Agriculture
We were told time and time again it couldn’t be done…that crops can’t be grown at scale for food and fuel in our tropical communities. Inspired by the beauty and utility of sunflowers, we set aside the naysayers and persevered in commitment of our company mission.
The dream became reality in stunning fashion, when our first field of sunflowers bloomed in 2017 on our foundersʻ farm in Waikapū, Maui. In 2024, we began farming sunflowers on Kaua‘i as well. To grasp the profoundly positive difference this is making in our state, read on…
Credit: Travis Morrin Photography
As an island chain in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, Hawai‘i is the most isolated community on the planet, where issues like sustainability and supply-chain resiliency matter now more than ever.
Since 1995, we have produced biodiesel from used cooking oil (UCO) that we recycle from restaurants statewide – but local UCO is a finite resource. That’s why we’ve expanded into agriculture.
We regeneratively farm sunflowers and other oilseed cover crops; the harvested seeds are crushed into oil that can be used as “feedstock” (an ingredient) for our biodiesel production.
Our vision is to produce all our biodiesel by 2040 using 100% locally sourced feedstock – a combination of recycled local UCO plus virgin oil from local agriculture.
We’re proud to be supporting both our state and our world, providing local jobs, supporting energy security, increasing food sovereignty and fighting climate change.
Farming Facts
Regenerative Agriculture
- Natural farming practices
- No GMO crops
- Mechanical cultivation for weed removal; no herbicides
- Efficient above-ground center pivot irrigation; eliminates plastic drip tape
- Crop rotation for soil health
- Hawaiʻi’s only farming operation powered by 100% biodiesel
Sustainable Sunflowers
- 120 days from “soil to oil”
- High oil-yield crop
- 25,000 blooms per acre
- 1 ton of harvested seed per acre
- 100 gallons of oil per acre
- Each sunflower head holds hundreds of seeds (each seed has its own tiny flower that must be pollinated)
- Sunflowers leave the earth better than they found it, with long roots that can absorb heavy metals and contaminants, helping to aerate, clean and restore the soil.
Food, then Fuel
- At our mill in Kaumakani, harvested sunflower seeds and locally sourced macadamia nuts are mechanically crushed into oils with no additives and no preservatives.
- Both oil types are sold as premium culinary oils for local restaurants, residents and food producers; and, as natural ingredient oils for cosmetics manufacturers.
- Residual meal (after nuts and seeds are crushed) is used as a high-protein ingredient for local livestock feed
Our Community-Based Production Model
Fuel
Food
Feed
Fertilizer
Fiber
Fire Mitigation
6 million gallons of biodiesel is annually produced for Hawaiʻi from agriculture oils and recycled used cooking oil.
Our Farming Locations
Maui
The farm in Maui’s Central Valley set a shining example for the circular economy model, connecting the dots between a sustainably grown crop and a sustainably produced fuel…not to mention sustainably crafted culinary oils and animal feed!
Kauaʻi
Expansion to Kaua‘i came in 2024, enabling our farming operations to scale up to more than 1,000 acres on Gay & Robinson, Inc. land in Kaumakani.
The project is part of a multi-year agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that will demonstrate a renewable biofuel produced in Hawai‘i from multiple, locally grown oilseed cover crops. It will support the transition to biodiesel use for military application, including fuel for vehicles and power generators.
HOW you do something is as important as WHAT you do. And, in the case of this project, WHERE we do it also matters. Our choice to expand Pacific Biodiesel’s agriculture operations to Kaua‘i for this project was intentional. Kaua‘i is on track to be the first county in Hawaiʻi to reach 100% renewable electricity production by 2033 (more than a decade earlier than the State of Hawaii’s mandated 2045 timeline). To learn more, browse the highlights below.
PLEASE NO TRESPASSING
The sunflowers and other crops farmed by Pacific Biodiesel on Maui and Kauaʻi are located on private property. For safety and security reasons and in accordance with the private landowners’ policies, no public parking or unauthorized access to the farm sites are allowed. To learn about future farm tours and other community events, sign up for our newsletter and follow @pacificbiodiesel on social media. Mahalo for your cooperation!
Local Culinary Oils
This is where farm meets table!
The signature Sunflower Oil and Hawaiian Macadamia Oil are made fresh and produced naturally: an expeller press mechanically crushes the nuts and seeds with no additives or preservatives, retaining the oil’s nutrients, flavor, aroma and color. Bottled here in Hawai‘i, the oils are vegan, gluten-free, cholesterol-free and sugar-free.
When you purchase these culinary oils, you’re supporting local farming, food production and full-circle sustainability in Hawai‘i.
How Does The Circular Economy Work?
Let’s take a deep dive to understand sustainability in action
Putting all the pieces together, regenerative agriculture united with renewable energy equals community-based, sustainable solutions. We aim to reach Hawai‘i’s mandate for 100% renewable energy by 2040, five years earlier than the state’s goal. How? With clear plans, experienced leaders and bold steps forward to support our people, our ‘aina and our earth.
GROWING & LEARNING WITH OUR COMMUNITY
Our sustainable farming operations offer a special opportunity to build awareness through understanding. We’ve welcomed a range of visitors – from state and federal lawmakers to customers, community leaders, media, students and educators – to meet our team and learn our story during farm tours and other community outreach events.
Latest
Pacific Biodiesel Completes First “Sunflower” Biodiesel Delivery from Its Kauaʻi Ag Operations
On June 24, 2025, Pacific Biodiesel made its first delivery of biodiesel produced with sunflower oil from the company’s expanded agriculture operations on Kauaʻi to longtime customer Hawaiian Electric for its 50-megawatt Schofield Generating Station on O’ahu.
Corn Crop Sprouts up in Kaumakani
July 14, 2025 This summer, our newest crop sprouting up in Kaumakani is… feed corn! This crop, a non-GMO variety that’s suitable for human and animal consumption, will be harvested initially for local chicken feed.
KIUC and Pacific Biodiesel Featured on KITV4
KIUC’s efforts to reach 100% renewable electricity production, supported by locally produced 100% renewable fuel supplied by Pacific Biodiesel, were recently featured on KITV4, reported by Kaua‘i’s own Lei Uʻi Kaholokula.