Hawaii
Like we mentioned on the home page, LEAF is based out of Columbus, Ohio, but operates out of Honolulu, HI as well. The info laid out in the Who, What, Where, When etc etc section is generally based on work that has been done and that has been proposed in Columbus, however it applies in Hawaii also. Hawaii is the PRIME spot for SVO conversions for a number of reasons. Because of the climate, it is easy to run SVO in Hawaii without using any heavy duty heaters and it is even possible to run on a single tank vs the dual tank system where the car actually starts and stops on diesel to avoid problems with cold starts. Additionally, there are only a few places on the Island where it is is legal to drive over 55mph. So, as funny and cliche as it sounds, cruising in a 1980s Mercedes at moderate speeds is just what this laid-back spot calls for. In terms of economy and politics, being positioned in the middle of the pacific ocean, thousands of miles away from civilization, really makes one realize how important it is to be self reliant and in control of your daily needs, such as driving. It is crucial for people on this Island or not only be less reliant of fossil fuels, but to also grow their own food, simplify their lives, and cut down on unnecessary material items, especially those producing landfill waste. The problems of overpopulation, land use, global warming, etc etc that we see on the mainland is seriously magnified on Oahu. Lastly and simply, in a place where milk can run you $8/gallon, saving hundreds of dollars a month at the pump should be very enticing to Islanders.
Check back here for updates on Monthly Lono Summits and pics from previous Summits. We are also starting to build ideas for fuel collection co-op and filtration station similar to our Columbus operation.
