Students from Hawaii and Japan Get Lessons on Clean Energy at 2019 Student Energy Summit

Blue Planet Foundation Leads a “Revolution” at 5th Annual Event 

(HONOLULU) More than 240 middle and high school students from all four Hawaii counties and Japan are taking a deep dive into the world of clean energy and climate action at Blue Planet Foundation’s 5th Annual Student Energy Summit, starting today and continuing tomorrow, Monday November 11th. 

Held at the Hawaii Convention Center, the Student Energy Summit is a two-day, interactive educational conference that zeroes in on Hawaii’s energy challenges and opportunities. This year’s theme is “Revolution 20/20 – Past, Present, Renewable.” Inspired by the recent Youth Climate Strike, the Summit is designed to educate students about policy and the legislative process, empower them to use their voice, and provide the proper tools and information to support their messages.

“This year, we’re especially focused on policy — teaching the students how the legislative process works and how they can get their voices heard,” said Griff Jurgens, Blue Planet Foundation’s education director who manages the curriculum for the Summit. “We saw some of that action taken at local Youth Climate Strikes earlier this year, and we’re hoping our attendees will leave the Summit feeling inspired and ready to get involved in their own communities.”

The Summit is open to all schools and free for students to attend. This year, there are a total of 38 schools participating — 17 from Oahu, 5 from Hawaii Island, 5 from Maui, 5 from Kauai, 3 from Molokai, and 3 from Japan, marking the first time international students are attending the event with support from Hawaii Tourism Japan. Each school is represented by teams of 5-6 students in grades 6 through 12.

On Sunday, November 10th, the Summit kicked off with a welcome by Blue Planet’s Executive Director Jeff Mikulina and remarks by Gov. David Ige and First Lady Dawn Amano-Ige. Day 1 highlights included an art installation created by middle schoolers with renowned artist Solomon Enos, lessons on advocacy led by Blue Planet’s Managing Director Melissa Miyashiro, and the Hawaii State Energy Office’s HAVEN visualization map that displays the impacts of various renewable energy scenarios on Oahu’s land use.

The Student Energy Summit continues Monday, November 11th at the Hawaii Convention Center. Day 2 will kick off with a keynote speech by James Campbell High School senior Kristen Brown, who recently attended the United Nations Youth Climate Summit in New York. The students will spend the day creating campaigns that will be judged by a panel of industry representatives at the end of the day.

The 2019 Student Energy Summit is hosted by Blue Planet Foundation, with support from generous corporate sponsors — Platinum Title sponsor: Clearway, and Diamond sponsors: Alaska Airlines, Eurus Energy, Hawaii State Energy Office, and Hawaiian Airlines.

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