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| Christmasberry is one plant `Aina Koa Pono is considering as a feedstock for its biofuel refinery. Photo is of holly, another invasive species in many places. Photo from ainakoapono.com |
LEADERS AT `AINA KOA PONO, the hui that wants to build a refinery near Wood Valley Road and plant biofuel crops on ag land between Pahala and Na`alehu, have changed. The new website at ainakoapono.com names Kenton Eldridge as chairman, replacing Dr. Melvin Chiogioji, who was co-founder of `Aina Koa Pono. Chiogioji has formed a company called Sustainable Biofuels Solutions, which is licensed worldwide to sell TekGar’s new Microwave Catalytic Depolymerization process, now called Micro Dee.
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| `Aina Koa Pono chairman Kenton Eldridge Photo courtesy of The Nature Conservancy |
Hawaiian Electric Light Co. and `Aina Koa Pono are applying to the state Public Utilities Commission for a contract to sell biofuel to the utility. The PUC turned them down last year, saying the cost was excessive and not cost-effective. This year’s contract would charge the utility less for the biofuel. A summary of the proposal is expected to be placed on the PUC website soon for public comment.
THE NEW `AINA KOA PONO AND HAWAI`I ELECTRIC LIGHT CO. PROPOSAL that could increase the average household electric bill by only one dollar a month could lead to much larger cost increases for businesses, schools, hospitals and other institutions, which are already looking for ways off the grid. The new West Hawai`i Civic Center installed photovoltaics, and University of Hawai`i is planning to install a second round of solar voltaic panels.
Eldridge is also statewide chairman of the board of The Nature Conservancy, which owns and manages Kamehame turtle nesting preserve makai of Pahala and several other preserves between Pahala and Na`alehu.
The website says he brings 40 years of business experience to `Aina Koa Pono, including 15 years with Duty Free Shoppers (DFS). He has extensive business operating experience in the U.S. and Asia, the website says. He also serves on advisory boards of Innovac and Entrepreneurs Foundation of Hawai`i. Prior to his retail career, Eldridge spent four years as a U.S. Army officer, serving in Europe and Vietnam. He attended the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, CA and the Army Officer’s Candidate School at Fort Benning, GA. He received Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts and Master of Business Administration degrees from University of New Hampshire, the website says.
The website says he brings 40 years of business experience to `Aina Koa Pono, including 15 years with Duty Free Shoppers (DFS). He has extensive business operating experience in the U.S. and Asia, the website says. He also serves on advisory boards of Innovac and Entrepreneurs Foundation of Hawai`i. Prior to his retail career, Eldridge spent four years as a U.S. Army officer, serving in Europe and Vietnam. He attended the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, CA and the Army Officer’s Candidate School at Fort Benning, GA. He received Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts and Master of Business Administration degrees from University of New Hampshire, the website says.
Named a partner in `Aina Koa Pono and spokesman for the group is Kenton Eldridge’s son, Chris Eldridge. He is founder and president of America’s Mattresses Hawai`i, which, according to the website, is the state’s largest chain of specialty sleep shops. The website says Chris Eldridge has 20 years of entrepreneurial and start-up experience, having founded four companies including America’s Mattress and PortaBox Storage. “PortaBox Storage/FileMinders grew into Hawai`i’s largest commercial records and data storage company and was sold to Access Information Management in 2005,” says the website.
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| `Aina Koa Pono plans to build a biofuel refinery on Meyer Camp Road off of Wood Valley Road above Pahala. Photo by Julia Neal |
Chris Eldridge serves on the board of directors for Kapi`olani Medical Center for Women and Children as well as on advisory boards for several private companies. He is a member of The Nature Conservancy of Hawai`i’s Corporate Council for the Environment, and a member of the Young President’s Organization. He attended Punahou School and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Business form Boston University. Both Kenton and Chris Eldridge live on O`ahu.
THE NEW `AINA KOA PONO AND HAWAI`I ELECTRIC LIGHT CO. PROPOSAL that could increase the average household electric bill by only one dollar a month could lead to much larger cost increases for businesses, schools, hospitals and other institutions, which are already looking for ways off the grid. The new West Hawai`i Civic Center installed photovoltaics, and University of Hawai`i is planning to install a second round of solar voltaic panels.
“If you’ve ever felt the pain of paying an unanticipated monster electricity bill, just imagine being the guy who writes the checks at University of Hawaii at Hilo,” says a West Hawai`i Today story this morning by Colin M. Stewart. Electric bills increased by nearly a half million dollars in the 2011-2012 fiscal year, putting some educational programs at risk, UH-Hilo Chancellor Donald Straney told Hilo Rotary Club last week.
To get away from the growing electric bills, UH-Hilo appointed a sustainability director to help cut utility costs and develop an energy management plan. UH-Hilo is installing more photovoltaics after putting up solar panels that already generate more than 150 kilowatts. An additional 500 kilowatts will be installed. However, the additional photovoltaics “will put the campus very near the limit of photovoltaic production within the guidelines established by Hawai`i Electric Light Company,” the story says.
See more at westhawaiitoday.com.
See more at westhawaiitoday.com.
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| Dr. Nathan Zilz |
CARDIAC SCREENINGS are expected to come to farmers markets and other public locations on the south end of the Big Island, according to a story in this morning’s West Hawai`i Today. The Colin M. Stewart article introduces Hawai`i Island Cardiovasular, Inc., “a new nonprofit that will seek to provide island residents with access to early screenings that can identify heart health issues before they become serious and expensive.” The founder and philanthropist behind the effort is Ray Chalkin, and the volunteer medical director is cardiologist Nathan Zilz.
The story quotes Zilz on his mission as a doctor who prevents illness: ‘There’s an old Chinese proverb that says something like ‘A superior doctor prevents sickness. A mediocre doctor attends to impending disease. And an inferior doctor treats actual sickness.’ We want to try to prevent sickness, and hopefully we can change some of the statistics that we’ve been talking about.”
Screenings will include blood pressure, blood glucose and cholesterol levels as well as ultrasounds and education.
According to the story, Zilz said that, in addition to markets and fairs, the organization plans education in schools where volunteers will talk about anatomy and physiology and how to become and stay healthy. The story also reports Chalkin saying that, “by this time next year, we could be screening many, many hundreds or even thousands of people.”
The article points to the Big Island having a 20 percent higher death rate than statewide in heart disease-related illnesses. See more at westhawaiitoday.com. To find out more and to make a donation, call Mary Stancill at stancill@hawaiicardiovascular.org.
Screenings will include blood pressure, blood glucose and cholesterol levels as well as ultrasounds and education.
According to the story, Zilz said that, in addition to markets and fairs, the organization plans education in schools where volunteers will talk about anatomy and physiology and how to become and stay healthy. The story also reports Chalkin saying that, “by this time next year, we could be screening many, many hundreds or even thousands of people.”
The article points to the Big Island having a 20 percent higher death rate than statewide in heart disease-related illnesses. See more at westhawaiitoday.com. To find out more and to make a donation, call Mary Stancill at stancill@hawaiicardiovascular.org.
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| One of Micronesia's monumental structures. Photo from NPS |
MONUMENTAL ARCHITECTURE OF MICRONESIA is the topic at After Dark in the Park: Tue at 7 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Dave Tuggle presents an illustrated journey to the islands of Micronesia, the ancient, massive stonework of Palau and the limestone structures of the Marianas. Two-dollar donations support park programs, and park entrance fees apply.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM.
