KAUMAKANI, HAWAII (July 12, 2024)  – The Pacific Biodiesel team welcomed guests for special private farm tours on Friday, July 12th at its first field of blooming sunflowers on Kauaʻi – the same 100-acre field where a Blessing was held earlier this year on Earth Day. This video is a recap of the day, which included a tour of the company’s new crushing mill at the Gay & Robinson, Inc. property in Kaumakani, and a visit to the blooming sunflower field via a school bus shuttle provided by Hawaii Agricultural Foundation.

Click here to learn more about the day’s events.

MAUI, HAWAII (May 4, 2024)  – This year’s festival, produced by Licorice Pizza Records owner Kerry Brown, featured a Farmers’ Market, Farm Tours and day-long musical performances. The focus of this year’s agricultural event was food sovereignty for Hawaii with proceeds benefiting three Maui-based non-profits that are supporting local farming and helping grow Hawaii’s food security: Maui Hub, Common Ground Collective and Grow Some Good.

Watch the recap video above and read all about it here.

KAUAʻI, HAWAIʻI (April 23, 2024) – In commemoration of Earth Day, Pacific Biodiesel Founders Bob and Kelly King welcomed community leaders and local students on a tour of the company’s new crushing mill and expanded agriculture operations, followed by a blessing of its first sunflower field on Kauaʻi on April 22, 2024. The Hawaiian blessing was conducted by Kumu Troy Hinano Lazaro and members of his award-winning Hālau Ka Pa Hula O Hinano.

Read the press release here.

KAUAʻI, HAWAIʻI Pacific Biodiesel Founders Bob and Kelly King welcomed U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono for a tour of the company’s new crushing mill and expanded agriculture operations in Kaumakani, Kauaʻi on Wednesday, March 27, 2024. Other guests included representatives from Kauaʻi landowners Gay & Robinson, Inc., Ulupono Initiative, and Governor Josh Green’s Kauaʻi liaison.

Pacific Biodiesel today announced a new project on Kaua‘i as part of multi-year agreement with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Engineer Research and Development Center to produce a Hawaii agriculture-based biofuel. But it goes well beyond renewable fuel. We’ll be regeneratively farming sunflowers and other oilseed cover crops in rotation with food crops on 1,000 acres on the Garden Isle as part of a federally funded project to bolster Hawai‘i’s agriculture, support food and energy security, create local jobs and help combat the effects of the climate crisis. In this video, Pacific Biodiesel co-founder Kelly King explains more about this exciting endeavor that will make a significant, sustainable impact on our state.

On December 26 2023, team members from Pacific Biodiesel’s refinery on Hawai‘i Island touted the company’s new production record. For the first time, Pacific Biodiesel has reached 6 MILLION GALLONS of biodiesel produced in a year, far exceeding the refinery’s annual nameplate production capacity of 5.5 million gallons.

Read more here.

On June 28, Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC) received its first delivery of locally produced biodiesel as part of its new fuel supply contract executed last month with Pacific Biodiesel. Under the agreement, Pacific Biodiesel will supply biodiesel to partially fuel KIUCʻs 27.5 megawatt Kapaia Power Generation Station.

Read this and other updates from Pacific Biodiesel in our newsletter here.

Pacific Biodiesel & Mana‘o Radio presented the “Sunflower Farm Music Fest” to support Hawaii’s Food Security! The event took place on Earth Day (Saturday, April 22, 2023) from 9AM to 5PM in a blooming field of sunflowers at the family farm of Pacific Biodiesel founders, Bob and Kelly King, in Maui’s Central Valley. This all-day live music and farm tour benefit event raised funds and awareness for Hawaii Food Hub Hui, a collaboration of 14 food hubs around the state that provide vital support to small- and medium-sized local farms by working to aggregate, store, process and distribute locally grown, culturally preferred foods to Hawaii’s residents. The event also raised funds for Mana‘o Radio, celebrating its 21st anniversary this year.

In keeping with their lifelong commitment to the environment, Pacific Biodiesel Cofounders Bob and Kelly King participated as delegates at COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.

At the Sharm el-Sheikh Climate Change Conference (COP27) in November 2022, Pacific Biodiesel Cofounders Bob and Kelly King participated as delegates of “ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability.”
“ICLEI USA is one of 24 Secretariat offices around the globe, all working with local cities, counties, regional municipalities on environmental initiatives, creating climate action plans and helping with baseline data tools for developing plans,” Kelly King explained. King, who was wrapping up her third term as a Maui County Councilmember, added, “We are elevating these sub-national actions while also trying to encourage and highlight the importance of multi-level collaboration.”
Click here to read this article and other news from Pacific Biodiesel in the February 2023 newsletter.

Employees at Pacific Biodiesel’s Hawaii Island refinery gather for National Manufacturing Day.

October 7, 2022 – Each year, America celebrates National Manufacturing Day on the first Friday of October to recognize companies in the manufacturing sector
that support the national economy and to showcase modern manufacturing careers.
This year marks a manufacturing milestone for Pacific Biodiesel, Hawaii’s only commercial producer of liquid biofuels – it’s the 10th anniversary of the company’s Hawaii Island biodiesel refinery. The facility began producing premium distilled biodiesel in 2012 and today annually produces more than 5.5 million gallons of biodiesel, sold entirely in Hawaii. Click here to learn more about this milestone and other articles in Pacific Biodiesel’s October 2022 newsletter.

Following the blessing, Pacific Biodiesel Co-Founders Bob and Kelly King untie the lei to open Hawaii’s first off-grid biodiesel station at Ma’alaea Harbor on June 3.

June 3, 2022 – The first of six mobile biodiesel fueling stations in Hawai‘i opened earlier today at Ma‘alaea Small Boat Harbor on Maui. Pacific Biodiesel installed and will operate the off-grid fueling station at the busy harbor.

“This innovative fueling station gives customers 24/7 access to biodiesel, making it more convenient to fuel up with our locally produced, 100% renewable fuel,” said Pacific Biodiesel Founder Bob King. “These self-contained units are easy to install and move. They can be quickly dropped into locations around the state to serve customers, like DLNR, who are committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to fight the effects of the climate crisis.”

Read the full press release here.

Read more here.

“Pacific Biodiesel’s sustainable agriculture and clean energy production model demonstrates a circular economy approach to fighting climate change in Hawaii.”  – Pacific Biodiesel President Bob King

Today is National Biodiesel Day, the annual celebration of biodiesel in America. Observed each year on March 18, National Biodiesel Day commemorates the birthday of Rudolf Diesel, who invented the diesel engine and unveiled it at the World Fair in 1900.

Now more than ever, our locally produced biodiesel is providing ongoing energy security for Hawaii by reducing the need for imported fossil fuel – while providing Hawaii with a clean local fuel choice that reduces harmful greenhouse gas emissions to help fight climate change.

We have launched a new series of videos about our company. Click here to watch the videos and learn more about Pacific Biodiesel, the benefits of biodiesel for Hawaii, and how our company is expanding local fuel production through sustainable agriculture for “food then fuel.”

In November, Pacific Biodiesel co-founders Bob and Kelly King attended the UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland, the premier global climate change conference. The goal, in part, was to determine how countries will accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement.

Since returning, the Kings have shared their insights from the climate change conference in many venues and outlets, including international and community forums and publications.

After returning from the UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland held in November 2021, Kelly King shares her insights in the video above about the important role of biofuels and sustainable agriculture in fighting climate change, the benefits of a circular economy, and the multi-level collaboration needed among local governments to institute change.

Read more about COP26 and other news and updates from Pacific Biodiesel here.

Pacific Biodiesel is featured in Blue Planet Foundation‘s November episode of “Empowered: Hawaii’s Clean Energy Future.” Director of Operations Jenna Long discusses the benefits of biodiesel in Hawaii’s renewable energy mix, including the company’s expanding focus on sustainable agriculture to farm crops for food then fuel. Airing monthly on KHON2, this informative series discusses the importance of renewable energy for our islands.

To watch the full episode and others in this year-long series, visit Blue Planet Foundation’s website at https://blueplanetfoundation.org/empowered/

Today, in honor of Earth Day 2021, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it is “investing $487 million in critical infrastructure that will help communities in 45 states build back better and stronger while prioritizing climate-smart solutions and environmental stewardship.” This includes $18,218,670 in funding for Hawaii. These USDA investments are being made under the Water and Environmental Program, the Rural Energy for America Program, the Electric Loan Program and the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program.

Pacific Biodiesel, Hawaii’s only commercial producer of liquid biofuels, is a recipient of USDA infrastructure funding that will be used to create a series of mobile biodiesel fueling stations – expanding the availability of the company’s locally made 100% renewable fuel to customers throughout Hawaii. More information and locations will be announced soon. “Thanks to this USDA funding, we’re able to serve our customers throughout the state who have been wanting more convenient locations where they can purchase our biodiesel,” said Jenna Long, Director of Operations for Pacific Biodiesel.

According to Hawaii/Western Pacific State Acting Director and Business Programs Director Denise Salmeron, the USDA Rural Development investments for our rural island communities are vital. “These projects will support our local farmers, fuel distributors and biofuel producers by providing access to cleaner and more affordable higher blends of fuel as well as increasing our renewable energy capabilities which is a priority for our environment.”

Read the full USDA press release here.

If you have suggestions on where you’d like to see a 100% biodiesel fueling station in Hawaii, please email info@biodiesel.com.

Pictured is longtime biodiesel customer, David Sellers of Hawaii Off Grid, fueling up his truck with 100% biodiesel at Pacific Biodiesel’s Kahului location.

In celebration of Earth Day, Pacific Biodiesel founders Bob and Kelly King today announced the development of Maui’s first state-licensed industrial hemp farm.