Innovation Amid Global Uncertainty
Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, NELHA and HOST Park advanced key projects and continued to attract investment in aquaculture, energy, and sustainable technologies. Tenants adapted resiliently, and the Park’s infrastructure initiatives moved forward to secure long-term growth.
Highlights included completion of the $2.5M potable water well project, providing 333,000 gallons per day of new capacity for HOST Park development. The aquaculture sector strengthened with continued operations from Big Island Abalone, Blue Ocean Mariculture, and Cyanotech, while new ventures explored marine biotechnology and seafood production. The HATCH accelerator expanded support for global aquaculture startups, bringing new energy to the Park’s innovation ecosystem.
On the energy front, NELHA advanced planning for seawater air conditioning (SWAC) in West Hawai‘i, continued hydrogen fueling and storage projects, and supported demonstrations of advanced battery storage and microgrid technologies. Community engagement persisted despite pandemic restrictions, with Friends of NELHA adapting tours and outreach to hybrid and online formats. Financially, NELHA maintained self-sufficiency through seawater sales and land use revenues.
Highlights:
- Aquaculture tenants expanded operations: Blue Ocean Mariculture scaled production of kampachi; Big Island Abalone and Cyanotech maintained strong markets.
- HATCH Blue aquaculture accelerator hosted global startups; follow-on investment funds expanded.
- Continued development of hydrogen fueling and storage station at Research Campus.
- Energy initiatives advanced: seawater air conditioning (SWAC) feasibility study, vanadium redox flow battery testing, and microgrid planning.
- Installed additional solar PV at Research Campus, improving energy self-sufficiency.
- New tenant projects advanced in marine biotechnology and food production.
- Friends of NELHA adapted tours and educational programs during pandemic restrictions; outreach reached global audiences through hybrid/online offerings.
- NELHA revenues remained near $5M annually, sustaining operational independence.