All Blog Posts (366)

Kohala nui: Education, environment and empowerment on the Big Island.

Andrea Dean

Mar 11, 2009

In 1999, Five Mountains Hawai‘i, a community health non-profit group on Hawai‘i Island, facilitated an ambitious community education and planning process. Faced with a rising tide of health and social problems, residents were asked “What would make us a happier and healthier community?” The community responded with three top… Continue

Added by Clayton-Hoyt Uyehara on March 11, 2009 at 8:30pm — No Comments

State urges farmers to plant native species

HONOLULU — The state on Monday began promoting a new program that will pay ranchers and farmers to plant native species and restore wetlands on land they’re not using.

The $67 million program is designed to restore wildlife habitats for endangered and threatened species, reduce soil erosion, and prevent fertilizer and other chemicals from getting into streams.

The reduced runoff is expected to help Hawaii’s coral reefs grow.

The federal government is funding 80… Continue

Added by Clayton-Hoyt Uyehara on March 10, 2009 at 5:49pm — No Comments

Whole Foods Market Hosts Festive Events for Spring

by Crystal Yamasaki

Whole Foods Market announced today a number of in-store events to help shoppers celebrate spring. In addition to the store's calendar of cooking classes and demonstrations, mixers and tours, the store will also host a Spring Into Green Fair on March 22 and the store's second Community Support Day on March 25, to benefit local Hawaiian charter school, Ke Kula O Samuel M. Kamakau School.

In April, celebrate Earth Day with Whole Foods Market and Kahala… Continue

Added by Clayton-Hoyt Uyehara on March 10, 2009 at 5:10pm — No Comments

Deadline Extended for Hawaii Agriculture Management Assistance Program Applications

By Jolene Lau, 3/10/2009 10:28:44 AM

HONOLULU, HAWAII-- Applications are being accepted for the Agricultural Management Assistance Program, administered by the United States Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Interested farmers and ranchers have until March 27, 2009 to submit their applications to be considered for this ranking period.

"We're focusing our conservation efforts on treating identified priority natural resource concerns… Continue

Added by Clayton-Hoyt Uyehara on March 10, 2009 at 4:31pm — No Comments

Conservation Reserve Program a Win-Win for Hawaii Farmers and Ranchers and Environmental Restoration

By Deborah Ward, 3/10/2009 10:23:59 AM

HONOLULU – Hawai‘i farmers and ranchers can now participate in an innovative conservation program that will help restore habitats of native Hawaiian species, improve water quality in stream systems, reduce the spread of invasive species and enhance coastal and coral reef health.

At a news conference today, Hawai‘i Lt. Governor James R. “Duke” Aiona, Jr. and Steve Peterson, acting state… Continue

Added by Clayton-Hoyt Uyehara on March 10, 2009 at 4:00pm — No Comments

Volcanic smog shutting down some Hawaii farmers

The Associated Press

Published: March 9, 2009

PAHALA, Hawaii: Leafless monkey pod and browning Norfolk pine trees litter Ted Seaman's nursery in the small town of Pahala on the southern edge of Hawaii's largest island.

At fault are the noxious fumes that have been pouring out of the Kilauea volcano in unprecedented volumes since last spring.

"You can only go so far before you say forget it," said Seaman, who has since taken a job trimming trees. The… Continue

Added by Clayton-Hoyt Uyehara on March 9, 2009 at 12:00am — No Comments

New bamboo coral identified

The coral was discovered among the islands of Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument using a submersible research vessel in 2007. -- PHOTO: ASSOCIATED PRESS

HONOLULU - SCIENTISTS have identified seven new species of bamboo coral discovered thousands of metres below the ocean surface, officials said on Thursday.

The coral was discovered among the islands of Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument using a submersible research vessel in… Continue

Added by Clayton-Hoyt Uyehara on March 8, 2009 at 5:30pm — No Comments

Wind, wave energy platforms proposed in Hawaii whale waters

Project would operate 100 platforms within humpback whale habitat

By Rob Perez

Advertiser Staff Writer

A Seattle company wants to develop a massive renewable energy project in the waters between O'ahu and Moloka'i, targeting an area that usually has Hawai'i's largest concentration of endangered humpback whales, is an important feeding ground for Hawaiian monk seals and is popular with commercial and recreational fishermen.

Advertisement

The proposal… Continue

Added by Clayton-Hoyt Uyehara on March 8, 2009 at 5:30pm — No Comments

Ag festival goes deeper than the plants, veggies being celebrated

By HARRY EAGAR, Staff Writer

POSTED: March 8, 2009

Maui County Agricultural Festival

When: Saturday March 14, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Where: Maui Tropical Plantation.

Highlights: Farmer's market, "barnyard games" for

children, food booths, workshops, entertainment.

Cost: Free… Continue

Added by Clayton-Hoyt Uyehara on March 8, 2009 at 5:00pm — No Comments

Pearl City garden center hosts monthly workshops

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Mar 06, 2009

On the second Saturday of each month, home gardeners can pick up tips about pest control, composting, organic gardening and other topics at the Urban Garden Center in Pearl City.

Need Help?

For gardening tips or help healing an unhealthy plant, call the Help Line at 453-6055, from 9 a.m. to noon weekdays. If a volunteer doesn't answer, leave a detailed message.

The series of informational sessions and demonstrations… Continue

Added by Clayton-Hoyt Uyehara on March 6, 2009 at 10:23pm — No Comments

Hawaii lawmakers seek taro protection

By MARK NIESSE

Associated Press

Changing the basic structure of the sacred Hawaiian taro plant would become a crime under a compromise approved by a key legislative committee yesterday.

But some taro farmers said the ban on genetic modification of Hawaiian taro doesn't go far enough. Alterations of non-Hawaiian taro varieties would still be allowed in laboratory environments, which they say means the plant's seed could potentially escape and contaminate Hawaiian… Continue

Added by Clayton-Hoyt Uyehara on March 6, 2009 at 10:19pm — No Comments

Organic agriculture certification workshop offered on Kauai

LIHUE, Kauai — Certification under the National Organic Program will be the topic of a workshop March 28 for Kauai farmers, beekeepers, ranchers, processors and handlers.

Louisa Wooten, chair of Hawaii Organic Farmers Association and co-owner of Kauai Kunana Farms, will be leading the workshop, which will explain the steps to certification, compliance issues such as record-keeping, and information on the U.S. Department of Agriculture Cost-Share Assistance Program.

The… Continue

Added by Clayton-Hoyt Uyehara on March 6, 2009 at 9:11pm — No Comments

Hawaii's Energy Trend Data Release for February 2009

By Doug Oshiro, 3/6/2009 10:21:47 AM

The February 2009 Monthly Energy Trend Data have just been released.

Following are highlights:

Crude oil price at the New York Mercantile Exchange averaged $39.26 per barrel in February 2009 which was 59% lower than the same month last year.

Hawaii’s import of foreign crude oil in December 2008 showed a 13.9% increase compared to the same period a year ago. For the year of 2008, Hawaii’s import of foreign crude oil… Continue

Added by Clayton-Hoyt Uyehara on March 6, 2009 at 4:00pm — No Comments

Kaua‘i campus leads island’s sustainable food movement

from.. http://www.hawaii.edu/offices/op/sustain.php?brief=20

The Kaua‘i Food Industry Forum, created in 2004 under the leadership of Kaua‘i Community College, is sponsoring an open meeting on Sunday, March 8, at the Kaua‘i Community College Cafeteria from 8:30 a.m. to noon to discuss a proposed master plan for increasing food self-sufficiency on Kaua‘i.

Public participation is encouraged regarding ways to… Continue

Added by Clayton-Hoyt Uyehara on March 5, 2009 at 3:04pm — No Comments

'Shroom for Improvement

Makawao Mushroom Farm models local food production

March 05, 2009

Out of the remnants of the Haleakala Dairy just above the paniolo town of Makawao, something good is sprouting.

It's part of nature's grand design to nourish new life out of the vestiges of something once alive but now decaying. In that mode, entrepreneur Rocky Chenelle of Makawao Mushrooms has… Continue

Added by Clayton-Hoyt Uyehara on March 5, 2009 at 2:30pm — No Comments

Island fever has got me all Green !

Sure honey, yes dear. I can't complain. The air is fresh, the people are great, and the beach is close by. Sure, lets move to Hawaii. Our jobs ? Our life long business contacts ? Our friends? No worries! We can re-invent ourselves!! New, new, new...

Well this is the start of a new chapter for our family. How a man (Reno)who was raised in California marries a Kailua Girl(Lisa), packs the 1980 Diesel 240d mercedes and moves to Kailua, Oahu.

Ok, first thing i realize, i'm not… Continue

Added by Reno on March 4, 2009 at 6:30pm — No Comments

Spending package of $410 billion contains $7.7B in earmarks

By Susan Ferrechio

Chief Congressional Correspondent 3/4/09

Feeling green

The bill being considered in the Senate has hundreds of millions of dollars in green projects aimed at improving the environment and saving energy. The money would be distributed across the country in hundreds of initiatives, from a $142,725 line item for plug-in cars in… Continue

Added by Clayton-Hoyt Uyehara on March 4, 2009 at 12:00am — No Comments

Hawaii astronomer "Rolf-Peter Kudritzki" wins prestigious award

Posted: Monday, March 2nd, 2009 12:59 PM HST

By Associated Press

HONOLULU (AP) — The director of the University of Hawaii's Institute for Astronomy is getting the highest award for astronomy in Germany.

Rolf-Peter Kudritzki will get the Karl Schwarzchild Prize for 2009 at the annual meeting of the Astronomische Gesellshaft (or German Astronomical Society) in September in Potsdam, Germany.

In receiving the award, Kudritzki will give the Karl Schwarzchild… Continue

Added by Clayton-Hoyt Uyehara on March 3, 2009 at 11:44am — No Comments

Home designer combines art and business

Marianne Cooper designs homes with a "green" sensibility for Mason Architects

By Mark Coleman

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Mar 02, 2009

Marianne Cooper became an architect after realizing it would be a good way to combine her artistic flair with… Continue

Added by Clayton-Hoyt Uyehara on March 3, 2009 at 11:00am — No Comments

HECO's Alm to oversee 'green' efforts

Pacific Business News reports

Monday, March 2, 2009, 4:40pm HAST

Hawaiian Electric Co. has put one of its executives in charge of overseeing the utility’s renewable energy and efficiency efforts.

HECO Executive Vice President Robbie Alm, who currently… Continue

Added by Clayton-Hoyt Uyehara on March 3, 2009 at 12:30am — No Comments