Four Seasons Resort HuaLalai Unveils Carbon Neutral Villa Reservations

Effective upon Zero Emissions Day, the opulent Hawaiian resort will collaborate with Hawaiian Legacy Reforestation Initiative to further its commitment to environmental sustainability.

Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, the first and only AAA Five-Diamond and Forbes Five-Star Resort on Hawaii Island, has partnered with Hawaiian Legacy Reforestation Initiative (HLRI) to make all future villa reservations carbon-neutral. This partnership is the newest addition to the extensive sustainability programme at Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, which also includes Boomerang, its new zero-waste, Resort-filtered water bottling system; the recent planting of the Resort's 50,000th tree within Four Seasons Resort Hualalai Legacy Forest; and the Resort's Natural Resources team, on-site marine biologists who educate guests on best environmental practises, and help maintain King's Pond - the Resor's signature pond.

In honour of Zero Emissions Day, Four Seasons Resort Hualalai announces a new partnership with HLRI in which the organisation will offset the carbon footprint of the resort's new villas via the planting of trees for each reservation. The Resort unveiled the enlargement of its three stand-alone villas, Hawai'i Loa Presidential Villa, Makaloa Villa, and Ho'onanea Villa, after its recent USD 100 million property-wide refurbishment, scheduled to coincide with its 25th anniversary. The villas, the largest and most luxurious villa accommodations in all of Hawaii, were redesigned with thoughtful design elements, local artwork, slate floors, glass-pocket doors, and a natural hardwood trim, in addition to an expansion that includes a second level, indoor/outdoor living space, and private plunge pools or whirlpools for each villa.

"At Hualalai, we are dedicated to maintaining Hawaii's cleanliness by limiting our carbon footprint and environmental effect. Our carbon-neutral relationship with Hawaiian Legacy Reforestation Initiative enables our villa guests to embrace sustainability without sacrificing luxury, according to Four Seasons Resort Hualalai General Manager Graham Williamson. "We are happy to continue enhancing the resort's extensive sustainability programme and to practise Mlama Ka Honua (care for the Earth), a centuries-old way of life in Hawaii."

The Four Seasons Resort Hualalai inaugurated a Boomerang Bottling System earlier this year, in addition to its carbon-neutral villa reservations. The innovative method utilises proprietary micro-bottling technology to acquire native Hawaiian water, eliminate all pollutants and contaminants, and bottle it in durable, 100% recyclable aluminium bottles that are cleaned, refilled, and reused on-site. This eliminates shipping, packaging, and distribution centres, enabling Resort guests to drink fresh, local water the same day it is bottled, so lowering carbon emissions per bottle by 95 percent.

Four Seasons Resort Hualalai recently celebrated the planting of its 50,000th tree inside Four Seasons Resort Hualalai Legacy Forest in conjunction with the Hawaii Landscape Restoration Initiative (HLRI). Legacy Trees planted by the Resort currently cover more than 100 acres (40 hectares), changing a deforested pasture into a pristine indigenous Hawaiian forest and allowing a dynamic ecosystem to thrive. The trees that make up the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai Legacy Forest are koa, a tree closely associated with Hawaiian monarchy that has been overharvested in recent years owing to its exceptional strength and beauty.

In an attempt to bring participatory, sustainable activities that educate visitors, Four Seasons Resort Hualalai established its Natural Resources department, comprising of five marine biologists and directed by David Chai, director of natural resources. The emphasis of the Department of Natural Resources is on instructional and visitor-facing sustainability initiatives that combine traditional Hawaiian methods. Additionally, the department maintains and cares after King's Pond, the Resort's swimmable aquarium with more than 1,000 tropical fish. King's Pond's Kumu Kai Marine Center, which incorporates a touch tank and digital instructional displays, was unveiled as part of the Resort-wide refurbishment, enabling Chai and his team to improve the Resort's already extensive marine life experiences. At King's Pond, guests may participate in Private Fish and Eagle Ray Feeding, Tide Pool Tour, Jr. Marine Biologist Experience, Youth Ocean Exploration, and many activities.

To discover more about the sustainability efforts at Four Seasons Resort Hualalai or to book a reservation, you can visit their website or call 808 325 8000.