On this Friday morning, the BLNR would hear a request to permit a third facility, Hawaii Oceanic Technology’s (HOT) ambitious, high-tech plan to raise 6,000 tons of ahi (skipjack and bigeye tuna) in 12 untethered, submerged Oceanspheres three miles off the Big Island’s Kohala Coast. The projected output is four times the amount of ahi consumed yearly in all of Hawaii. HOT expects 90 percent of its finished product to be flown to markets in Japan and the Mainland.

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But the lack of data on the immense 165′ x 165′ Oceanspheres—to be self-propelled through an Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) system—drew concerns from Board members and testifiers alike.

Life of the Land’s Henry Curtis, one of Hawaii’s most eminent renewable energy advocates, told the board about his experience evaluating OTEC systems. “Frankly,” said Curtis, “I can’t make head or tails of this technology. How can you describe the impacts if it is theoretical and has not been discussed?”

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Big Island residents and testifiers claimed HOT had not made good-faith efforts to meet with the community and hear their concerns. Spencer replied that their final Environmental Impact Statement was over 900 pages long, “with more than 500 pages of comments and responses.”

“I would rather work with them than oppose them,” testified Rocky Jensen, “but they didn’t come to us.”

The results from the Board of Land and Natural Resources was a 4-1 vote to approve an gradual approach to release three cages initially, then report back with their results prior to launching nine more net pens.

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CEO Mattson Davis posing with some kegs of Liquid Aloha

The Examiner.com has posted part 2 of its 4 part series on Kona Brewing Company.  Part 2 discusses how brewing local helps keep beer fresh (who likes stale tasting beer anyway?), and also reduces the carbon footprint of shipping beer all the way to the islands.

Brewing the beer locally throughout the mainland U.S. ensures that fresh beer is brewed close to market- and ready to be consumed immediately. It also helps minimize Kona Brewing Company’s carbon footprint. Kona Brewing Co. beers are now available in Japan. Other international expansion is in the long range plans, but needs to be carefully planned and executed so that Kona Brew fans worldwide can enjoy refreshing Liquid Aloha.

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HILO >> The varroa mite parasite that’s been killing bees across the country is spreading on the Big Island, threatening local fruit and macadamia nut industries.

The tiny, parasitic bug has escaped a quarantine area around Hilo and spread to Hamakua and Puna.

On the mainland, the varroa mite has destroyed more than half of some beekeepers’ hives and devastated most wild honeybee populations.

Mainland bees have also been hit by another illness called colony collapse disorder, which causes adult bees to abandon their hives.

Hawaii’s first varroa mite was found in 2007 on Oahu, where it is now widely established.

The mites breed in the bees’ hives, living off their blood. The mites weaken the bees, allowing other viruses and diseases to kill them.

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