Wednesday, November 13, 2024
Hawai'i Free Press

Current Articles | Archives

Thursday, January 7, 2016
UH Reports Hawaii Hemp is Top Shelf
By Rep Cynthia Thielen @ 5:56 PM :: 6386 Views :: Agriculture, Drugs

Hawaii's Industrial Hemp Project Proves Huge Success!

News Release from Office of Rep Cynthia Thielen, January 7, 2016

Honolulu – Hawaii's Industrial Hemp Research Project exceeded expectations in not only the quantity, but the quality of industrial hemp produced according to a report just released from the University of Hawaii's College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTHAR). The research was conducted in Waimanalo on the island of Oahu from July 20, 2014 through December 3, 2015.

The project, which was initiated by Act 56 and spearheaded by Principal Investigator Harry Ako, PhD, was a feasibility study on the growth and use of industrial hemp in Hawai‘i.  Using a subtropical cultivar from Australia, Dr. Ako discovered that three crops a year could be grown in our State, yielding between 27 to 38 tons dry weight stalks per year depending on densities planted. Stalks from fiber hemp plants can be used to produce a variety of everyday products, including building materials (hempcrete), clothing, paper, rope, and even automobile parts.

"The research also found that subtropical hemp yielded significant amounts of leaves that could be used as forage for cattle.  This would be extremely beneficial to local ranchers who currently must  send Hawaii's "grass fed" cattle to the mainland for finishing," said long time industrial hemp proponent Rep. Cynthia Thielen (Kailua-Kaneohe Bay), noting that she is drafting legislation which would expand the number of industrial hemp crop sites in order to provide nutritional, local animal feed to farmers and ranchers.

Seed hemp, which is used in a variety of foods, oils, health and cosmetic products, also flourished at the Waimanalo project and offers a promising future for industrial hemp production. Two seed crops a year, with a yield of about 2.5 tons of seed per acre per year, could be grown in our State based on Dr. Ako's research results. In Canada, the most lucrative aspect of industrial hemp production has proven to be seed production.

According to the report, the hemp plants were grown without herbicides, and are "self-weeding".  Additionally, insecticides were not used, hemp plants did not need to be fertilized, and adult plants needed very little water.

Investigators also conducted cursory hempcrete studies which proved that hempcrete could be made in Hawai‘i without special chemicals or knowledge using hemp stalks and lime.  Hempcrete is a durable and recyclable building product which is termite proof and has an extremely high thermal (fire proof) resistance.

"This truly is an amazing plant and fabulous new crop for Hawai'i, said Rep. Thielen, adding, "Where do you find a plant with over 45,000 different uses which requires minimum resources and is environmentally friendly? The results from this research project are revolutionary for Hawaii's agricultural industry.  We are all thrilled about the potential this simple plant has for our State's future, especially with the announcement yesterday that HC&S would no longer be growing sugar cane."

Research project participants included Principal Investigator Harry Ako, PhD, Team members Qing Li, Melody Heidel, Alan Yoshimoto, Masahiro Yoshioka, and Jennifer Bright.  A complete copy of the research report can be found at http://www.hawaii.edu/offices/eaur/govrel/reports/2016/act56-slh2014_2016_industrial-hemp_report.pdf

---30---

Links

TEXT "follow HawaiiFreePress" to 40404

Register to Vote

2aHawaii

Aloha Pregnancy Care Center

AntiPlanner

Antonio Gramsci Reading List

A Place for Women in Waipio

Ballotpedia Hawaii

Broken Trust

Build More Hawaiian Homes Working Group

Christian Homeschoolers of Hawaii

Cliff Slater's Second Opinion

DVids Hawaii

FIRE

Fix Oahu!

Frontline: The Fixers

Genetic Literacy Project

Grassroot Institute

Habele.org

Hawaii Aquarium Fish Report

Hawaii Aviation Preservation Society

Hawaii Catholic TV

Hawaii Christian Coalition

Hawaii Cigar Association

Hawaii ConCon Info

Hawaii Debt Clock

Hawaii Defense Foundation

Hawaii Family Forum

Hawaii Farmers and Ranchers United

Hawaii Farmer's Daughter

Hawaii Federation of Republican Women

Hawaii History Blog

Hawaii Jihadi Trial

Hawaii Legal News

Hawaii Legal Short-Term Rental Alliance

Hawaii Matters

Hawaii Military History

Hawaii's Partnership for Appropriate & Compassionate Care

Hawaii Public Charter School Network

Hawaii Rifle Association

Hawaii Shippers Council

Hawaii Together

HiFiCo

Hiram Fong Papers

Homeschool Legal Defense Hawaii

Honolulu Navy League

Honolulu Traffic

House Minority Blog

Imua TMT

Inouye-Kwock, NYT 1992

Inside the Nature Conservancy

Inverse Condemnation

July 4 in Hawaii

Land and Power in Hawaii

Lessons in Firearm Education

Lingle Years

Managed Care Matters -- Hawaii

MentalIllnessPolicy.org

Missile Defense Advocacy

MIS Veterans Hawaii

NAMI Hawaii

Natatorium.org

National Parents Org Hawaii

NFIB Hawaii News

NRA-ILA Hawaii

Obookiah

OHA Lies

Opt Out Today

Patients Rights Council Hawaii

Practical Policy Institute of Hawaii

Pritchett Cartoons

Pro-GMO Hawaii

RailRipoff.com

Rental by Owner Awareness Assn

Research Institute for Hawaii USA

Rick Hamada Show

RJ Rummel

School Choice in Hawaii

SenatorFong.com

Talking Tax

Tax Foundation of Hawaii

The Real Hanabusa

Time Out Honolulu

Trustee Akina KWO Columns

Waagey.org

West Maui Taxpayers Association

What Natalie Thinks

Whole Life Hawaii