Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa Awarded Green Globe Gold

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Green Globe congratulates Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa on being awarded Gold status for its continuous efforts towards environmental and sustainable practices.

Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa is situated on one of the 1,200 islands that constitute the beautiful country of the Maldives. Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa was the first resort in the Maldives to receive the Green Globe certification for Building, Planning and Design Standard in 2005. The design of the hotel preserves and reinforces the existing native foliage of the island, promotes rainwater harvesting and minimizes the disruption of the corals.

Great importance is placed on environmental and socially sustainable initiatives in this pristine, remote area and the resort is dedicated to protecting the coral reefs, marine and plant life. Jimena Ramon Montemayor, Marine Biologist at the resort, conducts the reef monitoring program Reef Watch on a monthly basis as well as records water temperatures to keep track of the reef’s health and recovery. As a part of an outreach program, Go Deeper talks are given twice a week where guests can learn more about different topics related to the marine environment and also the culture of the Maldives.

Water is a precious resource in the Maldives and the resort has a water treatment plant where wastewater, including grey water, is treated effectively and reused. This reduces aquatic pollution, protects aquatic ecosystems and reduces risks to human health. Reusing wastewater increases the availability of potable water as well as reduces sewage and treatment costs. Both black and grey wastewater is managed in a non-polluting way by using biological bacteria reactors to clean the water. In addition, both STP and HVAC water is tested by an accredited scientific laboratory to confirm that it is free from Legionella and Coliforms.

The property has a comprehensive Sustainability Management Plan. A program to reduce the production of waste is followed whereby all plastic bottles are replaced with glass bottles, plastic straws replaced with paper ones and plastic takeaway boxes replaced with bento boxes. The coffee capsules used at the property are 100% biodegradable and meets Fair Trade standards. A strict waste management plan is also in place to minimize waste that is not reused or recycled, by specifying, recording and monitoring reduction goals on a monthly basis. Furthermore, there is a waste separation plant where all solid waste is carefully sorted into material categories such as metal, aluminium and paper.

Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa has its own Hyatt Thrive team which organises CSR activities and environmental events. This active team works with local communities providing educational activities and raising awareness. Local school children are invited to the resort for educational talks on topics such as care of the reef and swimming lessons are also given. Recreational activities including football matches, snorkelling and educational activities are also organised in nearby communities.

The resort supports the local islands and local residents wherever possible. Local reef fish, lobster and yellowfin tuna are used in a large variety of dishes enjoyed by guests along with locally grown papaya, watermelon, banana and coconuts. Kitchens prefer fish supplied by local fishermen who use the traditional pole and line fishing which is the most sustainable method.

Akon To Perform In Maldives This January

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The Ministry of Tourism of the Maldives is organising a free concert in the capital city Malé for the 8th January with the acclaimed Senegalese-born and current US-based R&B and hip hop artist Akon.

The event was announced through a video message from Akon which was shown during the Tourist Arrival Countdown show held on New Year’s Eve where two Indian Bollywood musicians Salim – Sulaiman performed.

Salim - Sulaiman perfoming at National Football Stadium on New Year's Eve.
Salim – Sulaiman perfoming at National Football Stadium on New Year’s Eve. Photo credit: Haveeru

This is the second attempt by the four time grammy nominated artist to perform in the Maldives. The first attempt was in 2010 which was cancelled after the tickets were sold saying the technical assistance and security measures were not up to par.

The 2010 performance attempt was hugely opposed by the then Islamic Ministry and several religious groups. Speaking in response to public discord over two Indian musicians playing in the Maldives on New Year’s Eve and Akon’s performance scheduled for Thursday to the local daily newspaper Haveeru, Tourism Minister Adeeb said that foreign artists and musicians are invited to perform in the Maldives as a means to promote tourism and has nothing to do with religion and that they are simply a means to promote Maldives as a brand.

He also said “These shows are for promoting Maldives’ tourism. While the entire world has started to see Malé City as a lair that harbours members of the Islamic State or extremist militants, foreign artists performing here will show the world what the situation here is truly like. Maldives does not belong to the Islamic State.”

Pop/Dancehall/Reggae singer Sean Paul
Pop/Dancehall/Reggae singer Sean Paul

Akon’s announcement to perform in Maldives comes after Jamaican Grammy Award winning International star Sean Paul – who was supposed to perform during Tourism Arrival Countdown Show 2014 – cancelled at the last minute after a YouTube video was released threatening the artist with death if he performed in the Maldives.

Whale Sharks on land in South Ari Atoll: The Second Annual Maldives Whale Shark Festival

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Press Release: Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme (MWSRP) and The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN Maldives) is collaborating with Maldivian artists to celebrate the whale shark in The Second Annual Maldives Whale Shark Festival. Hosted in Dhangethi, this year’s festival will be the culmination of months of community engagement workshops in which school students and community members have come together to create artwork representing their island and celebrating the marine diversity of South Ari Atoll and its Marine Protected Area (SAMPA).

This unique festival, which places island communities at the centre of creative decision making, will transform the host island on Saturday December 6th, festooning the streets with colour, filling the air with ‘Boduberu’ and providing an unmissable learning experience for over 250 people who have participated in its development. The carnival procession at 1pm will see 3 whale sharks swim above the heads of the crowd, a giant green turtle, butterfly fish and manta ray dance through the streets and a feast of brightly coloured costumes created by each island.

Considering the dimensions for their kinetic sculpture of a butterfly fish.
Considering the dimensions for their kinetic sculpture of a butterfly fish.

Each participating island has chosen a mascot to make and has been working with professional artists to realise their designs for large scale, kinetic sculptures and mobile recycled artwork and costumes. Inspired by the stories of their community they have been working with creative practitioner Fazail Lutfe to create high impact, theatrical presentations to share with festival goers. Weaving together the traditional forms of ‘Raivaru’ and ‘Boduberu’ with contemporary storytelling, each island will tell part of the Atoll’s story, giving voice to the area’s rich cultural heritage.

Local artists Nadee Rachey and Kareen Adam from Malé city have been leading on the artistic vision for the festival, collaborating with Festival Director Chloe Osborne from the UK, to provide a series of multi-disciplinary art workshops with 4 main islands – Dhigurah, Dhangethi, Dhiddhoo and Mandhoo, with support from neighbouring islands and resorts.

“This is just the beginning – we plan on putting the festival on the cultural calendar for the Maldives, bringing people from across the country and the world together to celebrate the rich marine and cultural diversity of the archipelago. Nowhere else is uniquely placed to support the collaboration between Marine Biologists and Artists, community members and international researchers. We look forward to building on this year’s success and, with thanks to our generous sponsors, to offering the opportunity to participate to more islands everywhere.”

Chloe Osborne – Festival Director, Maldives Shark Research Programme.

We hope to attract festival-goers from across the Atoll, Malé and beyond with this yearly opportunity to celebrate the craftsmanship and creativity of the island communities and to celebrate the area’s unique role in the International Whale Shark ecology.

The 2014 festival has been created with support from our technical partner IUCN Maldives with sponsorship from Voyages Maldives, FlyMe, Allied Insurance with Mirihi, Lux* Maldives, Lily Beach, Vilamendhoo, Holiday Island and Sun Island resorts, online partner Maldives.com, and our official hydration partner 100PLUS.

MWSRP programme coordinator Ibrahim Shameel added “For the past 5 months MWSRP have been working with the local islands to bring this festival to life. Along the way we have been fortunate enough to work with some amazing people without whom this festival would not be possible. The idea of a festival is still a very new concept to the communities but have been delighted at how the openly the idea has been received. Its been an inspiration and an honour to witness this festival bring people of all ages come together in a shared endeavour.”

Ends

Festival Background: Developed by MWSRP and IUCN Maldives in 2013, the festival is designed to provide the island communities of South Ari Atoll with the opportunity to celebrate the Whale Shark and the Marine Diversity of their Atoll whilst promoting environmental sustainability and conservation at a grassroots level.. Seeding the idea of an international collaboration between marine biologists and artists and promoting the use of community art as a tool for social and environmental engagement, the project seeks to boost local and national awareness and tourism to support future generations.

Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme

The Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme (MWSRP) is a charity that carries out whale shark research and fosters community focused conservation initiative in the Maldives.

What initially began as a scientific expedition in 2006, the MWSRP has grown to become the only long term organisation dedicated to study the iconic, yet vulnerable whale shark species in the Maldives.

Our goal is simple: we seek to advance the field of whale shark knowledge and to advocate for sound conservation policy in the Maldives. By encouraging and valuing community and industry stakeholder participation, we are able to leverage the scientific research to safeguard the rich biodiversity and fragile marine ecosystems that are the basis for not only whale sharks, but also life, livelihood and culture in the Maldives.

Community mobilisation is one of our core values. Participation from the local residents of South Ari Atoll and throughout Maldives is very important to the work of MWSRP.

contact for more information: Richard Rees, Managing Director MWSRP
[email protected]

IUCN Maldives Marine Projects

The objectives of the IUCN Maldives Marine Projects were developed to address the environmental priorities and challenges that the Maldives faces. They include enhancing coral reef resilience (both social and ecological), supporting climate change adaptation, advancing marine species management and increasing environmental awareness across different sectors. These are ambitious but urgent priorities that require vision, dedication, perseverance and commitment by many individuals, groups and stakeholders of society in order to address them.

contact for more information: Ali Nizar, Communications Officer
[email protected]

Rifaee Rasheed, IUCN Social Sciences and Outreach Officer
[email protected]

 

Message from the Managing Director of MWSRP Richard Rees

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November 2014, this month we welcomed our festival director Chloe Osborne – along with Malé based artists Nadee and Kareen – to South Ari. In a very busy week they were able to carry out planning workshops on Dhangethi, Dhigurah, Dhidhoo, Mandhoo and Maamigili.

 

We’re delighted to report that all of the local islands are excited to be attending the festival and embraced the concept of representing their island by creating and parading their very own colours and mascot during the carnival style procession. These giant ‘marine life mascots’ will be judged by a special panel on the day, and the winner of this ‘best creation’ competition will host next year’s festival!

The 2nd Annual Maldives Whale Shark Festival will on 6th December 2014

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The Annual Whale Shark Festival is a collaborative community event facilitated by the The Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme (MWSRP) with the support of International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Maldives. This event is an opportunity for the community of South Ari to come together and celebrate the significance of the whale shark to the South Ari area whilst also providing a positive platform from which to raise awareness of conservation issues.

The aim of this event is to create a truly unique and spectacular event that, in time, will achieve national status attracting more visitors to the Maldives and drawing attention to the importance of the whale sharks of South Ari Marine Protected Area.