Whole Foods opens first Hawaii store

September 17, 2008

A healthy crowd turned out yesterday morning for the opening of the first Whole Foods Market store in Hawai’i, at Kahala Mall.

About 150 people lined up for the 7 a.m. opening to shop or see what the nation’s largest natural and organic foods retailer has to offer.

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Agriculture Dept. seeks loan applications

August 4, 2008

The state Department of Agriculture is now accepting loan applications from agricultural and aqua cultural operations to fund renewable energy technology.

This new loan program, which falls under Act 209, supports renewable energy technologies such as photovoltaic, hydroelectric, wind, methane, biodiesel and ethanol. It also makes loans available for food-safety projects.

The loans, which are capped at $1.5 million, or 85 percent of the project, may be used for infrastructure, equipment, land improvement and operating costs. They will carry 3 to 5 percent interest rates.

Loan requests will be taken through DEC. 31. Applicants must be full-time farmers, ranchers, growers or aqua culturists. They must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and they must have resided in Hawaii for the past three years.

For more information, contact an HDOA Agricultural Loan Office in your region or visit the Web site: http://hawaii.gov/hdoa/agl/agricultural-loan-division. On Oahu, phone 973-9460. Neighbor island phone numbers are: Hilo, 974-4140; Kona, 323-7591; Kauai, 274-3141, ext. 39460; Maui, 984-2400, ext. 39460; and Molokai, 1-800-468-4644, ext. 39460.

Pineapple could vanish from Hawaii

July 26, 2008

Layoffs by Maui Land & Pineapple Co. may have put Hawai’i one step away from the complete loss of what was once the state’s single biggest cash crop.

ML&P’s pineapple production will drop by half, from about 2,000 acres to around 1,000 acres. Of the 274 jobs being cut, 204 are in the company’s pineapple division of 441 employees.

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E Malama Aina Festival, Focus on Sustainability

July 12, 2008

Hilo, HI July 11, 2008 — The Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce announces E Malama Aina ("Lets Take Care of the Land"), a 2-day festival Nov. 7-8 at Hilo’s Mooheau Park, which will offer consumers and businesses a firsthand look at Hawaii Island innovations and best practices aimed at sustainability.

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The many uses of soy

June 24, 2008

Soy - the good, the bad and the ugly

When I was growing up, soy was something that was pretty much confined to being used on our Chinese food takeaways or something that hippies and health nuts crowed about… that I knew of.

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Farmers feel parched by isles’ dry weather

June 18, 2008

KULA, Maui » On the slopes of Haleakala, Maui farmer Ralph Inouye feels a warm breeze rather than the typical cool Upcountry air as he looks at a dry, fallow field.

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