Matthew Matasci

St. Anthony Junior/Senior High, 12th grade (Maui)

I climbed up the Waihe’e Ridge trail, glanced over my shoulder, and turned to get a better

view. My gaze swept over the steep hillside, covered with bright green fauna. Birds sang sweetly

in the distance, like gentle whispers in my ear. As a fresh, earthy scent presented itself, the sun

poked playfully through the misty cloud cover, painting the already bright green valley with even

more vibrant hues.

I worry that one day Hawai’i will no longer have places like this, these pristine remnants

of a world almost forgotten. As our population and economy grow, our environment suffers the

consequences. Will the Waihe’e Ridge become a wasteland? Where will the birds go? In the 21st

century, the world is rapidly evolving and Hawai’i is no exception. Its people live in a sensitive

ecosystem that’s in jeopardy because of unsustainable practices and behaviors. Hawai’i’s

citizens, especially the youth, are capable of being agents of change, and we’re ready to step up

to this challenge.

Hawai’i is a special place -- it’s my home. I want to return after college and earn a living

performing meaningful work. However, if Hawai’i’s job market continues in its current

direction, that may not be possible. It’s also important to preserve Hawai’i not only for my

generation, but for generations to come. I want my children and their children to experience the

wonders that I have. We need to strengthen our economy and environment, and an increase in

awareness could spur the creation of jobs. Sustainability is something I’m passionate about, and

I would love to base my life’s work on it.

For Hawai’i, the risks are greater. If our economy collapses, the state won’t be able to

function. Families who have lived here for generations, whose lives are deeply connected to

Hawai’i, would be forced to look elsewhere for work because of the economy. Yet, our state has

an abundance of potential. The answer surrounds us -- the ocean.

Aquaculture, power generation, and fresh water production are close at hand; we only

need to look towards the vast blue mass at our shores. If we could perfect a technology that

enabled sustainable acquisition of necessities through the ocean such as food, power, and fresh

water, a huge impact would be made on Hawai’i and the world environmentally and

economically.

There is ongoing research to expand our understanding of how to use the ocean

sustainably. Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion uses the ocean’s differing water temperatures to

produce electricity through a “cold meets warm water” reaction. It can also generate cold water

as a byproduct for use in air conditioning or refrigeration. The water can be desalinated into

potable water, taking the pressure off underground aquifers. Aquaculture is another blossoming

technology. Farming seafood in local waters means fewer fossil fuels are needed to transport

seafood, and the money stays here.

The people of Hawai’i would benefit from the creation of well-paying jobs, allowing

more people to stay here. Since they’d make more money, they’d have more to spend. The

government would spend less money on programs like welfare, and could put savings towards

education, boosting the economy and improving people’s lives.

Many other APEC countries have expansive access to the ocean. The technology that we

can develop in Hawai’i could be put to use in other places with similar benefits. As food and

energy prices increase, producing things locally with limited environmental impact is invaluable.

The extra money provided this way could make a noticeable impact on international trade; APEC

countries could purchase more goods from each other with their savings. There’s potential for

collaboration: a wealth of knowledge could arise by sharing findings internationally, and

inventions from one place could be manufactured in another, stimulating more global trade.

I hope that the memory of that beautiful day on the Waihe’e Ridge won’t exist

exclusively as a recollection, but as a dynamic portrait of serenity, visible to anyone willing to

brave the trek. Hawai’i’s future is bright. We are a population who cares, and that love for our

islands drives us to respond to this challenge. With an increased emphasis on sustainable

practices and caring for the environment, we could become a key collaborator in the effort to

achieve world sustainability while shaping a stable economic climate. We can help other

countries do the same and by working together, APEC members can benefit from sustainable

practices.

Sources:

"What Is Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion?" National Renewable Energy Laboratory. NREL.

Web. 17 Sept. 2011. <http://www.nrel.gov/otec/what.html>.

Matthew Matasci

St. Anthony Junior/Senior High, 12th grade (Maui)

I climbed up the Waihe’e Ridge trail, glanced over my shoulder, and turned to get a better

view. My gaze swept over the steep hillside, covered with bright green fauna. Birds sang sweetly

in the distance, like gentle whispers in my ear. As a fresh, earthy scent presented itself, the sun

poked playfully through the misty cloud cover, painting the already bright green valley with even

more vibrant hues.

I worry that one day Hawai’i will no longer have places like this, these pristine remnants

of a world almost forgotten. As our population and economy grow, our environment suffers the

consequences. Will the Waihe’e Ridge become a wasteland? Where will the birds go? In the 21st

century, the world is rapidly evolving and Hawai’i is no exception. Its people live in a sensitive

ecosystem that’s in jeopardy because of unsustainable practices and behaviors. Hawai’i’s

citizens, especially the youth, are capable of being agents of change, and we’re ready to step up

to this challenge.

Hawai’i is a special place -- it’s my home. I want to return after college and earn a living

performing meaningful work. However, if Hawai’i’s job market continues in its current

direction, that may not be possible. It’s also important to preserve Hawai’i not only for my

generation, but for generations to come. I want my children and their children to experience the

wonders that I have. We need to strengthen our economy and environment, and an increase in

awareness could spur the creation of jobs. Sustainability is something I’m passionate about, and

I would love to base my life’s work on it.

For Hawai’i, the risks are greater. If our economy collapses, the state won’t be able to

function. Families who have lived here for generations, whose lives are deeply connected to

Hawai’i, would be forced to look elsewhere for work because of the economy. Yet, our state has

an abundance of potential. The answer surrounds us -- the ocean.

Aquaculture, power generation, and fresh water production are close at hand; we only

need to look towards the vast blue mass at our shores. If we could perfect a technology that

enabled sustainable acquisition of necessities through the ocean such as food, power, and fresh

water, a huge impact would be made on Hawai’i and the world environmentally and

economically.

There is ongoing research to expand our understanding of how to use the ocean

sustainably. Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion uses the ocean’s differing water temperatures to

produce electricity through a “cold meets warm water” reaction. It can also generate cold water

as a byproduct for use in air conditioning or refrigeration. The water can be desalinated into

potable water, taking the pressure off underground aquifers. Aquaculture is another blossoming

technology. Farming seafood in local waters means fewer fossil fuels are needed to transport

seafood, and the money stays here.

The people of Hawai’i would benefit from the creation of well-paying jobs, allowing

more people to stay here. Since they’d make more money, they’d have more to spend. The

government would spend less money on programs like welfare, and could put savings towards

education, boosting the economy and improving people’s lives.

Many other APEC countries have expansive access to the ocean. The technology that we

can develop in Hawai’i could be put to use in other places with similar benefits. As food and

energy prices increase, producing things locally with limited environmental impact is invaluable.

The extra money provided this way could make a noticeable impact on international trade; APEC

countries could purchase more goods from each other with their savings. There’s potential for

collaboration: a wealth of knowledge could arise by sharing findings internationally, and

inventions from one place could be manufactured in another, stimulating more global trade.

I hope that the memory of that beautiful day on the Waihe’e Ridge won’t exist

exclusively as a recollection, but as a dynamic portrait of serenity, visible to anyone willing to

brave the trek. Hawai’i’s future is bright. We are a population who cares, and that love for our

islands drives us to respond to this challenge. With an increased emphasis on sustainable

practices and caring for the environment, we could become a key collaborator in the effort to

achieve world sustainability while shaping a stable economic climate. We can help other

countries do the same and by working together, APEC members can benefit from sustainable

practices.

Sources:

"What Is Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion?" National Renewable Energy Laboratory. NREL.

Web. 17 Sept. 2011. <http://www.nrel.gov/otec/what.html>.