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NORTH KOHALA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN <br /> AGRICULTURE ACTION SUB-COMMITTEE <br /> MEETING MINUTES <br /> DATE: Tuesday, July 31, 2012 <br /> TIME: 6:00 PM <br /> PLACE: North Kohala I nterGenerational Center, Kamehameha Park <br /> AGENDA <br /> CALL TO ORDER: 6:20 PM <br /> ATTENDANCE: Frank Cipriani, David Rotstein, Ruth Rotstein, Jana Bogs, Frederick Kennedy, <br /> Margaret Wille, Lynda Wallach <br /> WELCOME & INTRODUCTIONS: <br /> Reviewed the 06/26 Minutes to bring Lynda Wallach, Frederick Kennedy and Margaret Wille <br /> up to speed. <br /> REPORTS: OLD BUSINESS; Regarding the Important Ag Lands; Current (IAL) Initiative: <br /> Frank Cipriani reported that he had contacted Riley Matsuda at DLNR LUC to obtain <br /> empirical information for the process of 'Voluntary IAL Designation' for a full report at this <br /> month's meeting. Earl Yamamoto at LUC responded to my inquiry with a timely and concise <br /> letter and links, outlining the procedure for Voluntary IAL Declaration. <br /> Re: the Identification of "strategically located Ag Land." Frank presented a proposal for a <br /> "BioEnergy Hub" and large-scale Marine Aquaculture Project at Ho'ea makai, <br /> Cipriani then presented the conceptual view and plans of his company BioFarms Hawaii LLC <br /> (BFH) to develop 'Ocean Energy'; a Wave Energy Conversion (WEC) plant to generate <br /> electricity and pump seawater ashore for the cultivation of a marine "oil-algae" which would <br /> also be used to feed oysters and Pacific clams. The shellfish would be marketed fresh locally <br /> and there is the potential for the WEC electricity to be fed into a shared -grid with the WtE <br /> Plant, Photo-voltaics, and the Kohala Windfarm contributing; a "BioEnergy Hub." The <br /> anaerobic waste-to-energy (WtE) plant uses biofuel feed-stock such as cassava, kukui, and <br /> moringa which could be grown on subsidized small farms in the District, paying the farmers a <br /> return . <br /> Cipriani is hoping for the cooperation of DLNR, to negotiate a lease on 52 acres of DNLR <br /> shoreline land, strategically-sited below Ho'ea Ag Park for this "BioEnergy" Project. BioFarms <br /> Hawaii has obtained a grant from USDA RURAL-REAP to conduct a Near-shore 'Wave <br /> Energy Conversion' (WEC) feasibility study at the specified site and is currently seeking <br /> matching funds to begin the Study. <br /> Citrus-juicing Co-op: <br /> Though a discussion of a possible citrus cooperative in Kohala was tabled due to the <br /> absence of two critical members of the subcommittee, the mention of citrus <br /> processing led to a discussion of the need for certified kitchens in Kohala that could <br />