Going Green with Andrea Dean

I stopped in and visited with Marc Kinoshita, Project Manager for the Ho’ea Agricultural Park the other day. The Ho’ea Ag Park has opened an office in Hawi next to Sushi Rock. Marc welcomes anyone to come in and talk story about the ag park.


According to the brochure:
“Conceived as a private incubator and host for local agricultural enterprises, the 500-acre park at Ho’ea will use renewable energy and water for multiple applications to produce wholesome food for local and export markets.”


The mission of the ag park is:
The Ho’ea Agricultural park is committee to sustainable agriculture and a vibrant, rural economy in North Kohala. We intend to:

You can reach Marc Kinoshita at 889-1367.

Local beekeeper Richard Spiegel from Volcano Island Honey attended the Hawaii premier of the film The Last Beekeeper.

Tonight I attended the “Listening Session” for the draft County of Hawaii Agriculture Development Plan, aka the “Ag Plan”. The Kohala Center’s Betsy Cole and Guy Kaulukukui presented some of the plan’s action items for public comment. You can still attend the public listening sessions or read it and email your comments.

In this podcast I interview Suzanne Case, Executive Director of The Nature Conservancy in Hawaii.



I spoke to Suzanne Case about The Nature Conservancy’s work with native forests and coral reefs as well as their focus on climate change and how it is all connected. Walking their talk, The Nature Conservancy, as a “green business” has just remodeled an historic building on Oahu according to LEED standards. The building was the first existing building in Hawaii to be remodeled and receive LEED certification.


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This is your chance to learn about and comment on the draft County Ag Plan.

From the Kohala Center:

The 2009 Hawai‘i County Agriculture Development Plan is intended to guide the revitalization of agriculture as a basis for Hawai‘i Island’s economic development, and is focused on measures intended to increase the production of export products as well as food for local consumption.


UPCOMING PUBLIC LISTENING SESSIONS

All sessions will be held from 6:00–8:00 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 20: Kohala High School Cafeteria
Wednesday, Oct. 21: Kona Outdoor Circle
Thursday, Oct. 22: Waimea Community Center
Tuesday, Oct. 27: Pahala Community Center
Wednesday, Oct. 28: Aupuni Conference Room,
County of Hawai‘i Building in Hilo
Thursday, Oct. 29: Pa‘auilo School Cafeteria
Wednesday, Nov. 4: Pahoa Community Center

Learn more: http://www.kohalacenter.org/agplan.html