hostpark.io

NELH reached a new stage of maturity with $16 million in total investment equally divided among state, federal, and private sources. The Legislature appropriated $1 million for a backup pipeline, and major renovations were completed at the water quality lab. Cyanotech expanded production of spirulina and beta carotene, while Hawaiian Abalone Farms began selling product locally. HOST Park development began with a groundbreaking in November. Despite storm damage to pipelines, research in aquaculture and OTEC biofouling control advanced, including designs for a new experimental apparatus. By year’s end, NELH supported 19 active projects at Keahole and seven more at Puna, with 45 people employed onsite. More than 2,800 visitors toured the facility as it grew into a world-class center for ocean-based energy and aquaculture research.

Highlights:

State Legislature appropriates $1,000,000 for the design and implementation of an emergency backup pipeline at NELH
HAF sells abalone to local restaurants
Cyanotech now producing and shipping spirulina and beta carotene, and is constructing 10 new ponds to utilize their 15-acre lease
Ongoing OTEC agriculture project adds asparagus and lettuce irrigated with coldwater pipe condensate
February 1986: period of large waves separates the pipe in the nearshore zone, highlighting the need for a redesign of the nearshore routing and anchoring
NELH water quality lab completes major renovation and expansion
NELH begins active management of HPG and the Puna Geothermal Research Center
HTDC begins development of HOST Park on state land adjacent to NELH. Groundbreaking held November 1986
Capital investment in NELH now totals $16 million, in nearly equal thirds from state, federal, and private sources
Onsite employment now totals 45, of which 35 are private sector generated
NELH houses 19 projects in FY86, 33 projects total. The Puna NELH facility houses 7 projects
Coldwater experiments have been run for 1,521 days
Designs are complete for an upgrade of the NELH emergency electrical system
Using DOE funds, a design to provide air conditioning to the NELH laboratory building by using a heat exchanger connected into the existing chilled water system is proposed
At OTEC, continued experimentation in FY1986 further confirms the efficacy of intermittently-applied low chlorine levels for effective biofouling control
At year’s end, plans are nearing completion for a major new OTEC experimental apparatus using larger tanks and more sophisticated instrumentation
2,800 people take part in the visitor program
In June 1986, the county receives $600,000 in State Capital Improvement Funds for expansion of the Puna Geothermal Research Center
Preparation begins on a report that will summarize the results of coldwater aquaculture research at NELH
An important experiment conducted in April 1986 clarifies the nature of the variability of various water quality parameters measured in NELH’s weekly water sampling program
Office of Naval Research investigates the variability and dynamics of phytoplankton with help from Johns Hopkins University and NELH
UHM Dept. of Agricultural Engineering investigates the efficacy of a trench seawater return system for NELH and HOST Park