Hawaii Beekeeping Makes a Comeback
“My bees were dying. I was crying. I had 40 hives and 36 of them were dead. My friends said, ‘Find a new job. The bee business is done.’ ” Diminutive Puna beekeeper Jen…
Sustainability
Sustainable Hawaii Businesses
The pace at which sustainability has been adopted as a sound business imperative is impressive. A few years ago, most companies would have put it in a silo, where a small portion of profits would be dedicated to “greening” along…
Navatek's CEPAS technology makes more efficient wind turbines
What is C.E.P.A.S.? Navatek, the R&D subsidiary of shipyard operator Pacific Marine, specializes in developing advanced hull forms and flow-control technology. Its new Catalyst Enhanced Plasma Actuation System is designed to improve the efficiency of large, commercial wind turbines by…
Military Drives Alternative Energy in Hawaii
The Pentagon is investing billions in alternative energy and conservation, and that’s good news for local companies it’s good news for hawaii’s economy and local aspirations when the state’s goals align with the American military’s goals. That’s because the U.S.…
Green Machines and Smiles
Owner David Jung aims to distinguish his new taxi company from competitors with two things: sustainability and good service. The company is called EcoCab and all of its vehicles are Hyundai Sonata hybrids, which the EPA rates at 35 mpg…
Hawaii Beef Comes Home
Call it Hawaii’s most unusual export. For years, the vast majority of calves born in Hawaii have been sent to feed lots on the mainland, where they matured, and then were slaughtered and shipped to grocery stores and restaurants around…
Ask SmallBiz: Grid Saturation
Q: I’d like to put in a solar-electric system to reduce my business’ energy costs, but I’m concerned about grid saturation. How does it affect me? A: Distributed solar power energy in Hawaii has reached levels unprecedented elsewhere in the United States.…
A new generation takes on the challenges of farming
People have joined the growing Eat Local movement for myriad reasons, including reducing their carbon footprint, supporting Hawaii businesses and keeping agricultural lands in agriculture. Grocery stores and restaurants tout their local-food credentials, and more farmers markets keep popping up…
Is Liquefied Natural Gas a viable option?
How quickly things change. Ever since the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative was announced in 2008, the assumption has been that Hawaii’s new sources of power would come from renewable energy: wind, solar, geothermal, biofuels and others. These cleaner, local sources…
