Makani

When the Kaheawa Wind Farm was first proposed it caused quite a stir.  The fear was that the giant windmills would scar the natural beauty of the land.  There's no doubt the hills were better looking before the installation, but it does make one think: what's less attractive...20 windmills...or wasting 600 barrels of oil a day?  Over time, most have come to accept and appreciate the project; the harnessed wind provides up to 9% of Maui's electricity during peak hours, and up to 30% during non-peak. When the project began, no one could have predicted the turn the economy would take a couple of years later...

...perhaps now we'll see the natural beauty in self-reliance.