University Economic Development Association

Fruitful Initiative Grows Hawaiian Economy

The ‘Ama’ (outrigger) Initiative has been launched by the Pacific Business Center Program (PBCP) via its Multi-Purpose Business Incubator (MPBI) project. The MPBI is a partnership initiative between the University of Hawaii PBCP and private industry to create synergies for problem solving or as catalytic tools for economic development to address Hawaii State, Pacific Regional and global challenges. As a metaphor, the ama is used as an economic outrigger to support and prevent the capsizing of Hawaii’s primary economic ship (tourism) and while doing so, grow parallel economies and industries for greater economic stability and diversity. The initiative includes two high impact programs housed in MPBI: 2014 UEDA award winning project the Breadfruit Initiative and the Thermal Conversion of Organic Materials (TCOM) technology, a 2019 UEDA award winning project. The symbiotic projects are designed to embrace local economic recovery needs holistically vs piece meal fixing.

Breadfruit Initiative (BI):

New opportunities support Hawaii as a Global Leader in Breadfruit Plant Protein and Gluten Free Food Processing & Manufacturing to meet the global need for high quality alternative protein sources. Breadfruit is a leader among plant protein based sources. The plant-based protein market is projected to reach a value of USD 40.6 billion by 2025 (source Research and Markets). Breadfruit is also both low glycemic and gluten free which will reach USD 43.65 billion by 2027, according to a new report published by Grand View Research, Inc.  Recent research by US Agricultural Research and US Department of Defense Deployed War Fighter Research Program and National Tropical Botanical Gardens Breadfruit Institute verified that smoke from dried breadfruit leaves and florescence, used for millenniums among Pacific cultures, contained three compounds more potent than DEET (a synthetic pesticide). The insect pest control market is projected at $17.6 Billion USD by 2023. Market demand for breadfruit food products and by products are compelling. Supply is the key.

“The plant-based protein market is projected to reach a value of USD 40.6 billion by 2025 (source Research and Markets). Breadfruit is also both gluten free and low glycemic which will impact the global gluten-free products market size to reach USD 43.65 billion by 2027,

Auntie Shirley Ann Pualani Kauhaihao shares the joys of  ‘Ulu with people of all ages, Auntie represents the healing of restorative Aloha. She is also a recipient of the Ka‘ulu Kupa‘a Award. She co-founded Ho‘oulu ka ‘Ulu, a movement rooted in respect and generosity that revitalizes ‘Ulu with over 200 participating groups in Hawaii.  Auntie Shirley also conducts workshops throughout Hawai‘i and the Pacific. Auntie Shirley was recognized as a 2019 Star of Ocean at its event held every three years since 2006 honoring service to raise the common good.

breadfruit trees stand in Oceania - accounting for the highest density of breadfruit trees in the world.

pounds of fruit are produced per breadfruit tree a year.

pounds of breadfruit can be produced a year

breadfruit trees stand in Oceania - accounting for the highest density of breadfruit trees in the world.

pounds of fruit are produced per breadfruit tree a year.

pounds of breadfruit can be produced a year

Oceania has the highest density of breadfruit trees in the world with over 2 Million standing trees.  With a conservative estimate of 700 pounds of fruit per tree annually, the region has the capacity to produce at least 1.4 billion pounds of breadfruit a year. That translates into 700,000 tons of raw breadfruit per annum. The Oceania to Honolulu supply link can catapult Hawaii to global leadership in the ulu health food and by-product manufacturing industry. Additional supply links with SE Asia are currently being negotiated further increasing tonnage potential. Pacific Farmers Organization Network (PIFON), with80,000 farmer members from across Oceania has agreements for TCOM/PIFON unit sales and deployment in place and will be activated once travel shut downs to the Pacific Islands are lifted.

A proposal to restore, renovate and repurpose the old Hawaii flour mill and silo’s that closed down in 2014 in Honolulu would provide the infrastructure for processing dried breadfruit shipped in from the South Pacific, Central and far West Pacific via US Territories.

The breadfruit Industry can be in full operations by 2022 with limited production starting as early late 2020. The Breadfruit Initiative proposes laying (in most cases restoring) breadfruit agroforestry belts on all major islands of the State with the first-year goal of local training workshops and establishing green houses to support the goal of 1 million trees utilizing root cuttings from standing breadfruit trees in the State.

Thermal Conversion of Organic Materials (TCOM).

The TCOM technology is designed to convert organic waste into value added products including activated carbon. Landfills for trash and waste inundation is a constant threat in Hawaii in particular and islands globally. The manufacturing of TCOM parts are in process with the first shipment, assembly and deployments to occur by August 2020, in Hawaii. Deployment sites have been identified. They include over-flowing landfills and sewage facilities throughout the State and large agricultural developments where solid carbons (TCOM waste converted product) as a soil amendment is up to 200% more potent than the leading commercial fertilizer. This is a compelling factor in successful agriculture development. Heat generated by the TCOM system will support an attachment dehydrator deployed to the regions farmers for drying breadfruit and ancillary agricultural products for shipping to Hawaii as the manufacturing center for national and global markets. Deployment of TCOM units globally to regenerate agriculture and exhausted chemically burned soils will significantly alter human and natural environments. Current unit sales being negotiated the Pacific, French Polynesia, St. Croix US Virgin Islands in the Caribbean, and Dubai in the Middle East.

 

The technology is a patented formula by scientist/inventor Michael Lurvey an MPBI client and partner.  TCOM reduces and converts organic based waste, including raw sewage (called cake) to elemental solid carbon, and/or gaseous hydrocarbons some of which can be refined into fuels and/or chemicals. Green Wastes include such things as agricultural residue, forestry residue, landscape cuttings, municipal solid waste, food wastes, etc.; Hydrocarbons include tires, single use plastics and packaging plastics. The TCOM technology system is designed and retrofitted into freight containers for easy deployment by land, air and sea to isolated rural areas, coastal communities/villages or remote islands. TCOM distributive units can avoid centralized collapses common in disasters.

 

A single TCOM unit can convert one ton of waste to 650 pounds of solid carbon per hr. Operating eight hours a day each unit is capable of producing 1,248,000 pounds of solid carbon per year, 80,640 gallons of synthetic liquid fuel and 2070.56  of (1,000 c3) Synthetic Gas. Depending on the type of feedstock used and the desired end product yields can vary from 20% solid Carbons to 60%. Gaseous yields can range from 30% to 75% from which condensable liquids can be extracted at a rate of up to 85%.

“A single TCOM unit can convert one ton of waste to 650 pounds of solid carbon per hr. Operating eight hours a day each retrofitted unit is capable of producing 1,248,000 pounds of solid carbon per year, 80,640 gallons of synthetic liquid fuel and 2070.56  of (1,000 c3) Synthetic Gas.”

Building on the network of Community Colleges, Technical/agricultural Trainings and Certifications that include Children and Elders in Hawaii and global regions. Student internship and training certifications programs for assembly, operations, maintenance and business development will be required of all participating governments, organizations and interested public/private partners seeking to engage the ‘Ama’ Outrigger initiative.  Technologies and agroforestry methods are designed specifically to enable the inclusion of age groups from 7 years of age to 60+ years of age.  Central to all Ama related initiatives is training, community resilience (Hauula Community Association partnered with PBCP that was awarded the 2019 UEDA Award of Excellence that featured the TCOM technology) and disaster preparedness. Initiatives and methods are designed for easy utilization, operation, maintenance and teaching the importance of regenerative practices. It’s all designed so that even grandmother can take the helm in the face of disaster.

 

“With minimal investment, both ideas could be ready to go in about six months,” Kymberly Pine, Chair of the Honolulu City Council Committee on Business, Economic Development and Tourism. Quote from Star Advertiser, 5/11 article titled: Lack of Clear Plan to Replace Tourism leaves Hawaii’s Economic Future in Doubt.

Papali’i Tusi Avegalio, was raised in both American Samoa and Independent Samoa. He is a ranking Polynesian traditional leader and the first born and raised Samoan Associate Professor of Business in the nation. He is currently the Director of the Pacific Business Center Program and former Executive Director of the Honolulu Minority Business Development Center at the University of Hawaii – Shidler College of Business Administration, serving under the auspices of the University of Hawaii systems office of the Vice President for Community Colleges led by Dr. Erica Lacro. 

His staff calls his style ‘MBM’ (management by mana).  He is a Pacific Island enigma whose economic development programs and enigmatic leadership style has garnered over 12 national, regional and leadership awards since 2000 when he became director of PBCP an EDA University Center. PBCP as an organization is based on the organic model of an Ohana (family), follows a regenerative development philosophy and guided by the values of aloha. His primary role as PBCP Director is that of navigator who identifies the star to sail towards, and as chief cheerleader who facilitates resources, provides support and gets out of the way so the work can get done and University of Hawaii services provided. He also attends the cocktail receptions representing PBCP often with his guitar in true island style.

Papali‘i Dr. Failautusi "Tusi" Avegalio, Jr.

University Economic Development Association

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