Mission, Vision, & Values

Our Vision

We envision a future where waste reduction and the preservation of resources is maximized through deconstruction and building material reuse, allowing the circular economy to thrive.

Our Mission

Our mission is to preserve the beauty of our island ecosystem, provide resources and opportunities to our community, and sustain a thriving circular economy in Hawai‘i for the future by reducing waste through deconstruction and building material reuse.

Learn more about our mission and operations in this short 4-min video!

Why Our Work Matters

Inside the Re-use Hawai'i warehouse with a bunch of salvage doors, windows, and reclaimed lumber.

Annually, O‘ahu produces 2.2 million tons of ʻōpala. One-third of that waste is generated by the construction and demolition (C&D) industry.

Graph depicting Re-use Hawai'i's waste diversion. Re-use Hawaii diverted 442 tons total. Five tons of  the waste diversion was slabs. 14.5 tons of waste diversion was scrap metal. 57.8 tons of waste diversion was lumber.

Our Waste Diversion in 2022

Both of O‘ahu’s landfills are slated to close in 2028 and our neighbor islands’ landfills are not far behind. As the only licensed contractor in Hawai‘i to provide deconstruction services, Re-use Hawai‘i is committed to (re)cultivating a circular economy where waste is seen as a resource. 

Our core programs, Deconstruction and Redistribution, address Hawai‘i’s waste crisis through building material salvage and reuse. These programs divert hundreds of tons of resources from our landfills every year. The reuse of this material reduces emissions associated with the production and shipping of new products, lessens Hawai‘i’s reliance on imports, and lowers the cost of living through the availability of affordable resources.

Mission Fulfillment

Deconstruction Crew member moving a mirror.

Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, dedication of our volunteers, and heart of our staff, we’ve continually reached new milestones in our journey towards a sustainable future for Hawai‘i. We hope our Mission Fulfillment Report (FY22) leaves you feeling inspired and hopeful for the future.