools, planning large-scale projects and innovative curriculum changes. Its integrative methodology can be modified for use in other subjects and learning environments, including health academies, visual and performing arts, technology academies, vocational education and school-to-work initiatives.
Governor’s Innovation Award nominees were evaluated by a 15-member selection panel comprised of industry, education and government representatives statewide. Nominations were submitted online and were judged on creativity; effectiveness in achieving a goal or purpose; transferability and adoptability by others; and significance in addressing an important local or global issue, problem or opportunity. The selection committee provided final recommended nominations to Governor Lingle for her selection.
For additional information about the Innovation Award or to submit a nomination, visit www.hawaii.gov/gov/innovation-award.
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For more information, contact:
Lenny Klompus
Senior Advisor – Communications
Phone: (808) 586-7708
Russell Pang
Chief of Media Relations
Phone: (808) 586-0043
