Pupus, beverages, and tech! Presenter: Eric Jang, USDA Agricultural Research Service Topic: Creative Pest and Disease Management for Tropical Crops How can we best control pests that affect the myriad of tropical crops grown in Hawaii?  Dr. Eric Jang will discuss research to find approaches that blend chemical, non-chemical, and even "natural" methods.  Dr. Jang […]

Topic: Design Thinking Presenter: Justin Brown, Kealakehe High School "Design Thinking" is a methodology for designing a more desirable future, whether that future is an appliance to make your coffee, a process used by a service company, or anything else.  It was largely developed and popularized by Stanford University's Design School and several design firms […]

Topic: Lunar Rovers on Hawaii Island Presenter: Dr. Tibor Pacher, CEO, Puli Space Technologies A couple of months ago, Rob Kelso of PISCES told us about using Hawaii Island as a training ground for space exploration.  This month, we will get to hear from someone who is doing just that.  Puli Space Technologies of Hungary […]

Presenters: WHEA, Konawaena, and Kealakehe High Schools' FIRST Robotics Teams For this pau hana, we are proud to present the 3rd annual FIRST Robotics Challenge Design Review.  Come hear how our Kona-area teams are planning their robot designs for the 2014 FIRST Robotics Challenge.  The Challenge starts in early January, and teams must stop construction […]

Hawaii's Transmedia Accelerator Presenter:  Dave Bruce, head of Marketing and PR, Global Virtual Studio What is Transmedia, anyway?  Why would we want to accelerate it?  Dave Bruce will explain it all.  The Global Virtual Studio is a team of content creators, based here in Kona, that aim to enhance the power of storytelling on multiple […]

Projects Seeking Input: Battery-Backed Solar Energy, Community Learning and Fabrication Center This month, we are going to do something a little different. We'll have two shorter presentations from local projects that are looking for input of some kind.  So come prepared to give constructive feedback! #1 Grid Tied Photovoltaic with Battery Backup Solar photovoltaic generating […]

Prospects for Geothermal Resources and Groundwater in the Saddle Area and Beyond Dr. Don Thomas, UH Hilo Don Thomas is working at the center of two resources we need for survival and modern life: water and energy.  This month's presentation will be about recent explorations in the saddle area of Hawaii Island looking for groundwater […]

Water Management and Leak Detection Technologies Dr. Richard DeVerse, Kona Labs Continuing our two-month mini-series on water, Dr. Richard DeVerse will cover the end-use side of the equation.  Water is a precious resource, and it behooves us to waste as little as possible.  Dr. DeVerse will discuss technologies and methods for managing water and detecting […]

Autonomous Wave Gliders for Storm Monitoring and Other Applications Presenter:  Vas Podorean, Liquid Robotics Liquid Robotics has a new vehicle platform, dubbed SV3.  Its improvements include wifi & cell modem communications, a solar powered thruster, increased autonomy and a "plug & play" operating system that allows for customers to integrate their own applications much easier.  […]

Understanding Electrostatic Lunar Dust and its Implications on Space Exploration Presentation by: Kealakehe Robotics MoonRiders Team With the help of PISCES, a set of students at Kealakehe High School is working to research and educate our community about the nature of lunar dust.  Since the 1960, NASA and academics around the world have sought to […]

Presenter: Rich Bailey, Dewpoint Systems Title: Fresh Water from Thin Air One can use a source of cold temperature, for instance cold seawater, to extract fresh water from the atmosphere.  The cold can also be used to grow plant species that would not otherwise thrive in Kona's climate.  Rich Bailey has been involved in "ColdAG" […]

Seeking feedback on a technical presentation or fine-tuning on a product pitch? Looking to enhance your leadership and evaluation skills at work? You could take an expensive class or seminar, which tends to be heavy on theory, light on practical experience and hard to come by here in West Hawaii. What you may need is […]

Robotics Design Review For this pau hana, we are proud to present the 4th annual FIRST Robotics Challenge Design Review.  Come hear how our Kona-area teams are planning their robot designs for the 2015 FIRST Robotics Challenge.  The Challenge starts in early January, and teams must stop construction in late February, so our pau hana […]

Topic: Watching Pele with UAVs ("drones") Presenters: Nick Turner and Arthur Cunningham, UH Hilo Anyone can fly an unmanned aircraft, but it takes a special understanding of Geographic Information Systems to turn imagery into actionable data.  University of Hawaii-Hilo has been using UAVs to map the active lava flow on the Big Island since October, […]

NELHA has been monitoring its equipment using a variety of disparate systems.  Over the past year or so, it has been upgrading to a comprehensive data acquisition system.  It is now possible to get real-time data on pumping stations and their power usage, which will allow them to improve pumping efficiencies and reduce operational costs.  […]

At least 60 cases of rat lungworm disease (RLWD) have been documented in humans in Hawaii, most of them originating from the Puna district of Hawaii Island. While symptoms can be mild and flu-like, there have been many severe cases that have resulted in long-term disability and even death.  Dr. Jarvi's group has been researching […]

Topic TBD

The Tech Pau Hana is back after a summer break. Are you someone who holds or would like to hold events to connect and support Hawaii's entrepreneurial, investor and corporate communities? Come learn about how you can apply for grant money to support these events. Hawaii Strategic Development Corporation (HSDC) has renewed funding for the […]

When: Monday, December 14, 5 p.m. Where: NELHA Gateway Center Presenter: Prof. Tadafumi Adschiri, Tohoku University Prof. Tadafumi Adschiri is an international leader in the field of supercritical water technology and a member of the Science Council of Japan. His research in the generation of nano-catalysts with supercritical water has significant impacts on the future […]

When: Monday, January 25, 5 p.m. Where: NELHA Gateway Center Presenter: Kealakehe High School and WHEA Robotics Teams Join us for the 5th annual Robotics Design Review.  Midway into the FIRST Robotics Competition's build period, our high school robotics teams will show their plans for winning robots.  This year's game is an assault on a […]

Note: rescheduled 1 week later than original calendar entry!   Watching Mauna Loa Shake: Experiences with historical and anticipated eruptions When: Monday, February 29, 5 p.m. Where: NELHA Gateway Center Presenter: Dr. Paul Okubo, Hawaii Volcano Observatory Seismic monitoring at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) has repeatedly demonstrated the ability to detect and track patterns […]

Presenter: Van Eden, PhD When the dengue outbreak started, Van Eden studied the research literature to see what was known about preventing the spread of arboviral diseases. What became clear is that many authorities use mosquito traps as part of an integrated vector control program. Van realized that mosquito traps could empower the community to […]

Presenter: Neil Anthony Sims, M.Sc., Kampachi Farms, LLC Kampachi Farms’ Kona research team has pioneered the Velella project, demonstrating two new concepts in Federal waters: untethered, open ocean ‘drifter pens’; and “over-the-horizon aquaculture”™. The first Velella trial was awarded one of TIME Magazine’s 25 Best Inventions of the Year, in 2012. Since then, Kampachi Farms […]

Presenter: Jeff Zimpfer, Ph.D., Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park More information to come. Agenda: 5:00-5:15 p.m. Gather and Networking 5:15-6:15 p.m. Presentation and Q&A 6:15-7:30 p.m. More Networking, pupus

Presenter: Jeff Zimpfer, Ph.D, National Park Service In 1978, Congress established Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park to preserve, interpret, and perpetuate traditional native Hawaiian activities and culture by protecting the cultural and natural resources within the Park. The Park boundary encompasses approximately 600 terrestrial acres and 600 acres of marine waters. The Park contains more than […]

Presenter: Alexandra Schuler Organic waste such as kitchen waste, grass clipping, fruit waste and weeds contains large amounts of nutrients and energy. Sustainable treatment of such waste is more important than ever, as we live on a planet with only limited resources. Anaerobic digestion in a biogas reactor transforms organic waste into energy-rich biogas and […]

When: Monday, August 29, 2016, 6 p.m. (Note: this is one hour later than normal) Where: NELHA Gateway Center Presenter: HI-SEAS Mission Crew Imagine you are on a mission to Mars with five other people: what strategies would you use to to ensure team cohesion and performance over periods of months or years? Since August […]

When: Monday, September 26, 2016, 5 p.m. Where: NELHA Incubator Conference Room (Note: different location than usual!) Presenters: Dennis Boyd, SBDC and Tom Leonard, HTDC The Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority (NELHA) has been renovating its main office space to improve its ability to incubate new companies. In addition to office space for these […]

Presenter: Gwen Jacobs, Director of Cyberinfrastructure, UH System Pacific islands increasingly face unique challenges to their freshwater resources due to climate change and development. These urgent challenges affect a range of fundamental needs, including freshwater availability and the security and sustainability of food and water supplies. In recent years, Hawai‘i has experienced decreased rainfall, higher […]

When: Monday, November 14, 5 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Where: NELHA Gateway Center Presenter: Jan War, Operations Manager, NELHA The Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority (NELHA) operates three deep seawater pipelines that suck up cold, nutrient rich seawater from depths ranging from 2000 and 3000 feet below the ocean's surface. This is a zone […]

Presenters: Michelle Harris & Dr. John Strait, Sam Houston State University This month's Kona Science Cafe is a Geography double-header featuring a faculty member and undergraduate student from Sam Houston State University. They will share their perspective on Hawaii Island aquarium fisheries management and the Hawaiian influence on mainland blues culture. "The Sustainability of the […]

Presenter: Local High School Robotics Teams Join us for the 6th annual Robotics Design Review. Midway into the FIRST Robotics Competition's build period, our high school robotics teams will show their plans for winning robots. The game's challenges this year include manipulating gears, throwing plastic balls, and climbing a rope.  It should be a fascinating […]

Presenters: MIT Civil & Environmental Engineering students A team of eleven undergraduates from MIT’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering will present results from two studies performed while visiting the island of Hawaii as part of a winter-term field class, “Travelling Research Environmental eXperiences” (TREX). This year the students are focused on two major projects: […]

What should the future of education look like in West Hawaii and how does it support the science, innovation, and entrepreneurship programs in our community? Join Ted Dintersmith and a panel of local education and technology leaders to consider these important issues. Ted Dintersmith has a background in electronics and venture capital. Frustrated by disconnects […]

Presenter: Christine Shepard, Digital Life Digital Life is a non-profit initiative to produce accurate, high-quality three-dimensional (3D) models of live animals to benefit science, conservation and education. They use a process called photogrammetry to scan the animals, whereby 2D photographs are taken and then stitched together into a 3D model. Their series of custom built […]

Presenter: Sylvester Orosco, the Marine Mammal Center There are only about 1400 Hawaiian Monk Seals in existence today, with about 300 of them inhabiting the main Hawaiian Islands. There are 2 individuals considered resident on Hawaii Island, the rest are transient. Why do certain seals stay or move around? Why does the smaller population in […]

When: Mon. June 19, 2017, 6 p.m. (Note: one hour later than usual!) Where: NELHA Gateway Center Presenter: Dr. Robin Baird, Cascadia Research Collective Although humpback whales and spinner dolphins have received most of the attention, there are 25 species of whales and dolphins that have been found in Hawaiian waters. The islands themselves have […]

When: Tues., June 27, 2017, 5 p.m. (Note: different day of the week!) Where: NELHA Hale `Iako Classroom (Note: different location than usual!) Presenter: Michael Rogers, Chief Agricultural Officer, Smart Yields, Inc. Smart Yields is an agriculture technology platform that gives farmers, indoor growers and gardeners real-time information, trends and forecasts, and recommendations via an […]

When: Mon. July 24, 2017, 5 p.m. Where: NELHA Gateway Center Presenter: Dr. J.B. Friday, UH Manoa Komohana Research and Extension Center Some small landowners are planting high-value hardwoods like mahogany and koa for eventual use as cabinet or furniture woods. Others are managing native forests purely for conservation. Dr. Friday will describe some of […]

Presenter: Jeff Milisen If you are like 90% of the rest of the diving world, most of your underwater time has been spent with a visible bottom not-too-far beneath. While having bottom contours to follow may provide a sense of security, sticking to shallow waters leaves the vast majority of the ocean out of bounds. […]

Presenter: Dr. Carolyn Ma, Dean, Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy The Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy IDKICP) was established at the University of Hawai`i at Hilo in 2006. Its missions include training pharmacists and performing research in pharmaceutical science, all with the goal of improving healthcare in the Pacific and around the world. […]

Back in September, Carolyn Ma gave an overview of the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy at UH Hilo. This month, Dr. Connelly will go into more depth about the Pharmaceutical Sciences research program at the college. Their major areas of focus are cancer biology and natural products drug discovery. Linda Connelly received her PhD […]

Last year, we hosted a group of students and faculty from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology who were conducting environmental studies on Hawaii Island. This year, a new student team is back to pick up where the first left off. A team of seven undergraduates from MIT’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering will present […]

Join us for the 7th annual Robotics Design Review. Midway into the FIRST Robotics Competition's build period, our high school robotics teams will show their plans for winning robots. The game's challenges this year include controlling giant balances by placing milk-crate-sized cubes onto the proper side and performing a chin-up on a 6-foot high bar. […]

Presenters: Stacia Goecke and Travis Marcoux, Hawai`i Uncharted Research Collective Hawai`i Uncharted Research Collective (HURC), a newly founded non-profit organization, has launched a citizen science effort to learn more about whale sharks in Hawai`i and how the individuals sighted here fit into the worldwide population. Despite being endangered worldwide, there have been limited scientific studies […]

Presenter: Dena Sedar, Hawaii State Parks Anchialine pools are ecosystems unique to Hawaii within the United States. Ms. Sedar will describe what they are and why they are important. She will then discuss the restoration work that is necessary to bring back healthy anchialine pool ecosystems within Kekaha Kai State Park, which entails removing guppies, […]

All of us care about Kona's reefs, and recent progress in aquaculture and marine science gives us hope for helping the reef. Technology for raising reef fish has evolved to the point where some aquarium fish can be raised profitably, and the May 2018 cauliflower coral spawn led to some exciting discoveries about coral larvae […]

When: Monday, December 3, 2018, 5 p.m. Where: NELHA Gateway Center Presenters: Lisa Vollbrecht, Research Manager at Kampachi Farms Offshore tropical macroalgae (limu) culture is an emerging opportunity. Lisa Vollbrecht, Research Manager at Kampachi Farms, will present on a project to demonstrate the offshore culture of native Hawaiian limu in West Hawai’i using only the […]

When: Mon. Jan. 28, 2019, 5 p.m. Where: NELHA Gateway Center Presenters: Local High School Robotics Teams Join us for the 8th annual Robotics Design Review. Midway into the FIRST Robotics Competition's build period, our high school robotics teams will show their plans for winning robots. The game's challenge is released in early January, but […]

When: Mon. Feb. 11, 2019, 5 p.m. Where: NELHA Gateway Center Presenters: County Councilman Dr. Tim Richards Tim Richards will share a vision for a water and energy system to serve the needs of North Kohala's residents and agricultural operations. More information to follow, stay tuned. After the presentation, we will have pupus, drinks, and […]