Biofuel/feed project gets $200K from state

The state has invested $200,000 in an initiative to develop an economically sustainable zero-waste conversion project in Hilo that will turn unmarketable papaya into biofuel and high-protein animal feed.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie presented a check from the state Department of Agriculture to the U.S. Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center at an open house on Saturday.

PBARC has joined with Florida-based BioTork Hawaii LLC to develop the project. The conversion process takes 14 days and involves the use of "organically optimized" algae and fungi developed and patented by BioTork. Other potential feedstock includes unmarketable sweet potato, sugar cane, mango, albizia and glycerol.

The state’s investment will help PBARC move the project to pilot scale, the next step before commercial production.

"This patented evolutionary technology is unique to the marketplace and places Hawaii in a leading position in the area of biofuel and feed research," Abercrombie said.

According to the state, 1,000 jobs could be created once the operation is fully under way.

Abercrombie also used the event to highlight the contributions of recently retired PBARC Director Dennis Gonsalves. Abercrombie declared Saturday "Dr. Dennis Gonsalves Day" in recognition of his accomplishments, including his efforts to save Hawaii’s papaya industry from the ringspot virus.

Vacant house destroyed by fire

Fire destroyed a vacant Kona house near Honaunau early Saturday morning.

When firefighters arrived, the structure was in flames and had completely collapsed, the Hawaii County Fire Department reported. The overhead service line was down in the house and actively arcing, and brush around the house was burning, the department said.

Nine firefighters responded to the 12:39 a.m. alarm, and the first company arrived at 1:05 a.m. The fire was brought under control at 1:25 a.m. and put out at 3:30 a.m.

The single-family, single-story house at 87-2772 Hawaii Belt Road was unoccupied and vacant, and is considered a total loss, acting Battalion Chief John Whitman said. The exterior of the old single-wall construction was covered with rock veneer, the fire department said.

Damage was estimated at $80,000. The cause remains under investigation.

Hawaiian Electric Light Co. disconnected the live service line.