Maui has reliable and abundant resources of solar and wind energy. We have considerable but limited arable land and fresh water resources. This magical place is capable of supporting a significant population, but its carrying capacity is not boundless. We rely, to a huge degree, on distant energy sources. Most of our fuels are imported; most of our food is imported; most of our transportation infrastructure is imported; most of our construction materials are imported; a large percent of our daily population is imported, and most of our trash is imported. These imported products are grown or manufactured, and/or transported to Maui, using distant and mostly non-renewable energy sources. And now, the energy bubble is changing. As cheap energy becomes a memory, these supply chains are likely to become less reliable, and much more expensive.

But even though Maui is rich in energy resources, rather than approaching sustainability, we are on a trajectory where our population is outpacing the resources we use. What type of balance can we reach, where is the zone of balance, and how do we move to that balance from the conditions under which we currently operate?

Basically, how do we establish a human footprint that respects and sustains the natural environment? And how do we adjust to the challenges of increasing limits to cheap and readily available imported energy? How do we maintain the aloha of this wonderful island as competition increases over diminishing global resources? How do we learn to live within our means, and move toward that goal with a stronger sense of ohana?

That is what this group is about. This is a forum in which we will explore questions of community, adaptation, and existence in our changing world, where our life-long assumptions can no longer be trusted. It will be a fluid forum which will include education, research, discussion, dreams, plans, and change. Much of the change, I expect, will be in our personal perspectives.

What an adventure!

For more information about Maui Post Petrole, please contact the Coordinator of the group, Ben Pittenger, by email at maui_relocalized@mac.com