September 26, 1999
Growing fruit, getting it to market on Keauhou conference agenda

By K. T. Cannon-Eger

The ninth annual international tropical fruit conference will offer growers and processors a wealth of information on planting and cultivation methods, marketing trends and tours of farms in the Kona districts.

The conference will be held Friday and Saturday, Oct. 1 and 2, at the Keauhou Beach Resort.

Of particular interest will be a panel on post-harvest treatments featuring a lychee farmer from Kaua`i, a principal in Hilo's electron beam treatment plant and a USDA entomologist. Our state's farmers are beginning to produce more exotic tropical fruit than the local market demand. How to get this high quality and high price fruit to market is a major piece in the puzzle of economic success.

Mike Strong has been described as one of Hawai`i's tropical fruit pioneers. His farm, located on Kaua`i's North Shore, has rebounded from two hurricanes: 'Iwa and 'Iniki. He is a founding member and past president of Hawai`i Tropical Fruit Growers.

His farm produces papaya, rambutan, lychee, longan and atemoya and is possibly the largest exotic tropical fruit farm in the state.

At a previous tropical fruit conference, Strong told participants of the necessity for eliminating fruit flies and at the same time reestablishing the practice of sending fruit to mainland US states north of the Mason Dixon line. "It does no good to talk about diversified agriculture unless we do away with our export barriers," Strong said.

He will discuss a hot water dip for lychee that has been approved by APHIS. Eric Weinert of Hawai`i Pride, the electron beam treatment facility under construction in Hilo, will describe the process, how the company intends to accept fruit and what paperwork will be needed.

Electron beam processing utilizes high-energy electrons as its sterilizing agent, according to the Food Online web site. Electrons are accelerated to near the speed of light by means of a linear accelerator. Titan Beta, a San Diego sterilization and food pasteurization firm, and APA, a Nebraska engineering company, recently formed a strategic alliance to develop the post-harvest treatment plant with the involvement of Big Island investors.

In terms of safety, electron beam technology provides irradiation without employing radioisotopes. When the switch is "off," electrons no longer are produced, eliminating the source of irradiation. Without radioisotopes, no toxic or radioactive wastes are generated.

"We will be open in April of 2000 and look forward to serving the newly emerging exotic tropical fruit industry," Weinert said. "Contact us to book space at hawaii@islandfruits.com."

Quarantine pests other than fruit flies are the specialty of Peter Follett, entomologist with USDA Pacific Basin Agriculture Research Center.

"I'll talk about four major fruit pests: mango seed weevil, which affects only mango; cryptophlebia moth, which attacks lychee, longan and rambutan; white peach scale, a new pest of papaya that showed up on the Hamakua coast about two years ago; and the pink hibiscus mealy bug which affects several fruit. "I will outline different quarantine treatments I'm working on for those pests. Also covered will be an overview of how to get a treatment approved for a particular fruit" Follett said.

"It's a long and involved process. First the state has to tell APHIS (Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service of the USDA) then APHIS has to do a study then ARS (USDA Agricultural Research Service) can begin work."

APHIS approved treatment protocols are required for export shipments.

"For example, some people recently have said they would like to ship passion fruit, others want to ship dragon fruit (cactus). We need to find out what insects affect the crops, which takes about a year, then two or three more years are needed to develop treatments. We're trying to think in to the future to see what crops may be exported and project what crops will be important to us five or ten years from now. That's why it's so important for us to be involved with the Hawai`i Tropical Fruit Growers and this conference.

"Our new ARS facility under construction in Hilo will roughly triple number of scientists we have now. We expect to see more emphasis on plant pathology, germplasm, -- a more comprehensive look at agriculture and at all aspects of crop production. One area we have never worked in is food technology - food safety, sanitary protocols, value-added products. This will be a new emphasis for us."

Follet may be reached by e-mail follett@aloha.net or telephone 959-4303.

Francis Blanco of the USDA Rural Development office commented on general needs for all agriculture.

"We need more support from the local banking industry for family and corporate farms in Hawai`i if we're going to compete in the global marketplace. Otherwise we're missing great opportunities."

For more information on the conference and to register, contact Ellen Mehos at mehos@kamuela.com or telephone 322-0935.

Other activities

Thursday, Sept. 30, Bank of Hawai`i economist Paul Brewbaker will offer "Outlook 2000" at the Royal Kona Resort at 6 p.m. The event is sponsored by Bank of Hawai`i, Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club of Kona. Reservations must be received on or before Tuesday, Sept. 28, by e-mail konakcc@gte.net or telephone 329-1758.

Friday and Saturday, Oct. 8 and 9, the Big Island Association of Nurserymen will hold a plant sale at Lanihau Center in Kailua-Kona. Hours are Friday from 4 to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Nurseries from all over the island are participating and growers will be on hand to answer questions about planting and cultivation. Featured items include exotic fruit trees, landscaping plants and potted ornamentals. Contact Sean Spellicy at 966-7169.

Focus on the Economy is a weekly column on science, technology, business and agriculture provided by the Hawai`i Island Economic Development Board, which receives partial funding from the Hawai`i County Department of Research & Development and GTE Hawaiian Tel. Readers with announcements or questions are invited to write to K.T. Cannon-Eger, HC 1 Box 5164, Kea`au, HI 96749-9511 or phone (808) 966-8565. E-mail to focus@hawaii-island.com

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Septe,ber 19, 1999
State's high ranking in flower, plant sales dominated by Big Island

By K. T. Cannon-Eger

More than half the state's total wholesale value of flower and nursery products comes from the Big Island.

Nationwide, among producers with $100,000 or more in total sales, the state of Hawai`i ranks fourth in cut flower wholesale value of sales behind California, Florida and Colorado. Hawai`i's foliage for indoor or patio use also ranked fourth in the nation behind Florida, California and Texas, according to the Hawai`i Agricultural Statistics Service and the USDA.

These statistics count growers with $10,000 or more in sales. Growers with sales exceeding $100,000 account for 93 percent of the national sales total -- more than $3 billion. Hawai`i's total industry amounts to nearly $70 million. Out-of-state sales account for nearly $50 million of that total.

To help growers and shippers market our quality produce, the Hawai`i Export Nursery Association and the Hawai`i Tropical Flower Council are sponsoring the fifth annual MIDPAC Horticultural Conference and Trade Show in Hilo next week.

"More than 4,000 local, state, national and international wholesale, retail and mass market foliage and flower buyers have been invited to the fifth annual Hawai`i MIDPAC Horticultural Trade Show," said organizer JoAnn Johnston.

The event is co-sponsored by UH-CTAHR, the state Department of Agriculture and County of Hawai`i Department of Research & Development.

"Business-to-business trade shows benefit all of our Big Island companies," said John Rozett, chairman of the Trade Show set for Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 29 and 30. "At the request of the Mayor, we have invited in many businesses outside of horticulture. We're trying to give more exposure to the purchasers who will be coming from the mainland and foreign countries.

"The whole idea is to try to increase the awareness of the scope of Big Island products, marketing who we are and where we're coming from with an emphasis on quality."

A Taste of the Best of the Big Island including beef, coffee, fish, tropical fruit will be offered during the trade show.

"This year we are sending out a special VIP invitation to our major resort hotels inviting their food and beverage buyers to the show as well as food brokers and distributors," Johnston said.

Exhibitors include commodity groups such as the Big Island Dendrobium Growers Association and the Big Island Association of Nurserymen; flower and potted plant growers such as Green Point Nurseries and Kohala Nursery; support industries such as Brewer Environmental, Greenhouse Specialists, and Kona Irrigation Supply; and shippers such as Matson Navigation Company and Kitty Hawk Cargo.

Other exhibitors will display pots, soilless mixes, trays, packing material and boxes. In addition, the Hawai`i Small Business Development Center Network and the US Small Business Administration will be on hand with information on seminars for the business community and financing options for small business. Organizers of the annual Mid-Pacific Horticultural Trade Show & Conference invite horticulture students, flower and foliage buyers, commodity groups, our County and State legislators, allied businesses and other businesses involved in diversified agriculture to participate in the trade show.

The concurrent conference begins Tuesday, Sept. 28. The first day's agenda includes the following presentations: Foliage research update, new varieties, production and pest control with John Rozett, Pacific PlantSource; New nursery start up in Hawai`i with Steve Shropshire, Aloha Green Nursery; Quality standards of Hawaiian Plants - an interiorscaper's checklist with Pat McGrath, Hawai`i Nurseries; Utilization of biological controls with Robbie Hollingsworth of USDA Agricultural Research Service and Kim Parker of Kim Parker Plantscapes; and CDFA compliance update with Dr. Lyle Wong of the Hawai`i Department of Agriculture.

The agenda for Wednesday, Sept. 29, includes: Tropical foliage and flower usage in Las Vegas resort hotels with Jim Gibbons of Bellagio Hotel & Casino; Flower utilization in interiors with Howard Freilich of Blondie's Treehouse; Hawaiian floral industry update on new cultivars, production and design with Leland Anderson of Polynesian Orchids and Jody Jewell of Island Flower Design; Plants for Clean Air Council with Kim Parker, co-chair; and a shipping update with Fred Spencer of Commodity Forwarders, Brian Suzuki of Hawai`i Air Cargo, Russell Chin of Matson Navigation and Richard Nelson of Transportation Solutions. The conference closes Friday with tours of several Big Island nurseries.

For information and to pre-register, contact Johnston by e-mail hena@hilo.net or telephone 969-2088.

The Big Island Association of Nurserymen utilizes 20 percent of the proceeds from its spring plant sale in Hilo and October 8 and 9 sale in Kona for ongoing efforts, one of which is a scholarship to UH-Hilo for a student majoring in horticulture. That scholarship has yet to be awarded for this fall. Interested applicants should contact Christopher Lichty at 982-6779.

Other activities

Today (Sept. 19) is the third annual Big Island International Marathon and Ekiden Relay. The course begins outside of Pepe`ekeo and ends on Banyan Drive in Hilo. Drive safely and watch out for race participants.

Thursday through Saturday, Sept. 23-25, the Papaya Administrative Committee quarterly meeting and annual Hawai`i Papaya Industry Association Conference will be held in Hilo. Contact the PAC, 969-1160.

Aloha Festivals events

Today, the 8th annual Sam Choy Poke Contest opens at the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel at 11 a.m. Free entry with Aloha Festivals ribbon.

Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 22-23, the 17th annual Kupuna Hula Festival will be held at Kona Surf convention center starting at 6 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 24, the 6th annual Greater Waikoloa Ho`olaulea will be held at Kings Shops from noon until 7 p.m. In Waimea, the 6th annual "Omiyage Day" will be held at KTA SuperStores and Cook's Discoveries from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 25, the Hilo Ho`olaulea and Macadamia Nut Festival fill downtown for a huge block party from 3:30 to 9:30 p.m. The Macadamia Nut Festival will feature Hawai`i celebrity chefs and food service students from Hawai`i Community College in the Kress Building.

Focus on the Economy is a weekly column on science, technology, business and agriculture provided by the Hawai`i Island Economic Development Board, which receives partial funding from the Hawai`i County Department of Research & Development and GTE Hawaiian Tel. Readers with announcements or questions are invited to write to K.T. Cannon-Eger, HC 1 Box 5164, Kea`au, HI 96749-9511 or phone (808) 966-8565. E-mail to focus@hawaii-island.com - - p a u - -

September 12, 1999
Winning the battle of the bugs important to construction, agriculture

By K. T. Cannon-Eger

As construction and agriculture expand in Hawai`i, it is becoming more and more important to battle new and old alien insect pests to reduce economic damage and assure crop success.

University of Hawai`i at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (UH-CTAHR) entomologists Arnold Hara and Julian Yates discussed several methods.

"A recent survey of indigenous and introduced Hawaiian tree species found that sugi (Cryptomeria japonica), kou (Cordia subcordata), kamani (Calophyllum inophylum), milo (Thespesia populnea), and tallowwood (Eucalyptus microcorys) were quite resistant to Formosan subterranean termite feeding," said Yates in a publication on new methods and technology for managing the Formosan subterranean termite.

"The current availability and wood characteristics of these species suggest that sugi, tallowwood and milo may have the greatest potential of the termite-resistant species in Hawai`i for expanded cultivation, harvest, and development and marketing of wood products."

Damage caused by the Formosan or ground termite and the West Indian drywood termite amounts to about $100 million each year and are Hawai`i's "most economically important insect pests." The Formosan subterranean termite was first described in a Honolulu newspaper article in 1869.

"This immigrant pest apparently was introduced from Formosa or South China during the period of extensive trade in sandalwood between the Kingdom of Hawai`i and China," Yates said.

Alternatives to pesticides are needed "because the soil termiticides currently allowed do not last as long as the products used before 1988, which have been banned," Yates noted. "Also, many people simply do not wish to use pesticides around the home and prefer non-chemical control methods."

One of the alternative techniques is a physical barrier of granular crushed basalt, marketed as the basaltic termite barrier (BTB) by Ameron Hawai`i.

"The barrier can be used as a fill before pouring a concrete slab foundation, be placed around the perimeter of an existing concrete slab, or can be placed beneath and around foundation retaining walls during new construction. It can also be used to fill voids in hollow-tile construction. Although the primary use of BTB is for new construction, other postconstruction uses are being developed," Yates said.

Other suitable materials in Hawai`i include crushed granite or quartz, silica sand or even glass shards.

One simple suggestion for homeowners seeking to prevent infestations is to "keep the area immediately adjacent to your house clear of plants, so you can see the base of the foundation slab or piers. Plants in the area not only screen the tunnels but also set up ideal conditions for the termites. The plants provide the food, and you provide the moisture when you water them."

Five other termite species are mainly pests of trees and only occasionally infest buildings. The Cooperative Extension Service and Hawai`i Department of Agriculture are always on the look out for new pest species or new areas of infestation by old pest species.

"If you should find one of the known termite species in an unexpected place, or observe a termite that differs from the descriptions, it may be a new alien introduction. Please report such discoveries to your local office of the Cooperative Extension Service or the Hawai`i Department of Agriculture."

The publications are: "Hawai`i's Termites - An Identification Guide" by R.J. Woodrow, J.K. Grace and J.R. Yates III; "The Formosan Subterranean Termite in Hawai`i" by Julian R. Yates III and Minoru Tamashiro; "New Technology for Managing the Formosan Subterranean Termite" by Julian R. Yates III, J. Kenneth Grace and Minoru Tamashiro; Effectiveness and "Longevity of Termiticides in Hawai`i" by Minoru Tamashiro, Julian R. Yates III, Richard H. Ebesu and Robin T. Yamamoto. A booklet on "Basaltic Termite Barrier" is available from Ameron Hawai`i on O`ahu.

Alternatives to battle pests in the landscape and nursery industry also are necessary, according to Arnold Hara, because of changes in registered uses of many broad spectrum organophosphate and carbamate insecticides and because of setbacks in biological controls.

"In the past, classical biological control conducted by the Hawai`i Department of Agriculture solved many serious floriculture and landscape pest problems," said Hara in an article prepared for Hawai`i Landscape. "An excellent example was the importation and establishment of parasitic wasps and ladybugs specific against the spiraling whitefly during the 1980s. Today, the spiraling whitefly is a pest only in environmental situations where one or both of these biological control agents are unable to establish themselves.

"In recent years, however, classical biological control has suffered a setback because of environmental concerns that parasites and predators purposely introduced to control alien pests will inadvertently affect the abundance of any closely related native insect populations. To address this, extensive host range tests are required to assure that the parasite or predator is specific to the alien pest species.

"If classical biological control is unsuccessful or if natural enemies already present in Hawai`i do not control new alien pest species, nurserymen and landscape professionals must rely heavily on broad spectrum organophosphate and carbamate insecticides, such as Malathion, Diazinon, Dursban, and Sevin. However, the Food Quality and Protection Act of 1996 will cancel many registered uses of broad-spectrum organophosphate and carbamate insecticides. All pyrethroids used outdoors will be considered 'Restricted Use Pesticide' due to toxicity to fish and aquatic organisms. 'Restricted Use Pesticides' are available for sale to and use only by Certified Applicators."

For agriculture to continue to succeed in 2000 and beyond, especially in light of the accidental immigration of 10 to 28 new insects per year, an integrated, multiple control approach will be required, according to Hara.

Such an approach will minimize the use of broad spectrum chemical insecticides and maximize "the use of biorational insecticides, cultural, mechanical, natural and physical controls. These control practices must target the most vulnerable developmental stage of the alien pest, and pinpoint the most susceptible time period for application of the control practice.

"Biorational or 'reduced risk' insecticides are synthetic or natural products that effectively control insect pests, but with low toxicity to nontarget organisims (humans, beneficial organisms including parasites and predators) and are non-polluting to the environment.

"Some of these biorational insecticides are effective only under specific environmental conditions, high humidity for example, and on certain specific life stages, immature stage for example, of the target insect. Applicators must understand and follow specific instructions for effective use of biorational insecticides."

Some of the insecticides discussed by Hara include abamectin (AVID) developed from fermentation products of a soil microorganism, azadirachtin (AZATIN) derived from the neem tree, and Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) a naturally-occurring bacterial disease of insects that has been formulated into commercial products (BIOBIT, DIPEL, MVP and THURICIDE, and from the israelensis strain of Bt VECTOBAC, GNATROL and BACTIMOS).

Each insecticide discussed in the lengthy paper is specific to certain insect pests at certain stages. Even the time of day a pesticide is applied will have an impact on its effectiveness as some degrade quickly in sunlight. Hara stressed the importance of reading labels and following directions for correct use, formulation, application, storage and disposal of pesticides of all kinds.

Another biorational discussed by Hara is not yet available in Hawai`i.

"Beauvaria bassiana (Bb) is a naturally-occurring fungal disease of insects that is formulated as a bioinsecticide. Warm temperature and high humidity are required for optimum effectiveness of fungal pathogens, making greenhouses ideal environments.

"Bb is commercially sold in the U.S. mainland as BOTANIGARD (Mycotech) and NATURALIS (Troy Biosciences) but is not yet available in Hawai`i. Both products have labels that claim effectiveness against a wide range of pests, including aphids, mealybugs, spider mites, thrips and whiteflies.

"UH researchers have attempted to import these products for testing, but because of the lengthy and rigorous state quarantine procedures, we have not been successful in having these products tested and legally available for sale in Hawai`i," Hara said. "The major concern for Hawai`i is the potential effect of Bb on non target arthropods, however, Bb already naturally occurs in Hawai`i. Recent state legislative changes in quarantine laws hopefully will streamline approval of these microbial products. UH-CTAHR and USDA-ARS scientists plan to cooperatively pursue testing and approval for sale of Bb in Hawai`i."

For more information, contact Hara by e-mail arnold@hawaii.edu or telephone 974-4105 or contact your nearest UH-CTAHR Cooperative Extension Service office.

MIDPAC Trade Show

Organizers of the annual Mid-Pacific Horticultural Trade Show & Conference invite horticulture students, flower and foliage buyers, commodity groups, our County and State legislators, allied businesses and other businesses involved in diversified agriculture to participate in the trade show set for Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 29 and 30.

"More than 4,000 local, state, national and international wholesale, retail and mass market foliage and flower buyers have been invited to the fifth annual Hawai`i MIDPAC Horticultural Trade Show," said organizer JoAnn Johnston. "The event is sponsored by the Hawai`i Export Nursery Association and Hawai`i Tropical Flower Council. It is co-sponsored by UH-CTAHR, the state Department of Agriculture and County of Hawai`i Department of Research & Development."

The concurrent conference agenda begins Tuesday, Sept. 28, and includes the following presentations: Foliage research update, new varieties, production and pest control with John Rozett, Pacific PlantSource; New nursery start up in Hawai`i with Steve Shropshire, Aloha Green Nursery; Quality standards of Hawaiian Plants - an interiorscaper's checklist with Pat McGrath, Hawai`i Nurseries; Utilization of biological controls with Robbie Hollingsworth of USDA Agricultural Research Service and Kim Parker of Kim Parker Plantscapes; and CDFA compliance update with Dr. Lyle Wong of the Hawai`i Department of Agriculture.

The agenda for Wednesday, Sept. 29, includes: Tropical foliage and flower usage in Las Vegas resort hotels with Jim Gibbons of Bellagio Hotel & Casino; Flower utilization in interiors with Howard Freilich of Blondie's Treehouse; Hawaiian floral industry update on new cultivars, production and design with Leland Anderson of Polynesian Orchids and Jody Jewell of Island Flower Design; Plants for Clean Air Council with Kim Parker, co-chair; and a shipping update with Fred Spencer of Commodity Forwarders, Brian Suzuki of Hawai`i Air Cargo, Russell Chin of Matson Navigation and Richard Nelson of Transportation Solutions.

For information and to pre-register, contact Johnston by e-mail jaj@hilo.net or telephone 969-2088.

Focus on the Economy is a weekly column on science, technology, business and agriculture provided by the Hawai`i Island Economic Development Board, which receives partial funding from the Hawai`i County Department of Research & Development and GTE Hawaiian Tel. Readers with announcements or questions are invited to write to K.T. Cannon-Eger, HC 1 Box 5164, Kea`au, HI 96749-9511 or phone (808) 966-8565. E-mail to focus@hawaii-island.com

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September 5, 1999
Federal contracts, small business help on tap in September workshops

By K. T. Cannon-Eger

It's back to school time for Hawai`i county small businesses too. A wealth of workshops is offered in September covering topics from bidding on federal contracts to financing options.

"Federal contracts in Hawai`i total more than $40 million a year in small-contract purchases, which are the life-blood of our small business," said Bob Saunders of the Hawai`i Economic Development Board Science & Technology Committee.

Small Business Development Center Network and Hawai`i Island Economic Development Board are co-sponsoring a "nuts and bolts" workshop on electronic bidding for federal government projects. The seminar will be held Tuesday and Wednesday, Sept. 7 and 8, in the Crown Room at Hawai`i Naniloa Resort.

"Five years ago, neighbor island businesses had small hope of participating in federal Requests for Proposals (RFPs) because of the distance involved and complexity of the bid process," Saunders said.

Electronic commerce has eliminated many barriers, according to Saunders, who cited refrigeration and repair, printing and graphics, engineering services and roofing contractors as some of the neighbor island businesses successful in the bidding process.

Several Big Island farms are supplying Oahu's military commissaries. The Pacific Region has an annual budget of $82 million. More agricultural products are on the way to west coast commissaries under a new marketing agreement arranged by Sen. Daniel Akaka. Those four commissaries in California and Washington state posted $233 million in sales in 1997.

Tuesday's session will focus on Government Contracts. The seminar will provide basic information on language, procedures, decision-makers, and a section on the Hawai`i Procurement Code and payment procedures.

Wednesday's session will concentrate on electronic commerce and electronic data interchange, which is an essential feature of federal contracting requiring access through the internet.

Members of HIEDB, the Hawai`i Island Chamber of Commerce, Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce and Hawai`i Island Contractors Association receive discounted rates on these workshops. Seminar cost is $100 for both sessions or $55 for individual sessions.

For further information, contact HEIDB at 966-5416 or e-mail Hector Venegas hector@pixi.com.

An additional word about Sen. Akaka's marketing initiative: The Hawai`i Food Manufacturers Association is overseeing the program which has sent coffee, macadamia nuts, cookies, poi, candies and drinks to Naval Station San Diego and Camp Pendleton in California and Fort Lewis and McChord Air Force Base in Washington state.

"Gaining a foothold in the commissary market could mean significant sales gains for Hawai`i products," Akaka said.

"Diversified agriculture has been a bright spot in our economy in recent years. Any industry enjoying strong growth must constantly seek new markets to sustain that growth."

More educational opportunities

The Hawai`i Small Business Development Center Network will present a series of workshops for start-up and expanding small businesses. These four workshops will introduce small business owners and entrepreneurs to the overall concepts of business planning. Participants are encouraged to personalize these concepts in follow up one-on-one, confidential sessions with an SBDC consultant.

How to Write a Business Plan, Part 1 and 2 will be held in Kona on Thursday and Friday, Sept. 16 and 17, from 9 a.m. to noon.

Part 1 introduces participants to the art of business planning. Participants will learn how to create a customer-focused company. Included are ways to identify and describe one's unique business idea, three business models and eight principles underlying successful small business management.

Part 2 will cover the financial statements that are part of the business plan. Participants will be introduced to three basic financial statements and learn how to use these statements to analyze the financial condition and operations of their business. This is a hands-on workshop, and participants are encouraged to bring hand-held calculators.

In "Winning Customers Through Effective Marketing" participants will learn how to choose the best strategies to reach marketing goals and objectives. A common sense marketing program for small business will be emphasized. "Winning Customers" will be presented Thursday, Sept. 16, from 1 to 4 p.m.

During "Financing Options for the Small Business," participants will be introduced to various financing options. Participants will learn about the business life cycle, concepts of risk, and the various financing options available to both start-up and expanding business. Advantages and disadvantages of each option will be discussed. Topics to be covered include equity and debt financing, the Five Cs of Credit, how to deal with a bank, non-bank loans, and other sources of funding. "Financing Options" will be presented Friday, Sept. 17, from 1 to 4 p.m.

All workshops will be held at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawai`i Authority in the makai conference room.

The cost of one seminar is $25 or $80 for all four workshops. Space is limited. Registration and payment deadline is Tuesday, Sept. 14, 1999. For more information call 969-1814.

The Hawai`i Small Business Development Center Network also will present "The Art of Business," a six-session workshop specifically designed for existing small businesses in the art industry.

This series will be held on Wednesdays from 2 to 4 p.m. beginning Sept. 22 and ending Oct. 13. Sessions will be in Hilo at the Hawai`i SBDC Network Resource Center, 308 Kamehameha Avenue, suite 200.

The workshop will focus on refining, editing and enhancing products and operations for the winter sales season.

Participants will learn various skills, including cost-cutting techniques to widen profit margins; all aspects of packaging and display for both wholesale and retail venues; "presentation" which includes refining photo, product and pricing sheets; copyright basics; how to manage catalog sales; how to create free publicity; how to hire independent contractors and home workers and how to use the Hawai`i SBDC Resource Center and Business Research Library.

Ira Ono, a nationally known artist and small business owner will present these workshops. Ono provides art counseling and training SBDCN and the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.

The cost of the workshop series is $85. Space is limited. Pre-registration and pre-payment are required. Registration and payment deadline is Monday, Sept. 20, 1999.

For more information and to register, contact Lydia Santiago 969-1814.

AOS to meet in Hilo

Congratulations to the Hilo Orchid Society for attracting the annual spring meeting of trustees of the American Orchid Society to Hilo in 2003.

"There were nearly 500 registrants when this meeting was held in Honolulu in 1994," said Floyd Lundquist, president of the Hilo Orchid Society.

In other orchid news: a First Class Certificate from the AOS is a coveted recognition of an outstanding orchid. Only a dozen or so are given in any one year.

Congratulations to James Fang and Hilo Orchid Farm for the First Class Certificate presented to Paphiopedilum Prince Edward of York at the recent Hilo Orchid Show.

The Society's next meeting will be held Friday, Sept. 10, at 7 p.m. in the Komohana Ag Complex. Gerrit Takasaki of Carmela Orchids will speak on micro propagation by the meristem process.

For more information, contact Lundquist at 966-6228.

Other activities

September is a busy month with the annual Parker Ranch round-up, Aloha Festivals events and the annual juried woodworkers' show in Honolulu. Here are a few of the many activities.

Today is the last day of the Queen Lili`uokalani Outrigger Canoe Races along the coast from Kailua-Kona to Honaunau, the world's largest long distance canoe race with 2,500 paddlers.

The 25th annual Parker Ranch Round-Up Club Scholarship Rodeo and Horse Races provide funding for scholarships at Kamehameha Schools, Hawai`i Preparatory Academy and Parker School.

A portion of the proceeds also goes to the Holi Bergin Memorial, which funds scholarships for children outside the ranch family.

More than 30 events are set for this year's Aloha Festivals. Check out the complete schedule at kamuela.com or hawaii-island.com or telephone Gloriann Akau, 885-8086.

Today is the last day of the Ka`u Hula Fest at Wai`ohinu Park from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Aloha Festivals Royal Court, Kolea, Russell Mauga, Uluwehi Guerrero and halau are among scheduled entertainment. Activities include lauhala weaving, kapa making, feather work, and celestial navigation.

There is no charge for HulaFest `99 but all participants are urged to purchase and wear the 1999 Aloha Festivals ribbon, a must for admittance to many events throughout the rest of the month.

The annual juried display of woodworker's art sponsored by the Hawai`i Forest Industry Association is open to the public at Pier 10, Aloha Tower, in Honolulu. Hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. The show closes Sunday, Sept. 12.

The Big Island Farm Fair will be held at the Old Kona Airport State Park Thursday through Sunday, Sept. 9 to 12. Contact Diane Ley at the Big Island Farm Bureau office, 969-4876.

Saturday, Sept. 11, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. is the annual Holualoa Parade and ho`olaulea, an Aloha Festivals event. The Royal Court will lead the parade through this picturesque coffee town.

Sunday, Sept. 12, the eighth annual Clyde "Kindy" Sproat Falsetto and Storytelling Contest will be held at Kahilu Theatre in Waimea. Doors open at noon and the show starts at 2 p.m. Get your tickets now. This is a sell-out event. Tickets are available at Cook's Discoveries for $10 plus an Aloha Festivals Ribbon.

Focus on the Economy is a weekly column on science, technology, business and agriculture provided by the Hawai`i Island Economic Development Board, which receives partial funding from the Hawai`i County Department of Research & Development and GTE Hawaiian Tel. Readers with announcements or questions are invited to write to K.T. Cannon-Eger, HC 1 Box 5164, Kea`au, HI 96749-9511 or phone (808) 966-8565. E-mail to focus@hawaii-island.com

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August 29, 1999
Agriculture passes its periodic check-up showing healthy growth

By K. T. Cannon-Eger

Hawaiian agriculture is growing at a much faster rate than most citizens realize. We see our losses sharply - sugar being a leader in that - but we may not perceive the explosive success of vegetables and fruit and livestock that has surpassed the dollar volume of sugar since 1987 and sugar and pineapple combined dollar volume since 1992.

Keeping and improving on that success requires work, of course, and a lot of thought, too. That was the goal of Hawai`i Agriculture 2000, a two-day conference that brought many of the state's agricultural leadership together with farmers and academics to ponder what's next. It was the third similarly named program - looking for the future - since 1992 and nearly 200 attended.

Sen. Daniel K. Inouye arrived from Washington to take note during his keynote that his program dubbed RETA-H - for Rural Economic Transition Assistance-Hawai`i - is meeting its goals. Existing since 1994 the program has 62 projects statewide and is now being phased out, probably into a new program under the federal Department of Agriculture.

An unquestionable success for so few years, RETAH helped return fallow sugar lands to active production of agricultural crops, products and services. RETAH projects provided the good example in an enterprise many considered impossible, an example that urgently was needed.

Dennis Teranishi, a born historian and president and CEO of Hawaiian Host, Inc., took a look back and forward. He noted that we might be on the cusp of a new era, an age when population growth and environmental concerns require a major emphasis on sustainability.

That word is cropping up, so to speak, in every corner of agriculture. Cut to the finest part of its meaning, you can't use what you don't have. That means you can't use what can't be replaced whether it's water, productive land or clean air.

"Without agriculture, we can't have a sustainable environment, especially on small islands" Teranishi said. He peered back 8,000 years when the earth had only 10 million population but it was enough to trigger a change in societies from nomadic hunter-gatherers into farmers who could grow more than they needed and could sell the rest, the Agricultural Revolution.

Relatively crude domestication of animals and cultivation techniques got us through the period of the European Dark Ages - at which time we had 800 million people on the planet fostering a scarcity of land and energy necessitating another sea change in society's ways, the Industrial Revolution.

Many in his luncheon audience thought he was going to move to an Information Revolution next but Teranishi skipped over it to point out that the Sustainable Revolution was essential for life itself. Information, it seemed, was one of the tools to be brought to bear on a more obvious need: survival amid a burgeoning populations and world-wide scarcities where, already, one in seven is going hungry.

Teranishi said we must focus on biotechnology to handle our huge volume of waste. We need more training in agri-business systems, fewer specialists and more willing generalists. He called for profit sharing rather than union-driven wage demands, and more direct community support for local farmers.

"Political will and government advocacy for agricultural renaissance and policies and actions are vital if we are to maintain agricultural infrastructures," Teranishi said. The room considered the difficulty of maintaining water supply systems these days while millions are spent easily on yet more roads.

"We have a moral and societal obligation to succeed in this agricultural renaissance," Teranishi said. "Without a grounding in the `aina, we eventually lose touch with all our traditions and risk becoming a neighborhood of strangers without common belief and purpose."

There was hope aplenty at the conference and, in some cases, its scale was massive. Post-harvest treatment of tropical fruits - papaya through rambutan - is seen as the key to quadrupling the present shipment of these foods to the mainland.

Eric Weinert, a Big Island tropical fruit grower and marketer for many years, said the 50 years of fruit-fly quarantine that has banned Hawaiian produce from the mainland might be near its end. He said e-beam technology will be available without radioactive materials next April or May.

Kamehameha Schools Bishop Estate's Pa`auilo land manager Peter Simmons pre-empted his own time for an address on forestry to introduce Don Bryan of the Timber Exchange in Portland, Oregon, and Gordie Boyd of Quality Veneer and Lumber. Bryan is in negotiation for a timber lease on 11,000 acres of state land near Hilo. Boyd wants to expand his company with a mill on the Big Island at a location yet to be chosen.

Veneer and plywood production would be enough for 60,000 homes a year, Boyd said. It would employ 400 with "family-size" wages and create a market for small landowners - down to as little as ten acres - for wood sales.

"On the mainland," Boyd said, "small landowners are the backbone of the wood product industry." Veneers are forestry's ultimate contribution to sustainability by use of chip wood for the base product faced with a thin coating of the slower-growing and more valuable hardwoods such as koa, milo and other relatively rare Hawaiian species.

Ag2000 was sponsored by Hawai`i Island Economic Development Board, Small Business Development Center Network - UHH, County of Hawai`i, State Department of Agriculture, Hawai`i Farm Bureau Federation and Hawai`i Agricultural Research Corporation.

Economic development workshops in Honolulu and Hilo

Partners in Economic Development - a coming together of ideas and resources to strengthen business opportunities in Hawai`i and the Pacific Islands - will be held at the Hilton Hawaiian Village on O`ahu Monday and Tuesday, Aug. 30 and 31.

The two-day conference is coordinated by the Pacific Business Center Program of the University of Hawai`i College of Business Administration.

Government agencies, not-for-profit organizations, community-based organizations, lending institutions and private sector businesses will be involved in workshops featuring information on sources of private sector financial assistance. Other topics include associations in support of business development, telecommunications and economic development, and training for development banks.

For more information, contact ldang@busadm.cba.hawaii.edu or telephone (808) 956-6286.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, Sept. 7 and 8, the Hawai`i Island Economic Development Board and UH-Hilo Small Business Development Center Network will co-sponsor a "nuts and bolts" workshop on electronic bidding for federal government projects.

The program will highlight opportunities for all-island small businesses to create new business revenues, according to Bob Saunders, chair of HIEDB's Science and Technology Committee.

For more information, e-mail clipper@interpac.net or telephone HIEDB at 966-5416.

Hawai`i Night in New York

Chef Gaspar Tatarian of La Fusta, an Argentine restaurant in Queens, participated in Hawai`i County's 4th annual Taste of the Range in mid-June and fell in love with Big Island forage-raised beef.

He joins local chefs in praising local beef, raised entirely on foraged grasses and without hormonal implants or antibiotics to enhance growth performance, for its tenderness, flavor and texture.

He also immediately placed an order for 100 pounds each of skirt steak and short ribs to use in preparing his house specialty: Argentina's national dish parrillada.

A "Hawai`i Night" feast is planned for Friday, Sept. 24, and will be the first time Hawaiian beef will be featured on a New York City restaurant menu.

The Big Island of Hawai`i with thousands of acres of grazing land has been home to beef cattle since 1793 when Captain George Vancouver presented King Kamehameha I with six heifers and a bull.

For more information on Forage Field Days and Taste of the Range, contact media maven Gene Erger by e-mail oconger@webtv.net or telephone 885-0018 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Aloha Festivals

Yesterday, the investiture of Aloha Festivals' Royal Court was held at Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park Halemaumau Crater.

Dozens of activities fill the calendar for Aloha Festivals on the Big Island from the third annual HulaFest at Wai`ohinu Park Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 4 and 5, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day to the Paniolo hat lei contest, parade and ho`olaulea in Waimea Saturday, Sept. 18, and much much more. See the calendar at http://hawaii-island.com or telephone Gloriann Akau 885-8086.

Focus on the Economy is a weekly column on science, technology, business and agriculture provided by the Hawai`i Island Economic Development Board, which receives partial funding from the Hawai`i County Department of Research & Development and GTE Hawaiian Tel. Readers with announcements or questions are invited to write to K.T. Cannon-Eger, HC 1 Box 5164, Kea`au, HI 96749-9511 or phone (808) 966-8565. E-mail to focus@hawaii-island.com

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August 22, 1999
UHH Conference Center marks 10th anniversary of service

By K. T. Cannon-Eger

In the 10 years since its beginning, UH-Hilo Conference Center has grown into an award-winning team willing and able to serve businesses and organizations on island and throughout the state and groups coming from the mainland and foreign countries.

Judith Fox-Goldstein credits our county's climate, cultural diversity, language ability, and community support for the growing interest in holding conferences on the Big Island.

"It's a combination that can't miss. Having 11 climate zones here attracts a variety of scientists and teachers," Fox-Goldstein said. "We've got a great staff with a wonderful cooperative and creative spirit. We work with some of the finest artists, geologists, astronomers, musicians, lei makers, hula dancers, all kinds of community resources. These are people of passion. Whatever the field, they are driven by their passion."

The Conference Center staff has to be both artists and scientists themselves. Any gathering that involves airport greetings, workshops, field trips, meals, accommodations, bus trips and equipment can have a hundred things go wrong. The challenge is to handle all those logistics with an upbeat and can-do attitude. "We have to be diplomats and magicians," Fox-Goldstein said.

Groups come from all over for the Hawaiian EDventure experience, billed as a living classroom. Programs include marine biology and geology; government and history; volcanology and astronomy; business and the economy; cuisine, flora and fauna; and heritage and traditions.

"Some people have pre-conceived notions of Hawai`i. We take it six steps further. We integrate everything here. For example, if there's an interest in Hawaiian canoes, we go to the forest, visit a woodworker's shop, see canoes being built then go meet with a canoe club and go out paddling. Even lunch is in Canoes for that experience. In the farm experience in Waipi`o Valley, participants learn a chant, farm taro, clean and eat it.

"The philosophy is to learn about the land, work and give back. Thousands of people have participated since its inception. It's a stand-alone program or elements can be added on to other events.

"We also have to constantly be aware of what is appropriate, what is wanted in the community. We survey businesses to see what is acceptable."

UH-Hilo Conference Center received an international award in event management from the International Association of Conference and Event Managers.

"We were stunned," Fox-Goldstein said. "We were competing against established, monied east coast universities. It was a great affirmation for this extremely talented staff."

In 1999, the center received a Kahili Award in the Keep It Hawai`i program of the Hawai`i Visitors and Conventions Bureau.

Fox-Goldstein also is president of Destination Hilo and sees the dual role as a town-gown bridge.

"We have a core of 10 people on the Conference Center staff that swells to 65 with a big event or during a series of activities. This center creates jobs, some permanent and some seasonal. During the summer we work with a great many Department of Education teachers in EDventure."

The center coordinates approximately 100 programs a year including Elderhostel. Some of the conferences coming up include the Aloha State Council Literacy Conference in March 2000, National Extension Tourism Conference in May 2000, Strategic Planning for the Pacific Rim in July 2000, and the Society of Conservation Biologists in 2001.

"We also are celebrating the inauguration of our Chancellor Rose Tseng on October 29," Fox-Goldstein said. "She's so dynamic, creative and forthright. She's very excited about the travel education program.

"There's so much growth on the horizon. We are being besieged by calls from Japan. We have two groups of 200 each arriving in Kona in November."

Each person in a group for a week-long program receives a binder of information including each day's itinerary, equipment list, photographs and age appropriate resource material.

"The wonderful part of this job is standing back and watching people develop their wings and fly," Fox-Goldstein said. "Janice Harvey is our marketing director. She's working on bringing high tech conferences to the Big Island. Alberta Mehau-Matsu is a student with a genius for details, everything from lunches to snorkel gear. Mary Ann Tsuchiyama is program coordinator and a logistical genius. We all know what everybody's doing. It's a very supportive atmosphere.

"How lucky to come to work every day and love what you're doing. I'm blessed." Contact the UH-Hilo Conference Center at 974-7555.

Focus on the Economy is a weekly column on science, technology, business and agriculture provided by the Hawai`i Island Economic Development Board, which receives partial funding from the Hawai`i County Department of Research & Development and GTE Hawaiian Tel. Back issues are archived at http://hawaii-island.com in the Economic Development category. Readers with announcements or questions are invited to write to K.T. Cannon-Eger, HC 1 Box 5164, Kea`au, HI 96749-9511 or phone (808) 966-8565. E-mail to focus@hawaii-island.com - - p a u - -

August 15, 1999
Ag 2000 may herald a new set of opportunities for small farmers

By K. T. Cannon-Eger

Excitement is building as farmers, foresters and those who work with them plan for success in the year 2000.

Two major players, representing a major landowner and the county government, are counting on the Ag 2000 conference at the Hawai`i Naniloa Resort this week to add fuel to the accelerating agricultural engines.

Peter Simmons is with Kamehameha Schools Bishop Estate (KSBE) in the Land Office at Pa`auilo and Margarita Hopkins is an agricultural expert with the County of Hawai`i Department of Research & Development.

With emerging markets, strengthened production, improved post-harvest treatment, water availability and transportation, there may be many new opportunities for small farmers.

"KSBE leases to quite a few small farmers and has for years," Simmons said. "There is the old saying about how we can grow anything in Hawai`i. The question arises how do we sell it?"

On KSBE lands there are noni and cacao experiments in Hamakua. Taro, fish farms, and cattle are other enterprises in East Hawai`i.

"Potential farmers need to ask themselves when they will have the best chance of success," Simmons said. My feeling is they will succeed when they have a mature market, when they are on the best lands for their crop and when they have the right skills to manage those lands.

"There are no guarantees. People can still fail. But the knowledge is here for matching crops to land to market and all of that reduces the risk.

"J.W.A. 'Doc' Buyers of C. Brewer and his people have set a real good example with awa. They identified a stable market, gathered independent farmers to provide product and are helping people to get onto the land.

"Another good example is Kona coffee that has been run primarily by individuals for more than 170 years."

KSBE and the State of Hawai`i recently reached an agreement to provide water from the Hamakua Ditch. Terms of the 35-year lease call for the Department of Agriculture to pay Bishop Estate $1 a year rent. The state will assume ditch maintenance and repair costs, which will be financed in part by user fees. Water rates for users have not yet been set.

"Looking at some of the Hamakua lands below the ditch it is necessary to match the crop to the land," Simmons said. "The second part is to match the crop to the market. When looking at Hamakua, we have to keep in mind that there are 30,000 acres on O`ahu looking to provide for the market demand of this state. We know Hamakua farmers face fierce competition within the state. What we have to do is look at processing and value added products since we can ship to anywhere in the world."

Simmons noted that a plywood processor projected for the Big Island's forestry project will provide 500 jobs paying from $12 to $14 an hour.

"I hope we have that many people interested in learning those skills. At the same time, we need to take advantage of the infrastructure. We should consider adding other processors, jelly makers for example. What would it take to get Smuckers and half a dozen other jelly companies interested in our lands?

"We need to create better markets. Those will drive better spreadsheets and drive better farming."

Simmons credited the Rural Economic Transition Assistance - Hawai`i (RETAH) program with helping many new farmers get started, but stressed that more attention must be paid to the market side.

"At KSBE, we would like to see more farming enterprises. Our biggest question is how do we plan for success. I'm really looking forward to the Ag 2000 conference."

He encouraged independent farmers seeking land to contact him at the Pa`auilo Land Office, 776-1104 on the Big Island.

"My whole job is helping people make their dreams come true."

Margarita Hopkins is an agricultural expert with the County who has been urging more attention to marketing.

"Mayor Stephen Yamashiro will unveil our new promotional materials at the Ag 2000 conference on Thursday morning.

"This includes a Big Island - Hawai`i's Best logo that we hope all processors and commodity groups will use in their packaging. There also is a poster developed by Current Events that depicts all the different products and where they are produced on this island."

Four generic product brochures will be available on livestock and aquaculture; foliage, flowers and nursery plants; orchard crops such as macadamia nuts, coffee and tropical fruit; and vegetables. Each brochure includes handling directions.

"The idea is to provide more comprehensive information in these four brochures and the poster and to identify Big Island products," Hopkins said. "It's a whole package of professional materials, including a portfolio for mailing and inclusion of the individual's business card."

For more information and to register for Ag 2000, a two-day conference Aug. 19 and 20, contact the Hawai`i Island Economic Development Board, 966-5416.

Boat Day in Hilo

Monty Richards, chair of RETAH, announced an old-fashioned Boat Day event from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Aug 19, following the day's Ag 2000 conference.

The Boat Day event at Pier One in Hilo Harbor will salute Tony Hanley, long-time Hilo Matson executive and former chair of HIEDB's Agriculture Committee.

The SS Independence celebrates its 1,000th inter-island voyage and sails at 6 p.m. After the ship sails, Hanley will be "roasted" at a dinner on the Pier. Tickets are $35 and benefit Hawai`i Island United Way.

Rick West, chair of the Boat Day committee, promises a gala affair with music, Hawai`i-grown foods, and entertainment. Senator Daniel K. Inouye will be the keynote speaker.

For tickets, contact HIEDB at 966-5416.

Other activities

Kiana Davenport will read from her new book Song of the Exile on Wednesday, Aug. 18, at 7 p.m. in Borders Books and Music in Hilo.

Song of the Exile weaves together exensive historical research, personal memoir and the culture of Hawai`i in a tale of a native Hawaiian jazz musician's search for his lost love amidst the horror of World War II.

For more information, call 933-1410.

The Hawai`i Island Chamber of Commerce will hear from Dr. Leroy Laney, professor of economics and finance at Hawai`i Pacific University, on the outlook for the Big Island's economy in 2000 Wednesday, Aug. 25, in the Crown Room at Hawai`i Naniloa Resort.

The luncheon begins at noon. For reservations, contact the Chamber office at 935-7178.

The Hawai`i Island Food Bank is looking for business donations of prizes for the Gala Food Bank Headdress Ball to be held Saturday, Aug. 28, at Hilton Waikoloa Resort.

The Carmen Miranda-theme evening will feature the talents of six premiere chefs from the Kohala Coast, meandering Hiccup Circus jugglers, Copacabana-copycat Harmonee Girls entertaining and the Clem Low Band for dancing.

Call Susan Jung at 935-3050 to help feed those in need.

Focus on the Economy is a weekly column on science, technology, business and agriculture provided by the Hawai`i Island Economic Development Board, which receives partial funding from the Hawai`i County Department of Research & Development and GTE Hawaiian Tel. Readers with announcements or questions are invited to write to K.T. Cannon-Eger, HC 1 Box 5164, Kea`au, HI 96749-9511 or phone (808) 966-8565.

E-mail to focus@hawaii-island.com

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August 8, 1999
Business provides opportunity for Big Island youth to shine

By K. T. Cannon-Eger

Several young Big Island business people are providing a good example for others to follow. Each wants to stay in Hawai`i County where they've grown up and gone to school. They want to stay close to family and friends. They want to work and they want to have fun.

Perhaps the youngest entrepreneur in Puna is 15-year-old Allan Kurt-Kaimi Hegent, a sophomore this fall at Waiakea High School.

"Alani Cinders is a business my uncle, Clayton Alani, started about two years before he was killed Sept. 12, 1997," Hegent said. "I'm keeping the name in honor of my uncle and am buying the business from my aunt Debra."

Hegent screens black or red cinder and markets one-cubic-foot bags.

"I get a delivery of 30 cubic yards, which lasts about two months," he said. "I'm marketing about 150 bags a week."

Alani Cinders' customers include Al's Hardware in Kona, Ikeuchi & Sons Store in Honoka`a, True Value in Kohala and Volcano, and Ace Hardware stores in Pahoa, Kona, Hilo, Waimea, and three stores on Maui. He plans to expand to serve stores on O`ahu and Kaua`i.

"I started up around Christmas in 1997. I like this business because I know I can do it," Hegent said. "Having a business makes me learn about quality control, writing letters, invoices, buying supplies and saving my money.

"I also like this business because I am earning my own money. I can go places I never went before, like Maui and Moloka`i. I hear my friends ask their parents for money and all I can think is they should get a job."

Hegent has the advantage of learning from his mother, Evelyn `Ilima Alani Hegent, a flower shipper who grew up on a truck farm in Waimea and graduated from Honoka`a High School in 1965. Their two-acre Hawaiian Paradise Park farm, `Ilima Flowers, grows orchids under shade cloth for cut flowers and in greenhouses for potted plants. `Ilima Flowers started in 1991 and now ships worldwide.

"Allan has gotten so much help from the teachers and counselors at Waiakea High School," his mother said. "Mrs. Lynn Arakawa helped set up a work/study program. She was awesome. She also taught my older son, Ivan, at Pahoa High School. "Allan is on a special program to learn the business. He can learn on the job and is here two days out of the school week. Eventually I want him to be able to take over `Ilima Flowers."

A flower packer at `Ilima Flowers commented on one of Hegent's business attributes.

"One day he had a really big order from a church and he had a helper. Early that morning when I was set to do errands, Allan gave me a roll of quarters to go buy lunch for that helper. I thought that was so considerate of him to think ahead like that."

Alani Cinders and `Ilima Flowers may be reached at 982-9852 or by fax 982-7818. In downtown Hilo, perhaps the youngest business people are Leyson Hopkins and David Sakai who have two enterprises - Wilson's By the Bay and Rainbow Country Orchids.

"I worked for the original owners first at the Kaumana Wilson's store and then down here," Hopkins said. "It was the most fun job I ever had. Good vibes. I didn't want to see it die when the owners decided to move. They've given me a chance to take it over and keep it going."

Hopkins and Sakai, classmates at Hilo High School before graduating in 1995, took over running the popular ice shave and casual clothing store in June 1998 just before she turned 21. Located at 224 Kamehameha Avenue in the Canario Building, Wilson's By the Bay has a familiar and comfortable atmosphere with old theater seats, big crack seed jars and local memorabilia.

On warm days, customers are lined up outside the store.

"Strawberry is the most popular ice shave flavor. It's a classic. We also have lychee, li hing mui, lilikoi and Pepsi. Except for the Pepsi, we make all our own syrups. We also have a cream topping and azuki beans."

To expand the customer base, Hopkins added the Hawaiian Style clothing line, fresh flower lei made to order, crack seed and locally made sterling silver jewelry.

"Hawaiian Style is casual clothing for surf and beach and fishing. We have a variety of crack seed and li hing mui candies. We can make baskets or mixed gift bags for parties. The lei we offer on order are pua kenikeni, pakalana and ginger.

"Bruce Cate of Hilo Hana Lima jewelry made ice shave earrings special for us. They're really cute. We have several more of his sterling silver charms," Hopkins said.

"This is challenging. It's the most responsibility I've taken on. I feel really guilty if I'm not here."

Wilson's By the Bay hours are 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. The store is closed on Monday. Hopkins and Sakai started their partnership two years ago with Rainbow Country Orchids in Pahoa. They recently got an ag lot in Panaewa and are almost done putting up a second greenhouse.

"We specialize in potted phalaenopsis and are certified for export," Hopkins said. "When the orchids are flowering in the spring to early summer, we bring them in to the store. They are not just for decoration! And we offer really good prices - $7.50 to $12."

David Sakai handles most of the orchid farm work with his father. "We sell to Jim Nabers of Puna Orchids. He's a neighbor in Pahoa," Hopkins said. "We also sell to Ko`olau Orchids on O`ahu."

Hopkins is the daughter of two well-known agricultural experts: aquaculture specialist Kevin Hopkins and Margarita Hopkins, an ag advocate in the County of Hawai`i Department of Research & Development. Leyson attended UH-Hilo College of Agriculture following graduation from Hilo High School.

"I took several different courses to help us out with the orchid business. I've got more course work to complete before I can graduate."

Contact Leyson and David at 969-9191 during store hours and allow a little leeway for island time. "We don't wear wristwatches," Hopkins said.

Other activities

Saturday, Aug. 14, a woodworking seminar with Bruce Beeken of Shelburne Farms in Vermont will be held at Jay Warner's shop in Mountain View from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information and to register, contact Warner at 968-7074.

The woodworking seminar is co-sponsored by Hawai`i Forest Industry Association, Hawai`i Craftsmen, and Industry Network Corporation.

Additional seminars are scheduled for Maui and O`ahu.

The Maui session will be held Saturday, Aug. 21, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at John Wittenburg's shop in Kahakuloa. Contact Wittenburg at 244-4917.

The O`ahu session will be held Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 28-29, at Martin & MacArthur from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Contact Marian Yasuda, 538-0448, or Alan Wilkinson, 456-1006.

The workshops will describe the way Beeken/Parsons designs and makes furniture from native hardwoods.

"It is our goal to make furniture that reflects the full range of hardwoods that grow in our region," said Yasuda and Wilkinson who chair educational activities for HIFA. "Though the forests on Hawai`i, Maui and O`ahu are entirely different from the temperate forests of the northeast United States, many of the challenges and opportunities appear to be similar."

This week, the annual International Festival of the Pacific continues through Friday, Aug. 13. For more information on events, contact the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry at 934-0177.

>From Friday through Monday, Aug. 13-16, Court Mauna Kea #8854 of the Ancient Order of Foresters Friendly Society will celebrate its centennial. Participants are expected from Australia and New Zealand.

For more information, contact Junior Past Chief Ranger Dick Miner by e-mail miner@ilhawaii.net or telephone 966-9875.

Wednesday, Aug. 25, macadamia nut growers have an opportunity to learn from UH-CTAHR specialist Vince Jones about identification and management of insect pests at 4 p.m. in the Kona Cooperative Extension Service office. Call 328-2335 for more information.

Saturday, Aug. 28, the Hawai`i Island Food Bank Carmen Miranda Headdress Gala Ball will be held at Hilton Waikoloa Village grand ballroom starting at 5:30 p.m.

A contest will be held for the most outrageous, beautiful, towering headdress worn by contestants from corporate donor-sponsors. In addition to fine dining and dancing to great music, the evening will include Latin American dance exhibitions by Ron and Karla Montez and Babineaux and Forest, and a live auction.

For more information, contact Gene Erger by e-mail oconger@webtv.net or telephone 885-0018 between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.

`Awa association news

Tuesday, Aug. 24, tropical horticulturist Ed Johnston and president of the Association for Hawaiian `Awa Jerry Konanui will present a slide-illustrated lecture on propagation techniques, products and uses at Kilauea Visitor Center auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park at 7 p.m. For more information on this presentation, contact the HVNP Division of Interpretation at 985-6014. On Saturday, Aug. 28, a meeting will be held at Komohana Ag Complex in Hilo from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to form a new `awa growers association.

The agenda includes an update on the July 1999 Pacific Kava Council meeting in Vanuatu, fresh `awa sampling, slide presentations and discussion of goals and objectives.

For more information, contact AHA by writing P. O. Box 636, Pepe`ekeo HI 96783 or telephone 969-7079.

Focus on the Economy is a weekly column on science, technology, business and agriculture provided by the Hawai`i Island Economic Development Board, which receives partial funding from the Hawai`i County Department of Research & Development and GTE Hawaiian Tel. Readers with announcements or questions are invited to write to K.T. Cannon-Eger, HC 1 Box 5164, Kea`au, HI 96749-9511 or phone (808) 966-8565. E-mail to focus@hawaii-island.com

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August 1, 1999
Conference set for agricultural success in the next century

By K. T. Cannon-Eger

Every year since 1992, statewide farm gate values of diversified agriculture have surpassed the value of sugar and pineapple combined. Most of that growth has taken place on the Big Island.

The question arises, what do we need to do to continue the success of diversified agriculture - all crops and livestock except sugar and pineapple - into the next century?

Improved crop production, post harvest treatment and processing for export and value-added products, transportation, niche markets and ag tourism were discussed for this column with experts representing a number of commodities.

In addition, a gathering is coming up to continue planning for the future.

Hawai`i Agriculture 2000 will be held Thursday and Friday, August 19 and 20, at the Hawai`i Naniloa Resort. Sponsored by RETA-H, the Hawai`i Island Economic Development Board, the Hawai`i State Department of Agriculture, The County of Hawai`i Department of Research and Development, Hawai`i Agriculture Research Center, Small Business Development Center Network, University of Hawai`i at Hilo and the Hawai`i Farm Bureau Federation, the conference will involve the entire agribusiness community in this state.

Senator Daniel K. Inouye will be the keynote speaker on the opening day, which will feature success stories from the Rural Economic Transition Assistance - Hawai`i program that was funded through Inouye's efforts.

For more information and to register, contact HIEDB at 966-5416.

Key concerns in papaya are improved crop production, post harvest treatment to enable export, and transportation to market.

"The papaya industry is key to successful agricultural development in the County of Hawai`i and statewide in the near term," said Lyle Wong of the state Department of Agriculture. "It's such a large crop and significant export. Without a real good papaya industry, a lot of things won't fall in place, specifically post-harvest treatment and transportation.

"Without papaya throughput all year long, an irradiation processor would have to fall back on seasonal crops. That's a problem for every kind of post-harvest treatment," Wong said.

"If we don't have papaya, some of the more exotic crops will not be able to develop the economy of scale to be successful.

"You need tonnage to get good transportation service."

Claudia Kalaola of Hawaiian Host Papayas said, "The Rainbow papaya that's been developed to withstand this terrible ring spot virus gives us hope. We can recapture the market that's been lost and expand to new ones."

Loren Mochida of Tropical Hawaiian Products agreed.

"Papaya growers are going to need a constant supply of the Rainbow seeds either from HARC or a private entity. A lot of the transgenic foods will be coming on line in August and this fall. Marketing will be directed to the mainland U.S. until approvals to export to Japan are final," Mochida said.

"We all know that we need to collaborate. We've already started with CAG (Commodity Advisory Group). I think that group's on its way. We need collaboration between public and private entities. UH-Hilo College of Agriculture, UH-CTAHR, Cooperative Extension Service, HARC all of these people have to help the new small farmers. It's a different world without the large plantations."

John Cross, land manager of Mauna Kea Agribusiness, emphasized quality.

"We need to be able to export crops from Hawai`i that are stable, that have a long shelf life. Either we dry and package them or box and deliver fresh in superior quality. Even when we are talking about fresh fruit, we have to consider the longest shelf life possible. We need processing methods that will show off our fruit in as pristine a condition as when it was harvested. Some sort of post-harvest treatment has to be implemented - irradiation, e-beam, vapor - to do that."

Cross also heads the Hawaiian Pacific Kava Company and is concerned with niche marketing.

"We think that `awa or kava is best as an export crop to pharmaceutical companies in Europe because that is a stable market. It's not a US herbal dietary fad market. The demand in Europe is strong and steady. Initially, we thought a thousand acres would be planted, but now it looks more like a couple of hundred acres will be planted."

Other nutraceuticals will follow, Cross said, but each needs a stable market before production can succeed.

"If we're going to get into the processing and marketing of nutraceuticals, we don't want the fad to disappear in a year or two. Everybody is asking for noni for example. But will that demand still be here in a couple of years."

Bob Chase of the Small Business Development Center said, "Hawai`i is perfectly placed for niche markets. It's got the name, it's got the market. Especially in terms of health foods - organic, nutraceuticals, herbs.

"When people think of Hawai`i, they think of health. This concept folds right into ag tourism."

One crop that's been filling a niche for 170 years is Kona's coffee.

"Kona coffee is a niche," George Fike said, "an ever growing niche." Fike is president of the Kona Coffee Council and, with his wife Jean, operates Fike Farms.

The Hawai`i Agricultural Statistics Service reports, "Total acreage for Hawai`i island is estimated at 2,800 acres in 1998, up 12 percent from 1997 and the highest total since 1974."

HASS also reported more coffee acreage coming into production on the Big Island in Kona, Ka`u, Hamakua and other districts. More than 260 acres in Pahala were planted with funding from Sen. Inouye's Rural Economic Transition Assistance - Hawai`i program.

Jean Hull, chief instructor and food service program coordinator at UH-West Hawai`i said, "There's a new attitude about farm fresh products among the chefs. They like to feature Big Island grown products on the menu. We need more corn and strawberries and rhubarb."

Hull mentioned Roy Honda in Kona who grows tomatoes and cucumbers. Raymond Kawamata in Waimea has switched from roses to growing cluster tomatoes, cucumbers and many varieties of bell pepper, all from European seed, geared to please local chefs.

"Taste comes first," Kawamata said. Raymond Tanouye in Mountain View switched from anthurium to producing another chef-oriented product - specialty salad greens and packaged chopped vegetables. Tanouye recently began selling to the military market as well.

Wendell Koga of the Hawai`i Farm Bureau Federation thinks, "value-added products are a segment of the industry that that can really take off on us. We need better infrastructure for some products. For example, we already have good infrastructure in place for canning pineapple and juice, for roasting and packaging macadamia nuts. We need to pay attention to the economy of scale for jelly jars."

Koga also sees development in agricultural tourism and in research projects. According to Information Systems for Biotechnology, Hawai`i leads the nation in both number of field tests (863) and number of field test sites (2,500) for plants developed to resist viruses or other biotechnological developments.

Big Island Farm Bureau president Ellen Mehos said, "The agricultural industry must continue to work together through established organizations such as the Farm Bureau to gain support and commitment from the community and our elected officials. Basic infrastructure, especially irrigation water, and preservation of agricultural land are key to the future of agriculture. There will be no long term economic growth or new niche products to market without these basics."

HIEDB newsletter on line

The second issue of Countdown BI2K4, a quarterly published by the Hawai`i Island Economic Development Board, is in the mail and on line. The web site http://hawaii-island.com/hiedb contains more extensive versions of each feature story plus links to related web sites.

Another addition is a travel section at http://hawaii-island.com/travel featuring updates to Big Island travel guides written by photo-journalist and teacher John Penisten.

Kona Legends released

A well-loved and long popular book of legends that take place around and describe many landmarks on the slopes of Hualalai in Kona has been released by Petroglyph Press in a new edition.

Kona Legends was written by Eliza Maguire and originally published in 1927. She first heard these tales in 1866 from Hawaiians on her father's Hu`ehu`e Ranch in Kona district.

In 1923, Isaac W. H. Kihe began writing tales and legends for Ka Hoku O Hawai`i, a Hawaiian weekly Hilo newspaper edited by Rev. Stephen Desha. It was then that Maguire realized she should gather and translate them for the future kn