NELHA Marks 50 Years of Innovation with Open House Oct. 19

Posted on Oct 10, 2024 in Main

KAILUA-KONA – The Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawai‘i Authority (NELHA) is celebrating its 50th anniversary by inviting the community to its open house event from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, October 19 at the Hawai‘i Ocean Science and Technology (HOST) Park with most of the activities taking place at its Mauka Research Campus on Makako Bay Drive.

“The free open house event showcases many park clients,” said Noelani Kalipi, NELHA Chair. “This provides an opportunity for community members to learn about projects that do important work in sustainability, conservation, food and energy security.”

The event will feature farm and nursery tours, interactive exhibits and demonstrations by more than 30 HOST Park tenants and community partners, hands-on keiki activities and live entertainment. Guests can sample delectable bites prepared by the Hawai‘i Community College Pālamanui culinary team using locally sourced ingredients grown at HOST Park.

Additional food vendors, including Big Island Abalone, Blue Ocean Mariculture, and Matsuyama’s, will offer various food options for purchase.

“NELHA is pleased that many of its partners in the workforce development sector are participating to emphasize the job opportunities provided by the park,” said Laurence Sombardier, NELHA Interim Executive Director.

She emphasized that the NELHA staff and partners worked hard to make this a memorable, educational and fun event for the community.

The Hawai‘i Keiki Museum will also debut its Ocean Art Summit at the event with Grammy-winning slack key guitarist John Keawe headlining the entertainment lineup, alongside taiko drumming, aerial dancers, and the Kea‘au High School Band.

For more information on NELHA’s 50th anniversary, visit nelha.hawaii.gov.

About NELHA (Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawai‘i Authority)

NELHA is a state agency, attached to the State of Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT). NELHA administers the world’s premier energy and ocean technology demonstration site, the Hawai‘i Ocean Science and Technology (HOST) Park, focuses on sustainable economic development projects and blue technology. This unique master-permitted park is on 870 acres of prime coastal property in Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i and offers research support facilities for the development of marine science, renewable energy and other demonstration projects that use the unique resources found at the park. Tenants located in HOST Park work at the pre-commercial, commercial, research and educational levels.

Media Contact: Rae Nguyen, NELHA Marketing and Leasing Specialist, 808-327-9529 or [email protected]