Article published in the
Hamakua Times, February, 2007

Aurea, Inc. Bringing Innovation in
Agriculture and Education to the Hamakua Region
by Rebecca L. Nelson

Innovation and education are the driving forces behind the efforts of Aurea, Inc., a Hawaii-based company involved in aquaculture and aquaponics.  Terry Astro, President of  Aurea, Inc. has been successfully raising fish since childhood.  This passion grew into a career field as he has refined methods of culturing tilapia, marine shrimp and Limu ogo, a popular edible seaweed.   

The Hawaiian Sunfish, a hybrid species of tilapia, was developed by Aurea, Inc. through selective breeding over a 20 year period.    This fish is currently cultured at Aurea’s fish farm in the Hamakua District at Paauilo on The Big Island.  Short term plans are in the works to revitalize and expand the hatchery at this facility to help supply a growing demand for this high quality, locally raised fish. Expansion at the hatchery will make fingerlings available to other fish farmers in the region and will increase the overall agricultural output of the Hamakua District.  Aurea, Inc. is currently working with the Hawaii Farm Bureau on funding of this and future projects. 

Other plans for Aurea, Inc.’s fish farm at Paauilo include the construction of a commercial greenhouse that will use the fish waste from the aquaculture to raise vegetables.  This recirculation technology, which combines aquaculture and hydroponics, is called aquaponics.  This central greenhouse will provide fish fingerlings and plant seedlings to other aquaculture and aquaponic enterprises in the area.   

Another innovative project of Aurea, Inc. is the development of an aquaculture education program in partnership with the Honokaa High School.  This program will be implemented to help teach students the art and business of aquaculture, aquaponics and related agricultural technologies.     

In early January, Senate Bill 619 and House Bill 914 were introduced by the Legislature of the State of Hawaii which supports establishing an educational program in which local aquaculture farmers, such as Aurea, Inc., will “provide Honakaa' school students with hands-on training, through class work as well as after school activities, in all phases of aquacultural production, including breeding, raising and distribution of fish.”  The bill goes on to state that “there is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $100,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008, for a community-based aquaculture program in Honokaa.  The sum appropriated shall by expended by the department of education for the purposed of this act.” 

Senate Bill SB 619 was introduced by Senator Lorraine Inouye and House Bill HB 914 was introduced by Representative Dwight Takamine.  SB 619 and HB 914 will be voted on in the coming months.  Area residents are encouraged to write to their Senate and Congressional representatives in support of this innovative project. 

Aurea, Inc. has been working with the Honokaa High School Agriculture program and instructor, Nathan Kawashima, for the past several years.  Together they have identified the need for an integrated curriculum based on aquaculture, agriculture and aquaponics.  The project will use these methods of growing food as a vehicle to enhance skills in math, science, accounting, record-keeping and communication. 

The goals of this project are to train students with all of the skills necessary to set up and run a self-sustaining aquaculture farm and business; to provide the students with necessary skills and practical experience to work at or start an aquaculture enterprise; and to provide the students with the academic background necessary for entrance into a university aquaculture, agriculture or general science program.  

On January 30, 2007, an informational meeting took place at Honokaa High School to discuss the aquaculture equipment and greenhouse upgrades that will be required. The level of enthusiasm was very high as Nathan Kawashima, Terry Astro of Aurea, Inc., John Pade and Rebecca Nelson, Aquaponics Consultants, Manuel Jadulang, Agriculture Instructor and Bill Larsen, Aurea, Inc. Farm Manager, discussed the potential of aquaponics and aquaculture. The combination of these technologies will allow students to learn agriculture, science, math, business, marketing and construction in a unique and integrated manner, which will provide students with life long experiences and future employment. 

All of the ongoing Aurea, Inc. projects demonstrate the concepts recently endorsed and embraced by Governor Linda Lingle in her State of the State address.  She expressed, “we have to change our economy from one based on land development, to one fueled by innovation and the new ideas generated by our universities and a highly-trained workforce.”   Innovation and education are key to a sustainable future for all of Hawaii and innovation and education are a main focus of the Aurea, Inc partnership with the Honokaa High School and the community-based aquaculture and aquaponic projects that will follow. 

With a cooperative effort, the Hamakua region has the potential to become a Mecca of aquaculture and aquaponic activity.  The result of these community-based agriculture projects will be an increase in jobs, an increase in the availability of high quality, locally grown foods and a return to an active, highly productive agricultural life-style for the farmers of the Hamakua region. 

For more information on aquaponics, visit, www.aquaponics.com or, the soon to be launched Aurea, Inc. website: www.hawaiiansunfish.com.

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