Sustainability

Our Initiatives

UH Hilo Dining Services has a Local First Initiative that strives to have our dining halls serve 65% of locally sourced foods. Also, on the first Wednesday of the month, we serve 100% locally sourced specials at all our Campus Center Dining Room stations. From farm to table, we are always finding new ways to promote our local farms and food producers. Fresh produce, grass-fed beef, UH Hilo honey, tortillas, tofu, and seafood are a few of the products that we are able to source locally for our students. This not only benefits our students, but benefits the whole community!

Recycling

We've partnered with the Students of Sustainabilty (SOS), the campus Sustainability Committee, and the College of Agriculture, Foresty and Natural Resource Management to launch a Food Waste Collection Program. Large food waste bins in the Campus Center Dining Room have been set up to allow students to separate their compostable food waste from landfill waste. Sodexo is very committed to various sustainability efforts and would truly like to see this initiative have success. The program is assisted by student workers that help keep the waste division station clean and organized. Both Campus Center and Hale Kehau send all kitchen food waste to Mr. Alex Mattos, a local pig farmer, to use for animal feed.

Composting

Our first priority is to reduce food waste. We collect pre- and post-consumer food waste to create compost to be used across campus. Look for ways to get involved in these initiatives.

Xprss Nap

Xpress Nap Dispensers save energy and waste. Not only are the napkins are made of 100% recycled paper, the dispensers encourage customers to take (and waste) fewer napkins. Energy is saved because less power is used to recycle paper products than to create them from virgin material.

Vegan Options

We offer Vegan options at both our residential and retail outlets. If only a vegetarian option is on display, please ask your server for the vegan alternative. We are happy to accommodate your vegan needs!

Local Suppliers

About 65% of all the food we serve in our dining locations on campus are locally grown or manufactured. We are proud of our Local First Initiatve and have forged relationships with our local farmers and food producers.

Reusable Cup

Ki`aha reusable mugs are available for purchase in the Campus Center Dining Room. Purchase of a cup also entitles the owner coffee and baked good specials at the DeJa Brew Coffee cart and 15% off drink refills and daily specials in CC Dining Room.

Straws

Campus Center Dining Room & DeJa Brew Coffee Cart both use World Centric - compostable straws made from Ingeo, which is derived from plants grown in the USA. Instead of using petroleum-based pastic which create toxicity and environmental pollution, you can now use our compostable, eco-friendly alternative.