In a collaborative effort with title sponsor Sony Corporation, charity host Friends of Hawaii Charities, and host site Waialae Country Club, the 2016 Sony Open in Hawaii was recently honored as a recipient of the 2016 Hawaii Green Event Award by the State of Hawaii. The Sony Open in Hawaii, the first full-field PGA TOUR tournament of the year held in January at Waialae Country Club, was recognized for its innovative work to conserve energy and implement sustainable practices that protect the environment and help Hawaii meet its clean energy goals.
Shown in photo (from left to right): Brad Jencks, General Manager, Waialae Country Club; Carilyn Shon, Energy Efficiency Branch Manager, Hawaii State Energy Office; Keith Kawaoka, Deputy Director, Department of Health; Jimmy Kometani, Executive Committee Member, Friends of Hawaii Charities / Sony Open in Hawaii; Keiko Yokoyama, Director, Corporate Environment, Safety and Health, Sony Electronics Inc.; Shusuke Oshima, President, Sony Hawaii Company; Governor David Ige, State of Hawaii; and Luis P. Salaveria, Director, Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.
Sony Open in Hawaii was among four other Hawaii events and 16 businesses that were honored with the prestigious Hawaii Green Business Award at a recent ceremony held at the office of Governor David Ige. “These businesses are demonstrating that you can improve your bottom line while supporting the transformation to a more sustainable Hawaii,” said Governor David Ige. “Through a host of innovative measures these businesses are doing their part to reduce our impact on the environment and help end our reliance on imported fossil fuels.”
“As a charity event that relies on community involvement, green practices such as recycling, reuse of materials, and donating excess products have been a part of the tournament’s initiatives for a number of years,” said Corbett A.K. Kalama, president of Friends of Hawaii Charities. “Tournament partners Sony Corporation and Waialae Country Club have the same vision and are committed to environmental stewardship and protecting Hawaii’s natural resources.” As one of Hawaii’s largest sports charity events, the Sony Open in Hawaii features 144 of the world’s best golfers and attracts over 52,000 people during tournament week. Several of the key green practices at the 2016 Sony Open in Hawaii include:
- Transportation: Through a partnership with Hawaii Bicycling League, a biking valet was made available at Hunakai Park, allowing attendees to bike to the tournament.
- Recycling Right: Partnering with Recycle Across America, standardized labels was adopted for 100 sets of trash and mixed recycling bins. Spectator Village was Styrofoam free using compostable containers and utensils. Over 6,600 lbs of glass, plastics and cans were recycled, an increase of 12% from the year prior. Waialae Country Club sent over 1,650 lbs of food waste to Eco Feed for use at piggery farms as feedstock.
- Going Renewable: Sony displayed the Energy Storage Solution enabled by Sony Lithium-Ion Iron Phosphate Battery Technology and Sony’s battery management units leveraging Blue Planet Foundation’s energy management software and complete solution design. Spectators were shown how residential and commercial buildings can use renewable energy for off-grid and grid connected appliances. Waialae Country Club installed 235W and 250W solar system at the Clubhouse and Annex, uses energy efficient lighting, and implements green practices for golf course maintenance. These include use of hybrid and electric equipment, minimizes water usage and use of organic fertilizer.
- Responsible Recycling with Sony: One month prior to the 2016 Sony Open in Hawaii, over 15,000 lbs of electronic waste were collected and complimentary Sony Open admission tickets given to individuals who recycled items at events held at Kapolei High School and Radford High School.
For more information on the Sony Open in Hawaii’s Green Event Award, please visit the Hawaii State Energy Office website or download the 2016 Sony Open in Hawaii Sustainability Initiative report (PDF file).
The 2017 Sony Open in Hawaii tees off January 9-15 at Waialae Country Club. The PGA TOUR's first full-field event of the calendar year, the Sony Open in Hawaii attracts 144 of the world’s finest golf pros who will compete for a share of the $6 million purse, with the tournament champion taking home $1,080,000 in prize money. The Sony Open in Hawaii is the signature fundraising event for Friends of Hawaii Charities. Over the past eighteen years, Friends of Hawaii Charities, Inc., with Sony Open charity partner, The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, Inc., have distributed $16,000,000 to over 350 Hawaii not-for-profit organizations.
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