Kanu Hawaii May 2013 report to members.
My wife is amazing. When we met about two decades ago she introduced me to sustainability. I still remember sitting down in a small, hole in the wall Mexican restaurant off of School Street where she ordered a meatless dinner. That was my first personal experience with a vegetarian. Honestly, had my 18 year old self not been entranced with her beauty perhaps I would have brushed off her beliefs as fringe and crazy. But I didn't. In fact, I have to point to that dinner as the first time in my life that I considered what I now call sustainability.
Slowly I moved over, slowly. Maybe four years after that dinner I too went meatless (sadly an experiment that only lasted four years). I started to take cloth bags to the market. By the way, bringing my own bags then often confused cashiers. I commonly got the expression "heh, do we sell these bags here?" I started to recycle at home and start recycling programs at work. I started to prefer cloth napkins over paper. I started to take home lunches to work. I started many thing I don't think I would have done had it not been for her. Thank you Ali!
Last night after my shower I looked at her 20+ year old bottle that she has refilled, pretty much without fail, over these years. I have no idea how much solid and toxic waste she diverted because of this single bottle. But I bet it sure does add up. Here's a pic of that bottle next to another 20+ year old bottle she uses for conditioner (that stuff I don't use).
Looking back though it is so easy to take a break from living lightly. During particularly busy periods of our lives, I have suggested to her to skip composting or even start throwing away perfectly recyclable materials. I felt like we were too busy. She held firm, consistently. That conviction rooted in values I so love has truly been a (one sided) gift to me. It is my hope that I too will be able to pay her gift forward and be a steadfast positive spirit for our children.
Energy
Food
Waste
Comments posted prior to adopting Facebook comments.
Ali is an inspiration to us all.
Thanks for sharing this incredibly sweet and inspiring story! I love the picture of the bottles as well. Nice touch!
What a great story. Thanks for sharing, Olin!
Love it...but where does she go to get it filled up? I've only seen body soap stations at Down to Earth.
We go to Down to Earth. It's hard to see from this picture but these bottles were bought there years 20+ years ago. They only offer one shampoo in bulk and for years it was a great herbal shampoo. I think last year they switched it to another herbal brand which is not as good as the previous :( possibly because we got so used to the old one.
My experience has been that Down to Earth in Kailua is more reliable than one in Mo'ili'ili. They are out of stock at Mo'ili'ili store occasionally. Also, Kokua Market carries them in bulk and Whole Foods started recently. They are more a little bit more expensive there but they have more varieties, so that's nice.
Thanks for asking Rachel, I was thinking the same thing...and thanks for the responses! Anyone use the bulk items on curly hair?
We still refill these bottles but for some time we were buying the galloon jugs from Down to Earth...they use these same jugs on the bulk station and I am assuming we both recycle the used jugs so it was more green to buy in bulk and refill at home saving us a trip or two. But Down to Earth stopped carrying the jugs for sale, or at least my wife has not found them. So back to refilling bottles :)
I think a great idea would be for vendors to sell bulk items like soaps and shampoos in rain barrels. That way, after the product is sold, the vendor can turn around and sell the empty container for a rain barrel! I'd buy a couple and I am sure there is a market in Hawaii for them.
Brilana, I also have curly hair! So sorry to diverge Olin, but the wrong hair product can be disastrous. So I tried the smaller bottles of the bulk products for testing. I loved the Nature's Gate Chamomile and Lemon Verbena Conditioner. Need to test some others for a good shampoo. I didn't like the Nature's Gate color protecting red pear Shampoo. I find that many new Sulfate-free lines like Enjoy (high-end) or L'oreal (low-end) are good for curls (and the ocean) if you can get them in bulk, like from the salon or a beauty supply store. It doesn't come in bulk, but i have been pleased with the Beautiful Curls Shea Butter line at Down to Earth. It's fair-trade and biodegradable too. Obviously, bathroom products are the weak link in the low-impact chain at my house. :( As soon as they make bulk wrinkle-cream bins, I'll be on it!
This is kind of a tangent because I don't have curly hair but I wanted to add that I recently got some of the bulk shampoo and conditioner at Whole Foods Kahala. I don't know how much it is at Down to Earth or Kokua, but it is $7.99/lb there, which right now includes the bottle if you don't bring your own (the salesperson told me soon they will start charging for the bottle though). I'm using the Nature's Gate Herbal Shampoo and Conditioner (I don't think there was any special description for it), and it works OK for normal hair... At first I didn't like the smell because it's very strong and stays with your hair all day but eventually I got used to it and I would recommend it. I also have to note for people on the mainland that not all Whole Foods have the bulk option... call ahead!
Thanks Rachel! Useful tips from all around on how to tread lightly while treating this mane!
Awesome story!
Beautiful and inspiring. Thank you