Category — agriculture

Event showcases all natural, cultural wellness
November 3, 2008 - Captain Cook, Hawaii

Watch the Video

Hawaii’s only statewide collaborative health and green festival made its way to the Big Island this weekend.

Many interested residents visited the Amy Greenwell Ethno-Botanical Garden in Captain Cook to learn about organic, cultural cooking and the use of medicinal herbs. Demonstrations, music, healthy food, artists and networking were all a part of the two day event.

Remedies for VOG, taro talk, Amazon jungle medicine, and healthy salad dressings were the varied subject matter of special presentations seen through out the day.

A tree giveaway and plant sale also took place on Saturday.

Originating on Kauai and organized by the online Hawaii Health Guide, the festival now takes place across the state of Hawaii, with stops on many islands.

Coucil chairman intends to override action
October 31, 2008 - Hawaii County

Mayor Harry Kim has reportedly vetoed Bill 361, which would ban GMO, or genetically modified organism, coffee and taro from being grown and tested on the Big Island of Hawaii. The veto occured on the day of the deadline for his approval, after the bill was unanimously adopted by the county council earlier this month.

Kim reportedly cited difficulty in enforcement, and the benefits of such research in his communication. He also suggested creating a GMO advisory commision, as recommended by councilman Angel Pilago, who authored the bill.

Council chariman Pete Hoffmann told the Hawaii Tribune-Herald that he plans to attempt an override of the veto. According to the article, only six council votes are needed to nullify the veto and force the bill into law.

HPA Ohana Association sponsors the 17th annual event
October 27, 2008 - Waimea, Hawaii

See the VIDEO

Families gathered for a Sunday of harvest season fun and entertainment on the scenic grounds of the Hawaii Preparatory Academy Upper Campus.

The free event drew thousands of Big Island residents, and featured a huge pumpkin patch with organically grown pumpkins. Games, prizes, music, a silent auction, and a scarecrow competition were highlights of the 17th annual event.

The event is said to be the largest pumpkin patch on Hawaii island.

Popular food event brings the community together
October 26, 2008 - Pau`uilo, Hawaii

See the VIDEO

It was another year of family fun and locally grown food at the ballfield at Pau`uilo School on Saturday, when the town hosted the Hamakua Alive festival.

Founded by Jim Reddekopp of the Hawaiian Vanilla Company, the event featured the unique agricultural bounty of the Hamakua Coast. Peope browsed tables set with organic honey, taro, fruits, tea and more.

Family oriented games and music were also enjoyed.

This was the second Hamakua Alive event in October. The first was held in 2007.

I met Paul Troy along the rocky shore of west Hawaii. Paul is the Vice President of Hawaii Oceanic Technology, Inc. and he took the time to explain this future aquafarming project.

Interesting photos have been surfacing across the internet this past month, usually still images captured from the same animation video found on YouTube, showing the futuristic scope of the project. I found it where I have found so many other interesting, alternative Hawaii news: here on the Damon Tucker blog.

Although Paul is capable of going into great technical detail about the project, the video is really made for a layman (like myself).

It is here: http://www.bigislandvideonews.com/20081001fishery.htm

October 1, 2008 - North Kohala, HI - A preview of the Oceansphere technology planned for use by Hawaii Oceanic Technology, Inc. in the Pacific Ocean a few miles north of Kawaihae Harbor.

These self sustaining orbs, untethered to the ocean floor, will produce large harvests of ahi tuna. The technology will use an exclusive patent pending hybrid ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) power plant to generate the electricity needed to position the large spheres geostatically.

In this interview, Paul Troy explains some of the goals of the aquaculture project. The animation has been provided by Hawaii Oceanic Technology, Inc. and was created by the wizards of Screaming Wink Productions, LLC.

The first couple of Oceanspheres may be deployed by late 2009.

Its a point / counterpoint video in light of the recent Environmental Management Committee vote for Bill 361, which would ban any GMO taro or coffee (or taro/coffee that has been genetically modified) from the Big Island of Hawaii. The issue has been a contentious one, with arguments heard at the state house in the recent past.

See the lengthy video here: www.bigislandvideonews.com/20080909gmo.htm

KAILUA-KONA, HI - Bill 361, a ban on GMO coffee and taro (genetically engineered) on the Big Island of Hawaii, is passed unanimously at the county Environmental Management Committee. Supporters, and opponents, of the bill give public testimony before the vote, and share insight into the GMO controversy in this video.

While the three main interviews were conducted outside the council meeting in Kona, the taro footage is thanks to Jim Albertini and his Mula Aina Farm, at the Center for Non-Violent Education and Action. Albertini also testified in support of the bill via video conference from Hilo.

Supporters of the bill believe there will be much more opposition in the upcoming regular session council votes. The bill must pass two more readings in order to become law.

The disturbing news had already spread around the island by this morning. I had gone to Kailua-Kona to get some footage of the Stinging Nettle Caterpillar public meeting at the Kona Outdoor Circle. As luck would have it, Hawaii Department of Agriculture entomologist Patrick Conant was there, leading the discussion. The caterpillar video is on the way, but Patrick was also nice enough to share some knowledge on the bee issue developing in Hilo.

The video is here: http://www.bigislandvideonews.com/20080823bees.htm

KAILUA-KONA, HI - It is the news that beekeepers and farmers have been dreading to hear… the destructive varroa bee mite has been discovered in Hilo. The mite can kill an entire colony in weeks, and spreads easily. The impact on local agriculture could be disastrous. Hawaii Department of Agriculture Entomologist Patrick Conant explains the developing situation. NOTE: The beekeeper and honeybee video is file footage shot in New Jersey one year ago.

The real coincidence about that New Jersey footage… the beekeeper said he got his queens from Hawaii. This development could effect the beekeeping industry off the island as much as on.

ONOMEA BAY, HI - The work of Pauline Luktenhouse and her husband Dan is celebrated for enriching the Hamakua Coast for 30 years. In honor of the anniversary, residents of Hawaii are invited into the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden for a free day of flowering fun. Waterfalls, ocean views and rare flora are all a part of experience in the valley.

See the video here: www.bigislandvideonews.com/20080802hawaiibotanical.htm

Pauline Luktenhouse and Kate Logan were as welcoming to our camera as they were to the hundreds of residents who came out for a scenic stroll through the grounds. Mahalo to them and their staff for all the work they have done. This video tries to do justice to the beauty of the garden, but nothing can compare to being there in person.