Honolulu Celebrates UN World Habitat Day

Oct 09, 2023 Latest News

Mayor Rick Blangiardi welcomed Delegates from Indonesia, Poland, Puerto Rico and the mainland to the celebrations and introduced key Cabinet Members from the Office of Housing; the Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resilience; and the Department of Planning and Permitting to demonstrate the city’s commitment to harnessing the transformational changes sweeping our time and ensure a better life for everyone in a more just and resilient world.

Keynotes were offered by FIABCI World President Budiarsa Sastrawinata who noted, “FIABCI has developed a Global Charter for Real Estate Professionals – ‘Building Better Lives’ – that serves as a guide towards a more sustainable and responsible real estate practice. The Global Charter represents a roadmap for constructing a better urban future to improve lives and ensure the well-being of all individuals.”

Jason Pu, Regional Administrator for the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development linked his Keynote to the opportunities that the rebuilding of Lahaina offered and reiterated HUD’s mission to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. He covered the national, regional and local resources offered by HUD and welcomed the Public-Private Partnerships for People demonstrated by those gathered for the Symposium.

The Symposium concluded with a working session where the Delegates began to draft a Declared Action Report that will be submitted to the UN on what actions each Delegate and Organization will take in the next eighteen months to meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Initial actions include reducing the single-use plastics habit, monitoring water use and establishing ways to decrease water use and the use of gray water, examining the Waste Management Policy for Condo Associations, growing useful plants such as fruits, vegetables and herbs, and exploring using hemp and bamboo for building materials.

The Local Observance of World Habitat Day and Urban October was sponsored by the Coalition for Specialized Housing, the Honolulu Board of Realtors, Territorial Savings Bank, FIABCI-USA, Hawaii Green Growth Local 2030 Hub and World Citizen Consulting.