Big Isle pot startup’s CEO is resigning

Marijuana patients on Hawaii island still don’t have a legal way to buy their medication, and that might take a little longer now.

Former Big Island farmer and medical marijuana advocate Richard Ha, CEO of Lau Ola, is resigning today, two weeks after the state gave the startup the green light to begin growing pakalolo.

“My intention was to help get them through the startup because that’s the most challenging part. I thought we would take four years, but when I look at it, I think they’re well on their way so I think I accomplished what I need to accomplish,” he said.

Ha joined Lau Ola in 2016 after more than 40 years in the farming business, leading the company over the last two years through the licensing process and the development of a 35,000- square-foot production center on the Hamakua Coast as well as securing retail locations in Hilo, Kona and Waimea. He previously was president and owner of Hamakua Springs Country Farms, a 600-acre banana farm which closed in 2015.

“I’m going to do all the stuff I was doing for the last 10 years that has to do with energy and agriculture. I’ll still participate if they want me to participate,” he added. “I’m just moving on. I’m going to be busier than ever.”

The company, which has yet to begin sales, will begin searching for a new CEO. Ha said a major part of his decision to leave earlier than anticipated is his involvement with other controversial projects.

Ha, 74, is an advocate for building a Hawaiian cultural center and developing the 30-meter telescope on Mauna Kea, controversial issues for many Native Hawaiians. He also supports geothermal energy on the Big Island and the use of genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, to create a sustainable food supply in the islands.

“I did not want these controversial issues to affect Lau Ola in their project,” he said. “I did not want what I’m associated with to backfire and hurt the company adversely. That’s what played into my decision.”

The second Big Island dispensary, Hawaiian Ethos, also faced a significant setback when its CEO Bill Richardson died in November 2017. He was replaced by Luis Mejia in January. The Big Island dispensaries were the last to begin growing pot following significant delays due to county permitting and other government requirements.

“Opening dispensaries is a new process for everyone on Hawaii Island, and as a result there has been a learning curve for us as well as the regulatory agencies involved,” said Kea Keolanui, a spokeswoman for Hawaiian Ethos, which hopes to soon open a dispensary in Kailua-Kona. “It takes a whole community to bring cannabis to market and not everyone is able to work within our preferred timelines, but all parties involved are doing their best to serve Hawaii County patients as swiftly as possible.”

The state legalized medical cannabis in 2000, but patients had no legal way to obtain the drug until Maui Grown Therapies opened in August 2017, followed by Aloha Green Apothecary in Honolulu. The other pot retailers include Pono Life Maui and Noa Botanicals and Cure Oahu in Honolulu. In May, Green Aloha Ltd., doing business as Have a Heart, also started sales on Kauai. In August, Hawaiian Ethos, the other Big island dispensary, received approval to begin growing.