I Aloha Molokai will host an Energy Festival at the Mitchell Pauole Center in Kaunakakai.
The festival, which will focus on "sensible renewable energy," will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. Jan. 11 and from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Jan. 12. More than 1,000 people are expected to participate in panels and workshops, listen to local music and enjoy food at the festival.
The opening ceremony Jan. 11 will be a cultural welcome to Native American guests from the Mainland and feature the guest speaker, Colette Machado, chairwoman of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.
The Jan. 12 workshops are about constructing a low-cost solar water heater, do-it-yourself energy audits, reducing electricity use in the home, and photovoltaic options for home and businesses.
Exhibitors will share information about green building, low-cost energy saving devices, and financing programs to help Molokai families install PV without a huge financial investment. Also covered will be growing food, reducing transportation costs and more.
The panels consist of government representatives, community experts and energy experts. They will discuss diverse topics about renewable energy as it relates to Molokai. Other topics will include energy planning statewide, sensible energy solutions for Molokai and indigenous people's perspective about energy independence.
IAM is an all-volunteer organization formed to oppose the wind turbines and undersea cable proposed for Molokai. The group supports renewable energy projects but insists that such projects protect the environment, respect Native Hawaiian culture, provide reliable energy at affordable cost, and are supported by the community. IAM's work involves not just advocacy but public education through films, forums and community outreach on Molokai, around the state and throughout the world.
The educational event is being staged with support from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. For more information, call 213-1321 or email ialohamolokai@gmail.com.
