KULEANA GREEN BUSINESS PROGRAM

The Kuleana Green Business Program is an original initiative of the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce that was first launched in 2006. The program aims to raise awareness about environmentally sustainable and eco-friendly business practices. 

Click here to take the KULEANA GREEN BUSINESS PLEDGE.

ANNUAL KULEANA GREEN BUSINESS EXPO (see below)

SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE: The Chamber's Sustainability Committee oversees this popular program. We encourage you to get involved and join this committee, which meets on the second Tuesday of each month from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Zoom. This committee is open to all Kona-Kohala Chamber members. Please email info@kona-kohala.com if you are interested. If you aren't a member yet, you can apply here: APPLICATION. 

 

2025 KULEANA GREEN BUSINESS EXPO

Celebrating the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce’s commitment to environmental stewardship, we enjoyed a unique opportunity to visit Puʻu Waʻawaʻa Ranch—a truly inspiring venue for an unforgettable event highlighting Kuleana Green Businesses. 

Mahalo to our Sustainability Committee for planning and hosting a wonderful event:
 
Co-Chair Teri Leicher, Jack's Diving Locker

Co-Chair Mikena Shay, Body Glove Cruises

Bill Brooks, Sunspear Energy

Mendy Dant, Fair Wind Cruises

Fern Gavelek, Fern Gavelek Communications

Laura Hall, Hawaiʻi Community College – Pālamanui

Diane McWhirter, Kona Cloud Forest Sanctuary

Luria Namba, Hawaiʻi Community College – Pālamanui

Cindi Punihaole - The Kohala Center

“We joined the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce over
20 years ago because of the Sustainability Committee.

We wanted to be part of something that would help protect our resources, encourage thoughtful growth, and be a place
we could safely raise our children and grandchildren.

It takes a village to keep on top of it all, and we encourage
all businesses to join us in the Chamber’s sustainability efforts.” 

Teri Leicher, Jack’s Diving Locker
KKCC Sustainability Committee Chair

 

“We are very concerned about our environment and
have seen it change dramatically over the decades.

We need to work together to bring awareness to businesses
and become active in changing behaviors to
benefit our natural resources.”
 
Mendy Dant, Fair Wind Cruises
KKCC Board of Directors South Kona Vice Chair
KKCC Sustainability Committee Member

Early attendees were invited to take a tour of the ranch’s cutting-edge Blue Planet Energy Research Lab, where they learned about the history of the ranch and the innovative technology that powers it.

 Bill Brooks guided guests on the tour, sharing insights and expertise. Here, he is pointing out the impressive battery storage system at the research lab.

The ranch’s energy lab features a south-facing roof slanted at 20 degrees to align with the island’s latitude, and it contains 360 panels that produce 85 kW (kilowatts) of peak power.

The building’s windows face the north so the interior stays comfortable.

The solar power goes to a system of charge controllers, a “bus” and AC/DC converters to power and store energy for the ranch.

Excess power goes to several LFP or lithium ferrous phosphate battery banks. In addition, excess energy is used to make hydrogen. Using a miniature display of the electrolysis process, Brooks showed how this can be done using a demonstration model electrolyzer and fuel cell. The ranch has a hydrogen fueling station to power a Toyota Mirai and a forklift.
 

Bill Brooks shared a brief history of the ranch's owners and managers, including Robert Hind and Eben Low, who sent three Hawaiian paniolo— Jack Low, Archie Ka‘au‘a and Ikua Purdy—to sweep the competition in the 1908 Frontier Days roping championship in Cheyenne, Wyoming: “Their pictures are here on the wall."

“Henk Rogers bought 38 acres of the ranch in 2005. He has been supportive of ranch reforestation, including a seed bank depository, and built the energy lab in 2008. It powers the ranch through a system of solar panels, batteries and hydrogen energy," Brooks shared.

Guest Daisy Mitchell, who spent time on the ranch, shared a personal perspective of this special place. She mentioned that the ranch house has a guest book that recorded a visit by Queen Lili‘uokalani.

KKCC board member Tane Datta addresses the audience while fellow board member South Kona Vice Chair Mendy Dant and KKCC Aliʻi Circle member Javin Paoli listen. 

Mahalo to our exhibitors for sharing environmentally sustainable and eco-friendly business practices:
 
Body Glove Cruises
Fair Wind Cruises 
Hawaiʻi Community College – Pālamanui
Jack's Diving Locker 
Ke Kai Ola, The Marine Mammal Center
Malama Kai Foundation
Manta Pacific Research Foundation
Pacific Biodiesel
Stream2Sea
The Kohala Center

KULEANA GREEN BUSINESSES

Body Glove Cruises

Captain Zodiac

CarbonBuddy

Cyanotech

Fair Wind Cruises

Hawaiʻi Community College - Pālamanui

Hawaiʻi Forest and Trail

Hualālai Resort

Jack's Diving Locker

Keauhou Veterinary Hospital

Kona Brewing Company

Malama Kai Foundation

Manta Pacific Research Foundation

Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaiʻi Authority (NELHA)

ProVision Solar

Sea Paradise Sailing and Snorkeling Tours

Sunrun

Sustainable Island Products

The Kohala Center

Trans-Pacific Designs

West Hawaiʻi Small Business Development Center