Sustainability at the Sony Open in Hawaii

Sustainability is a key focus during the planning, management, and execution of the Sony Open in Hawaii. This community-wide event not only showcases top-tier golf, but also raises awareness of sustainable practices among attendees and locals.

The tournament has a long history of environmental stewardship, and each year new initiatives are introduced to further reduce its environmental impact footprint. Since 2016, the Sony Open has received recognition from the State
of Hawaii’s Green Events Program for its sustainable business practices. Key initiatives are highlighted on the tournament map.

In addition to conserving water, reducing energy consumption, and minimizing waste, the Sony Open encourages visitors to adopt eco-friendly travel methods to the event, promoting use of public transportation, carpooling, cycling, and purchasing carbon offsets to reduce environmental impact. The tournament is also styrofoam-free and plastic straw-free, adopting efforts to eliminate these pollutants from our oceans and land.

Most tournament printed materials are produced on paper certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC Recycled). Hospitality tent and food vendors use reusable or compostable containers, utensils, and plates, as well as paper straws. After the event, Sony conducts a carbon footprint assessment and purchases offsets to mitigate the overall environmental impact.

Since 2024, we offset the event’s environmental impact by sponsoring the Hawaiian Legacy Reforestation Initiative, which involved planting native and endemic trees on Oahu’s North Shore to restore and protect the natural beauty of Hawaii.

The collaboration between Friends of Hawaii Charities, Sony Corporation, and Waialae Country Club strategically integrates sustainability initiatives into the Sony Open to responsibly steward the local environment.

A. We encourage attendees to consider commuting options such as public transportation, shuttle bus, rideshare or cycling to the Sony Open in Hawaii. If cycling to the event, you can valet your bike for free with non-profit partner, Hawaii Bicycling League. Bike valet is situation a few steps from the Tournament Main Admissions Gate on Kahala Avenue. The bike valet is available Thursday through Sunday.

B. Waialae Country Club avoids waste creation by providing re-useable cutlery, serving utensils, and dishware in the club house and tournament hospitality tents. Where single use items are used, they are compostable. Food scrap waste from the tournament is collected by Eco Feed. Excess food is donated to Aloha Harvest for redistribution within the local community.

Sony Open in Hawaii at Waialae Country Club

C. Solar PV is installed at the Waialae Country Club Pro Shop and golf cart barn, providing the tournament with renewable energy.

D. Recycling bins are available across the tournament venue. High-visibility signage is displayed across the site as a reminder of which items can be placed in the recycling bins. Hospitality and food vendors provide compostable containers. utensils, serving plates and paper straws for single-use.

E. Materials from past events are reused where possible to reduce overall waste generated. Reused materials include signage, volunteer supplies and equipment, materials for skyboxes, bleachers, camera tower construction and mesh/privacy screens.

F. Sony Open volunteers collect and sort recycling waste to maximize the benefits of each recycling stream reducing the waste sent to landfill.

G. The Sony Open in Hawaii has been certified by the State of Hawaii as a Green Event since 2016. This recognition commends the Sony Open for demonstrating environmental responsibility through commitments to conserving water, energy and other resources. This annual event enhances environmental quality by developing and implementing practices that demonstrate good stewardship and prevent pollution and waste through its innovative sustainability initiatives.

H. Reduce the tournament’s environmental footprint through a partnership with Hawaiian Legacy Reforestation Initiative by planting native/endemic trees on Oahu’s North Shore restoring and preserving the natural beauty of the local environment.