Four Seasons Resort Hualalai Unveils Eco-Crescent Rooms

This crescent of 65 rooms surrounding the King's Pond pool experience has been enhanced, allowing guests of these rooms to reduce their carbon footprint during their stay.

Among the enhancements, disposable water bottles have been replaced with ceramic carafes and cups. Water is refreshed daily, and refilling stations are also available for guest use. Insulated water bottles (BPA-free) are available for in-room purchase, with a donation going towards the resort's partnership with Hawaiian Legacy Hardwoods. Disposable bath amenity bottles (shampoo, conditioner and body lotion) have been replaced with refillable pump dispensers. Disposable terrycloth slippers have been replaced with reusable rubber spa sandals. Paper collateral in room has been minimized, with remaining paper made from recycled and biodegradable materials. The Green Linen program limits bed linen changes to every third day, and incandescent light bulbs have been replaced with compact fluorescent light bulbs.

The resort's other efforts include sustainable cuisine. Executive Chef James Babian and his team work with over 160 farmers and fishermen on the island, providing guests resort-wide with food that is 75 percent from Hawaii Island. In partnership with Hawaiian Legacy Hardwoods, Four Seasons has committed to planting 500,000 legacy (never to be harvested) koa trees on the island. A comprehensive mixed recycling program has been instituted throughout the resort for glass, aluminum, paper, and plastic. Green waste (landscape) is taken to off-site compost facility and re-introduced into the resort. Grease waste is shipped to Maui for bio-diesel conversion. Select linens are recycled into aprons. Discarded linens and towels are recycled as rags within the resort or donated to local charities. Yukata robes are recycled into mini yukata robes for teddy bear amenities. The greeter station/gate is a self-sufficient building, with solar panels that run on distilled water.

Water from private wells is pre-treated through reverse osmosis as drinking water. Pre- and post-treatment water is processed at the on-property wastewater treatment facility. "Gray" water is used to irrigate the golf course and surrounding grounds. The landscaping team sprays plants with about 500 gallons per week of compost tea, a liquid concentrate of microorganisms that feed and stimulate the soil, which in turn produces nutrients for the plant. The plants also absorb this "tea" through its leaves, boosting its ability to ward off diseases and insects.

The resort also announced the Eco-Crescent Package, allowing guests to further offset their carbon footprint during their stay. This package includes nightly accommodations in the King's Pond Eco-Crescent, daily breakfast buffet for two and a legacy koa tree planted in the guest's honor.