Panel Discussion
What Did Summit Participants Want from LIEM-Hawai‘i?
Process suggestions:
- Analyses should be provided to decision-makers and the public as the 20+ year data gathering process unfolds, for example, land-use analysis for biofuels versus other crops; analysis of the transport systems’ relationship to land-use.
- Data collection and analysis should lend itself to scenario building for decision-making.
- Researchers should include data about the natural ecosystem.
- Researchers should collect qualitative as well as quantitative data.
- Researchers should consider non-economic values in their analyses, including local social and cultural values.
- There should not be an assumption that GDP must continue to grow; the study should examine this basic assumption of high growth and consider other models (zero growth, etc.).
- The study should embrace indigenous knowledge and practices.
- Data analysis should be translated for use in action-oriented research.
- Island students and faculty should be included in the LIEM-Hawai‘i research processes.
- LIEM-Hawai‘i should help to educate island children about Hawai‘i’s future choices and sustainable pathways.
- The process should include leadership and citizen participation in data gathering and include public outreach and engagement in the analysis and dissemination of findings.
- Researchers should examine the relationship between Hawai‘i and the other islands.
Specific subject matter requested:
- Historical analysis of island material flows
- Biofuel choices and use of island resources
- The relationship between transport systems and settlement patterns/land-use patterns
- Effect of tourism on water use/water systems
- Water systems and energy use
- Population demographics and resource use, with attention to an aging population
- Material flows for agriculture/food production
- Waste systems
- How much of Hawai‘i Island’s resources should be allocated to the urban center on O‘ahu?
- What economies of scale are relevant to inter-island material flows?
- Service sector infrastructure: what will we need for health care, education, police, and fire services?