The Hawaii Audubon Society is proud to present this year’s Environmental Education Award to the Hawaii Conservation Alliance, a cooperative partnership of sixteen government, education and non-profit organizations that are strongly committed to environmental conservation in the Hawaiian Islands.

This year’s Hawaii Conservation Conference had over 930 registered participants, making it the largest gathering of people actively involved in the protection and management of Hawaii’s natural environment. As a member of the Planning Committee I can attest to the enormous effort that is needed to organize and put-on such an event. In addition to organizing and directing the Conservation Conference the Hawaii Conservation Alliance also successfully lobbied to have Hawaii became one of the first states in the nation to recognize the importance of setting aside a week each year for educational activities associated with conserving the natural environment. On July 20, 2007 Governor Linda Lingle signed a proclamation making July 20^th-28^th of each year Conservation Week in Hawaii.

Both the Hawaii Conservation Conference and Conservation Week, which serve to raise public awareness about environmental issues here in Hawaii, would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of the Hawaii Conservation Alliance’s Program Manger, Christopher Puttock and his Assistant, Mariza Silva.