Lets all kōkua and turn off our lights and any electricity from sun down on June 13 (the next full moon) to sun up on June 14 to help raise awareness of global climate change and to show our support for the Malama Honua Worldwide Voyage! I’m sure going to try! I think Jackson will think it’s fun! Maybe we’ll actually go to sleep early for a change!

I know I can’t unplug my hubby from his phone because of work but I’m pretty confident we can unplug from electricity – tv, stove-top, lights from sun down to sun up. Activities I’ll be doing with my family: playing guitar and singing, reading in Jackson’s tent by flashlight and go for a night stroll to watch the stars. This will be a good opportunity for my family to reconnect with one another and really focus on each other. I’m excited! Maybe we’ll make this into a regular family “tradition” – join the movement!

Here is information about the event as posted on the Hōʻā i ka lama web page.

Why a “lights out” event?

According to the recently released report, The Third National Climate Assessment, “The majority of the warming at the global scale over the past 50 years can only be explained by the effects of human influences, especially the emissions from burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas) and from deforestation”. [i] “The combustion of fossil fuels to generate electricity is the single source of CO2 emissions in the nation [United States]”.[ii] Completely eliminating (or significantly decreasing) the use of electricity during the Hōʻā i ka lama event is another step forward in curbing our over-dependence on fossil fuels and channeling our human propensity to live, love, and thrive in a world powered by local, renewable energy sources.

What will my family do when the lights are out?

We have lots of ideas, such as going outside and teaching one another about the stars and moon phases, gathering your ʻohana and sending good energy to our navigators on the Mālama Honua voyage, having a moonlit dinner, planning a picnic with your loved ones, planting a garden with the moon cycle, making music, etc. Visit our website to learn what others are planning for the Hōʻā i ka lama event and how this initiative contributes to other LAMA projects, such as the “Lamakū Naʻauao” project funded by the Kresge Foundation to help build the capacity of the Native Hawaiian community to participate in decision-making and plans to adapt Hawaiʻi’s food and energy systems to the impacts of climate change.