Pacific Edge Magazine Partners with Hawaiian Legacy Hardwoods to Become First Print Magazine in US to Offset Carbon Production and Paper Usage by Planting US Grown Indigenous Tropical Hardwood Trees

HONOLULU, HI, June 12, 2013 (Press-News.org) Pacific Edge Magazine, flagship publication by Element Media, Inc., has partnered with Hawaiian Legacy Hardwoods (HLH) to become the first magazine in the United States to offset its carbon production, production footprint and wood usage by planting indigenous, tropical Koa trees through the Hawaiian Legacy Reforestation Initiative. Naomi Hazelton-Giambrone and Jamie Giambrone, co-founders of Element Media, Inc. and co-publishers of Pacific Edge Magazine, recently traveled to Hawaii's Big Island to purchase and plant 140 Legacy koa trees on the Hamakua Coast. Hawaiian Legacy Hardwoods was also a major sponsor of the 3rd Annual Pacific Edge Magazine Business Achievement Awards and presented the "Commitment to Green" Award.

Through the Hawaiian Legacy Reforestation Initiative, HLH is partnering with other like-minded organizations, including Pacific Edge Magazine, to restore 1,000 acres of historic koa forest on the Hamakua Coast of Hawaii Island. Koa is one of the most valuable hardwoods on the planet and HLH is donating 1,000 acres of its sustainable koa project to help this reforestation effort. According to the World Resource Institute, the current rate of rainforest destruction (50 million acres per year) will produce a global shortage by 2023. In Hawaii, agriculture and clear-cut lumber practices of the past century have eliminated over 90 percent of the koa forests already.

As Hawai'i's cutting-edge business and lifestyle publication, Pacific Edge Magazine routinely highlights sustainability efforts and environmental awareness through its editorial features and sponsorship of Green Drinks Honolulu. By partnering with HLH for its exclusive red carpet gala and providing each guest with a Legacy Seed Kit, Pacific Edge Magazine drew attention to the importance of HLH's mission and promoted the reforestation of tropical hardwood trees in Hawaii.

"Growing up surrounded by Hawaii's beauty, I'm acutely aware of the need to protect and preserve our environment," says Naomi Hazelton-Giambrone, co-founder of Element Media, Inc. and co-publisher of Pacific Edge Magazine. "With this in mind, Pacific Edge Magazine is very cognizant of our environmental impact and we seek to minimize our carbon footprint. So, by partnering with Hawaiian Legacy Hardwoods, we are brining attention to a cause that we care about deeply."

"Partnering with Pacific Edge Magazine and sponsoring its 3rd Annual Business Achievement
Awards Gala highlights the importance of preserving indigenous hardwoods and the positive opportunity to be involved in this movement," adds Jeff Dunster, CEO of Hawaiian Legacy Hardwoods. "Pacific Edge Magazine is truly 'walking the talk' and serves as an outstanding role model for other corporations and organizations."

About Element Media:

Element Media, Inc. is a custom publishing firm that specializes in magazine publishing, integrated marketing and events. Element Media manages all aspects of publication production, from media sales and project management to photography, graphic design and writing and editing services. Other specialized company services include event management and social media marketing. Element Media currently publishes Pacific Edge Magazine, Las Vegas Bound and the annual Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii Business Networking Directory. It also hosts exclusive events such as Green Drinks Honolulu and the West Oahu Women's Network. (http://www.thepacificedge.com) (@PacificEdge)

About Hawaiian Legacy Hardwoods:

HLH is located 34 miles north of Hilo, above historic Umikoa Village on the slopes of Mauna Kea. This planting site was once a magnificent koa forest and the personal property of King Kamehameha the Great, the first king of Hawaii. This old growth koa forest was almost lost to a century of clear-cut harvesting and cattle grazing, but with the help of caring individuals is making a comeback. http://www.legacytrees.org http://www.hawaiianlegacyhardwoods.com (@HLHardwoods)