Past Honorees

Innovation by an Organization:  Deep Ocean Hawai`i

Deep Ocean Hawai`i created a new solution to providing clean drinking water to population centers worldwide. It conducts open-ocean harvesting, processing, containerization and bulk shipment of deep ocean water.

`Iliahi Elementary School student coordinator Tom Yamamoto developed a creative business teaching tool to provide elementary and high school students with a real world opportunity to learn how to manage and operate a business. He developed the `Iliahi Dragon Café Program, a high school credited course, which teaches Leilehua High School seniors about business and marketing, while earning scholarships for college tuition.

To address the growing budget shortfall as a result of the global and national recession, the University of Hawai`i system, along with all other state agencies, has been seeking ways to maintain its educational services for students and the community, but with less funding and resources.

Dr. Randy Hirokawa, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, was faced with the challenge of increased student enrollment in his Communications 270 class, "Introduction to Theories of Human Communication," a required course for Communications majors. With enrollment peaking at 70 students this fall and limited classroom space to accommodate them, Dr. Hirokawa faced a potential dilemma of having to close enrollment to students who might need the class to graduate.

Housing Director Miles Nagata offered the use of the Hale Kehau Dining Room, which serves meals at night but sits empty during the day. The space was sufficient, but the dining hall was not "wired" for teaching, and there was no budget to acquire and install new audiovisual and other electronic equipment. Older equipment slated to be discarded was identified, but needed to be repaired. Office of Technology and Distance Learning Specialist Bob Chi fixed, modified and installed the equipment at virtually no cost to the University. Dr. Hirokawa's class is now being held in the Hale Kehau dining room, and no student had to be turned away.

Innovation by an Organization:  Hoana Medical, Inc. 

Hoana Medical develops medical devices that passively collect patient vital signs.  Its LifeBed Patient Vigilance System provides measurements of a patient’s vital signs using sensors embedded in a hospital mattress coverlet, eliminating the need to attach sensors, electrodes, cuffs or other devices directly to the patient.

Keola Donaghy, an assistant professor of Hawaiian studies at the University of Hawai‘i-Hilo, has spent more than 100 hours translating the search terms that appear on the Google Internet page into Hawaiian.  Because of his efforts, Hawaiian has become the first native American language available through the “Google in Your Language” program.

In keeping with the state’s goal of sustainability and reducing dependence on foreign oil, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands is incorporating energy-saving features into its homes.  As part of its 139-home Kānehili subdivision in Kapolei, the homes are equipped with low-flow plumbing fixtures, a solar water heating system, efficient lighting and other provisions that will save homeowners 30 to 50 percent on their energy bills.

Innovation by an Organization:  Pacific‘O Restaurant

Pacific‘O Restaurant in Lahaina, Maui supports local agriculture and food self-sufficiency and regularly promotes the economic and health benefits of eating local.  In 2000, the restaurant established O’o Farms to contribute to the self-sufficiency of Pacific‘O and its partner, I‘o Restaurant.

David Watumull is a co-founder of Aiea-based Cardax Pharmaceuticals and the co-inventor of Cardax Technology, an anti-inflammatory therapy. The approach involves “small molecule” therapies for large unmet medical needs, including cardiovascular disease, hepatitis, macular degeneration and many cancers.

Since the launch of the state Department of Transportation’s Freeway Service Patrol program on June 16, 2009, the free service has assisted about 3,000 motorists (approximately 300 per week) stranded on the H-1 and Moanalua freeways.  The pilot program, covering more than 35 miles of freeway, provides six roving tow trucks and trained drivers who assist stranded motorists so they can continue their commute and do not cause further traffic congestion.

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Innovation by an Organization:  HNU Energy

HNU Energy is primarily focused on the energy efficiency market. HNU Photonics, Hnu Energy's parent company, is a Maui-based science and technology company founded in 2006. Founded on the vision of bringing green collar jobs and energy security to Hawai‘i, Hnu Energy is constantly researching and updating energy products.

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Janice Espiritu, principal of Kaunakakai Elementary on Moloka‘i, was presented the 2009 Masayuki Tokioka Excellence in School Leadership Award from the Public Schools of Hawai‘i Foundation. She was awarded a $10,000 cash award and a $15,000 award for a school project of her choice. Espiritu plans to use the award to implement a green initiative by partnering her school with community organizations such as Maui Electric Co.

MCC’s new science building will have solar photovoltaic panels, rooftop wind turbines, a "green roof" and other features like skylights and light wells intended to demonstrate advanced design and save energy. The building will train students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics skills. The building will generate about 10 percent of its own power.

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Innovation by an Organization:  HMSA Online Care Program

HMSA is the first health plan in the nation to facilitate doctor visits over the internet. This innovative service has received national attention including coverage in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, ABC News and Scientific American. Telehealth, or telemedicine, allows Hawai`i residents - whether they are HMSA insured, uninsured, military or otherwise- to consult a physician either via the Web, instant messaging or over the phone.

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Berkelman and Liang are two UH Manoa engineering professors who received prestegious “CAREER” awards. The Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program is a Foundation-wide activity that offers the National Science Foundation's most prestigious awards in support of junior faculty who exemplify the role of teacher-scholars through outstanding research, excellent education and the integration of education and research within the context of the mission of their organizations.

Founded in 2000, Kua O Ka Lā has 83 students from kindergarten, first grade and grades 6 through 12. What makes this charter school unique is that it is completely solar powered, uses composting toilets, and teaches Hawaiian cultural skills such as fishing, net making, and carving, integrated through core academic curricula. It is the first school in Hawai`i to be operating entirely on solar power and commercial grade composting toilets.

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Innovation by an Organization:  Keahole Solar Power (KSP)

KSP is a Hawai`i-based solar project and technology developer. Using different solar technologies, including MicroCSP from Sopogy (a September 2008 Innovation Award winner), KSP is developing new proprietary methods for energy storage, installation and operation for solar farms that will help Hawai`i reduce its dependence on imported fossil fuels.

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Wayne Karo and Eric Griffith are co-founders of Pipeline Micro, a Hawai`i-based company with offices in Asia and the U.S. mainland that produces small liquid cooling systems for electronics that increase their energy efficiency and allow them to last longer.

DAGS Central Services Division was also honored with a 2009 Hawai`i Green Business Award for implementing several water conservation and energy efficiency measures at DAGS-operated state buildings. These steps include the removal of about 11,000 fluorescent lamps in common areas, for a savings of 29,333 kilowatts; and the installation of occupancy sensors to control lighting in areas that are not always occupied, for an estimated savings of 113,300 kilowatt-hours per year.

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Innovation by an Organization:  PhotonWorks

PhotonWorks is a Honolulu-based company that specializes in the design, integration and manufacture of commercial and residential photovoltaic systems for both grid-tied and off-grid applications. The company is able to custom manufacture, engineer and design modules to fit any scenario.

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`Iolani School's Real World Design Challenge team captured the national championship title in the U.S. Department of Energy's inaugural Real World Design Challenge (RWDC) in March. Team "NDC", an all-girls teams comprised of six `Iolani seniors, beat out 54 high school students from 10 states to earn the top title in the competition held at the Air and Space Museum's iMax Theater in Washington, D.C.

The Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) was recently honored with a 2009 Hawai`i Green Business Award for certifying the State Office Tower as a U.S. EPA Energy Star Building, which puts it in the top 25 percent of comparable buildings for energy efficiency. As part of this initiative, approximately 1,700 32-watt fluorescent lamps and ballasts were removed, for energy savings of 167,930 kilowatt-hours, or more than $30,000, a year.

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Innovation by Individuals:  Hank Wuh

In 2003, Hank Wuh founded Cellular Bioengineering Inc. (CBI), a Hawai`i-based developer of technologies with biomedical and biodefense applications. CBI searches for what Wuh calls "disruptive ideas" and "disruptive technologies" that will eventually overturn the status quo and change the future.

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HRBP is a Hawai`i-based renewable energy technology company focused on utilizing marine microalgae to produce biofuel feedstocks and other valuable products.  The company developed a proprietary process called ALDUO technology that leverages the photosynthetic power and rapid growth characteristics of microalgae to convert sunlight, CO2, and other nutrients into inexpensive vegetable oils and biomass.

The state Department of Transportation has been working with plant specialists at the University of Hawai`i at Mānoa to address cost-efficient and environmentally friendly ways to landscape Hawai`i's roadways. Through this partnership, the Highways Division has been successful in planting native groundcover along bare areas of state roadways instead of nonnative Bermuda grass that has been predominately used in the past.

Innovation by Individuals:  Henry Jiao

Henry Jiao, a bioengineer and biotechnologist, is working to promote environment-friendly transportation alternatives and healthy lifestyles in Hawai‘i.  His company, Henry Industry International, sells “green” products including electric vehicles.  Among his most innovative products are electric motor bicycles and mopeds, which require no gasoline or oil and produce no emissions and minimal noise.

Island Pacific Energy is a developer and operator of photovoltaic solar energy facilities.   The company developed the SimpleSolar program to make photovoltaic solar power systems more affordable for homeowners, businesses and not-for-profit organizations by enabling the user to install a complete system for no money down.

The Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture – Quality Assurance Division and the Hawai‘i Farm Bureau have partnered to establish a three-year pilot program designed to enhance food safety by tracking products from the farm to the dining room table.  The Hawai‘i Produce Traceability Initiative uses Radio Frequency Identification Technology (RFIT) to track, in real-time, fresh produce as it makes its way from the farm through the distribution chain and to the grocery store.  The program is expected to increase food safety response and mitigate losses associated with crop disease, food recalls and other food safety issues.

Innovation by Individuals:  Jeff Bushman and Kyle Bernhardt

Master surfboard shapers Jeff Bushman and Kyle Bernhardt have found innovative solutions to protect Hawai`i's precious environment while perpetuating the sport of surfing and launching it into the 21st century.  Bushman and Bernhardt founded Country Feeling Surfboards, which is devoted to surfboards made with environmentally friendly material, including soy- and sugar-based foams; plant-based and solar-activated resins; as well as hemp, silk, and bamboo cloth.

Visionary Insulation Products, Ltd. is a distributor of a new insulation product that has 45 percent less heat loss than commonly used industrial insulation material.  The new insulation product, called HITLIN™ (high temperature layered insulation), is typically used on piping, vessels, tanks and other equipment within the power and petro-chemical industries.

Acting District Health Officer Aaron Ueno was named State Manager of the Year in October 2008 for building capacity within the Hawai`i Island District Health Office to respond to bioterrorism, disasters and pandemic emergencies.  Ueno worked with state and county agencies and the community to establish the Hawai`i County Medical Reserves Corps (MRC) which uses volunteers who are trained to respond to emergencies within their own communities. (Pictured: Kate Gaynor, DOH Hazards Preparedness Coordinator, accepts the award on behalf of Aaron Ueno.)

Innovation by an Individual:  Heidi Kuehnle

Heidi Kuehnle, an expert on plant breeding, is leading the way in finding plant-based alternatives to fossil fuels. Her biotech company, Kuehnle AgroSystems, custom designs plants to maximize their potential to be used for biofuels and other uses. The company, which is based in the Mānoa Innovation Center, is currently subcontracted by various companies to perform research on algae strains that can be used to make biofuels, aquaculture feeds and chemicals.

Kite for Sail is developing innovative alternative energy systems using advanced wind propulsion technology to supplement the existing propulsion system on ocean vessels. The company is developing a 30-kilowatt propulsion system that harnesses wind energy to generate 40 horsepower in 25-knot wind conditions that can power vessels and yachts weighing between one to two tons. Test boats using this system have demonstrated fuel savings between 25 and 50 percent.

The Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) has formed innovative public-private partnerships to make Hawai`i a national leader in the pursuit of energy independence.  Over the past year, DBEDT has worked extensively with federal agencies, national and local organizations, and the private sector to form partnerships to advance the goal of reducing the state's dependence on foreign oil and helping to bring energy price stability to Hawai`i's consumers. These partnerships have resulted in millions of dollars in federal, private and nonprofit grants to move renewable energy projects in Hawai`i forward with minimal state taxpayer funds.

Innovation by an Individual:  Dana Slaymaker

Dana Slaymaker of Resource Mapping Hawai`i developed a collection of imaging technologies that is improving how conservation officials combat invasive species and protect Hawai`i's native habitats. The technology, which was developed for The Nature Conservancy, allows conservation officials to identify major invasive weeds using their computers, rather than having to spend days hiking and surveying topographical and environmentally challenging terrain.  Using both natural light and multi-spectral imaging, the system can map thousands of acres of land, including terrain which would otherwise be inaccessible.

Tissue Genesis, Inc.'s mission is to advance tissue engineering and cell therapy solutions that save lives and improve the quality of life for patients with common medical ailments, including heart disease and diabetes.  The company conducts advanced research and development in bioengineering, vascular tissue engineering, musculoskeletal tissue engineering, cell therapy, and related regenerative medical fields.

Through an innovative public-private partnership, the Department of Transportation's (DOT) Airports Division has improved the survival rate for victims who experience cardiac arrest in the state's airport system.  Over the past two years, DOT installed 100 defibrillators in 10 of its airports statewide.  As part of the defibrillators program, more than 1,700 airport employees have taken part in the American Heart Association's "Heartsaver" training courses. Since the program’s inception, five people who suffered cardiac arrest at various airports have been saved, as a result of defibrillators being used.

Innovation by an Individual:  Ken Berkun

Building on a technology that people around the world use every day, Kailua resident Ken Berkun found an innovative way to create a "talking" barcode label.  Berkun designed a special barcode that when scanned, plays back a recorded message.  While consumers are used to the "beep" that results when a barcode is scanned, Berkun's barcode technology produces recorded sounds or messages.  His company, Labels That Talk, plans initially to target the technology to the scrapbooking industry, in which the talking labels can be used as audio photo captions.

Sopogy, Inc. develops and manufactures renewable energy technology systems, including innovative and affordable solar collectors.  The technology developed by Sopogy can provide the co-generation of electricity, process heat and solar air conditioning from one hybrid system with cost-effective energy storage and power delivery.

As part of the State's continuing efforts to lead by example when it comes to increasing Hawai`i's energy independence, the Department of Transportation (DOT) in July installed new, highly reflective, overhead traffic signs along Moanalua Freeway, which will help the state lower its electricity costs.  The use of high-performance "retroreflecitve" sign sheeting means electricity will no longer be needed to light the green overhead freeway signs. Instead they will be illuminated by ambient lights and vehicle head lights.

Innovation by an Individual:  Dr. Dennis Gonsalves

Dr. Dennis Gonsalves' innovative work to create a papaya that is genetically resistant to the papaya ringspot virus is credited with saving Hawai`i's papaya industry in 1998 when papaya production fell by 50 percent as a result of the virus.  Dr. Gonsalves and his team developed an innovative method akin to vaccinating papaya by splicing a gene from the virus and inserting it into the genome of the papaya. In addition to benefiting the papaya industry, the innovative process of "vaccinating" a product against disease could also be applied to a variety of Hawai`i's agricultural industries.

Kaheawa Wind Power's innovative technologies are harnessing one of Hawai`i's most abundant natural renewable energy sources – wind.  Their efforts are making a significant contribution to the critically important goal to increase Hawai`i's energy independence by having 70 percent of Hawai`i's energy come from clean, renewable sources by 2030. Kaheawa Wind's 30-megawatt wind farm located in West Maui generated more than 125,000 megawatt hours of electricity in 2007.  The energy produced would have required 236,000 barrels of oil if it had been produced at a traditional fossil-fuel-burning facility.

Demonstrating that innovation can be applied to improve all facets of our society, the Department of Human Services (DHS) Child Welfare Service Branch developed an innovative web-based system to more effectively evaluate risk factors in a child's home.

This innovative system and other DHS-led strategies for strengthening at-risk families and assessing the safety of their homes have resulted in a sharp decrease in the number of children in Hawai`i's foster care system over the past five years.  The number of children in state care is at a 15-year low.

Innovation by an Individual:  Jeff Piontek

Jeff Piontek is a state science specialist with the Hawai`i Department of Education.  A former science teacher, Piontek is focused on opening new opportunities in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) careers for students.  His work includes developing partnerships between Hawai`i's public schools, the University of Hawai`i, state agencies, local technology companies, and community organizations to foster innovation in Hawai‘i’s students as well as to help the school system become more innovative overall.

Chelsea Group, Ltd., based in Maunaloa, Moloka‘i, is a consulting group that helps building owners and property managers make their commercial and industrial properties more environmentally friendly and energy efficient. The company has developed innovative Internet tools and software to assess what steps can be taken to improve a building's efficiency and increase "green" operational practices.  Through its virtual assessment, Chelsea Group identifies opportunities to save energy, reduce water use, minimize waste, lower operating and maintenance costs, and improve the building's overall performance.

Through an innovative partnership between the Department of Health, Hawai`i's public and private schools, the health care community, pediatric associations and federal agencies, Hawai`i became the first state in the nation to implement a statewide, school-based influenza immunization program.  Between October 2007 and January 2008, the Protect Hawai`i Keiki: Stop Flu at School program provided free influenza vaccinations to more than 60,000 elementary and middle school students at approximately 340 public, private and charter schools in Hawai`i.

Innovation by an Individual:  Erwin Hudelist

Erwin Hudelist, president of Hagedone Printing, has implemented innovative solutions to make Hawai`i's largest printing company more environmentally friendly and Hawai`i a cleaner, greener state.  The company Hudelist joined in 1998 was once cited as a heavy industrial polluter.  Under his leadership, the company adopted new printing processes and technologies to reduce the emissions from evaporated inks and solvents.

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The Wai`anae Community Re-Development Corporation has developed innovative programs to improve the lives of young people from O`ahu's Leeward Coast and mobilize them to become leaders and "agents of change" in their community.

As a public charter school, West Hawai`i Explorations Academy (WHEA) has developed innovative teaching methods that focus on outdoor environmental science learning that will instill a lifetime of innovative thinking in their students.  The school has developed a wide array of research-based practices that allow its students to interact and learn in the community via long-term projects, instead of primarily in a traditional classroom.

Innovation by an Individual:  Kelson Lau

Kelson Lau, a junior at Waiākea High School, has used his knowledge and expertise in robotics to help further science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education in his school.  Lau has been participating in robotics since the 7th grade, and his innovative robot designs, which incorporate practical applications of STEM education, have led the Waiākea robotics team to victory in state, national and international championships.

Headquartered in Kahului, Maui, Pacific Biodiesel, Inc. was conceived in 1995 in response to environmental and health concerns surrounding unmanageable quantities of used cooking oil and grease trap residue at the Central Maui Landfill.

When given a broad charge of increasing accessibility and ease of navigation for state department websites, the ICSD Public Information Access Section developed innovative solutions.  By creating the "Stay Connected to Your State Government" feature, the team built an easy-to-use system for Hawai`i's residents and visitors to access government information.