Mission: 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.
About: Re-use Hawaiʻi envisions a community that fully embraces a circular economy—where industry and individual lifestyles are grounded in reducing waste and stewarding resources responsibly. As an island community, Hawai‘i faces unique challenges, and we see this as an opportunity to lead by example in resource stewardship. Our approach hinges on the core belief that we can create a model for the future through innovative, sustainable practices that address environmental and economic challenges while also providing meaningful employment. Our multi-faceted approach will ensure Re-use Hawaiʻi's continued impact, forging the way for systemic change that benefits both the environment and our community. At the heart of our work is an innovative and sustainable approach to demolition called Deconstruction. This method allows us to recover up to 80% of building materials for reuse, diverting tons of waste from landfills while also supporting local businesses and homeowners with affordable materials.
Location: Honolulu, HI
Quinn Vittum
Executive Director
Quinn Vittum is the Executive Director of Re-use Hawaiʻi. He co-founded the organization in 2006 after founding a Habitat for Humanity ReStore and Olympia Salvage, an independent non-profit, both in Washington State. Quinn’s life mission is to create a more sustainable world by helping create innovative solutions to the demolition and disposal paradigm.
With a talented staff of 30 people, Quinn oversees Re-use Hawaiʻi’s Deconstruction and Material Redistribution Programs, including expansion efforts on Hawaiʻi Island.
Quinn studied Fine Art and Sustainability at SUNY New Paltz, the University of New Hampshire, and Evergreen State College.
As an Omidyar Fellow and through his work with the Hawai’i Leadership Forum, Quinn aims to help Hawai’i navigate its waste management challenges and develop a more robust circular economy in the State.
Quinn sits on the Board of Directors of HEMIC Insurance, Hawaii’s largest workers' compensation insurance carrier. He lives in Kaimuki with his wife, Kara, and six-year-old son, Skylar.
Michaela Savage
Director of Administration
Michaela Savage has been with Re-use Hawaii since 2016 and has worked in several positions, including material Inventory, customer service, and Deconstruction Project Developer. She is now the Director of Administration, handling the organization’s finances, administration, and HR. Originally from Guam, she moved to Hawaii in 2012 to pursue her undergraduate degree in Biology from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. She lives in Kailua with her husband, Jeffrey, and almost 1-year-old daughter, Meadow.