FAQs

• How Would Hawaii’s Residents Profit From An Industry Based on Oil Palms?

A palm oil industry would financially benefit Hawaii’s residents as they would no longer be sending dollars out of state to buy oil-based products. The money spent on palm oil products would remain in Hawaii and be circulated throughout our economy, thereby improving economic resiliency for everyone. It could also provide additional income for Hawaii’s growers. Presently, a gallon of cooking oil has a retail value of $30/gallon. To get this additional income:

1) a farmer can join the HOSPRO cooperative that will buy their fruit clusters and chopped plant waste for processing at our pressing mill, and then market their oil.

2) entrepreneurs can develop additional products to be sold in the local markets, such as candles, soaps, biofibers, bioplastics, lubricants, etc.

3) income for the farmer can come from carbon credits. Oil palms naturally store enough carbon in the trees and soil that carbon credits can be accumulated and then sold to companies to offset the carbon they are burning.

4) a farmer can build further investment in the oil palm industry by earning one share in HOSPRO for every palm purchased. Our estimated return on investment (ROI) is 28x, not including management or other income earned from intercropping or sale of carbon credits.

• What Are These Hybrid Oil Palms in Hawaii?

The oil palms being imported as phytosanitized seeds to the Big Island are hybrids developed in Costa Rica as a cross from the African oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) and the American oil palm (Elaeis olifeara). No genetic engineering was involved. These hybrids were selected for their dwarfism, high fertility, drought resistance, and ability to withstand colder climes as Hawaii is beyond the northern edge of their natural range. The selection for dwarfism is important as the African variety can grow 60 feet tall which makes it very difficult to harvest. A ten-year proof-of-concept study of 10,000 trees has confirmed that this hybrid grows well below 3000’with adequate precipitation ( 85” annually) and a healthy dose of sun. They can also grow fairly close to the shoreline as they are salt-tolerant to a certain degree.

• What are Their Main Characteristics?

The tree has a single trunk rising to an attractive umbrella of broad leaves. This dwarf variety grows to about 30’ tall with the diameter of cast shade about 20’. The trees reach maturity in 8-10 years, but will start producing bunches of fruit at 3-4 years of age. Each tree produces annually 4-18 colorful bunches of fruit ranging from yellow to deep reddish-orange when ripe. Clusters grow out from the trunk just above the lowest fronds and can weigh up to 15 pounds. Fruit production starts to decline after the trees reach 25 years of age though they can live and produce up to 40 more years. Production numbers may vary with elevation, soil type, rainfall, and management practices.

• What will stop the environmental destruction caused by oil palm plantations in SE Asia from coming to Hawaii?

HOSPRO’s position is absolute: Oil palms should never be planted where they disturb existing pristine native flora and fauna. The destruction of the rainforest and slaughter of its wildlife in Indonesia is caused by corporate agricultural practices dedicated to extracting as much profit as possible. HOSPRO seeks to keep profits circulating back into the Hawaiian economy for the betterment of residents. So, neither forest destruction nor abusive extraction methods are applicable to what we face in Hawaii. Instead, we face much danger from the overgrowth of invasive weeds and trees on fallow and depleted lands that once grew sugar cane, pineapple, etc. (The Lahaina fire is a consequence of that overgrowth.) Here, land planted with oil palms supplemented with biochar and interspersed with food plants, other cultivars, endangered flora, and Hawaiian indigenous species, could provide an ecologically healthy system for restoring the soil and healing the land.

• How Hard is it to Grow Hybrid Oil Palms in Hawaii?

Hybrid oil palms are extremely easy to grow and maintain. They need to be planted in well-drained soil, even on porous areas of ripped lava rock, about 20-25’ apart, and kept free of weeds. They do best below 2500’ elevation, need lots of sun and about 85” of rain per year. If intercropping, the trees will have to be spaced out according to the needs of the other plants. About twice a year, they need to be spot fertilized and given a dose of dolomite. The palms have proven to be very resistant to pests found on the Big Island. Even feral pigs leave them alone after a couple of years of growth due to the palm’s protective thorns. The invasion of the rhinoceros beetle could affect production in the future. So far, however, it has been held in check with none detected on the Big Island for at least a year. HOSPRO has plans to protect the palms from pests based current knowledge and technology from SE Asia and Hawaii and scientists.

• How Much Oil Does One Oil Palm Produce?

Oil palms produce fruit all year round. Under the right conditions, a 2 year old tree will produce about 2-3 gallons of oil. In year 3, a tree’s production goes up to about 4 gal; and by year 4, about 5 gal will be produced. A mature tree at 8 years old will produce around 8 gal annually until about 25 years of age. This oil can be processed into cooking oil, biodiesel fuel or other lubricants as well as such derivative products as bioplastics and biofibers. The mash from the processed kernels can be used as a high-protein animal feed.

• How Do I Get Seedlings for Oil Palms?

Because more than 40 Big Island farmers have requested a total of 220,000 seedlings, HOSPRO is preparing a new order of seeds. Batches of 80,000 seeds every six months will be treated and certified by USDA for import from Costa Rica. From there, they will be raised in a carefully controlled greenhouse setting on the Big Island for approximately 6 months. This results in an estimated cost of $22 per seedling. However, this cost may be offset by state and local grants and loans that we are seeking. Please see our Join Us page on this website.

• Will There Be Support for Farmers Trying to Grow Oil Palms?

The idea is to make all of this as easy, productive, and profitable as possible for anyone willing to grow oil palm in their yard or on their acreage. Our cooperative can provide growers with the services of experts who can trouble-shoot issues that arise from planning to harvesting. HOSPRO will provide marketing and distribution support, and accumulate credits from carbon storage for profit return to farmers.

• Is Oil the Only Thing an Oil Palm Produces?

No. Probably one of the most important by-products of processing the fruit is the leftover meal. This meal is processed and used as a nutritious animal feed with 3-5% fat and 11% protein content. Since Hawaii imports almost all of its animal feed, a homegrown option would be a blessing for farmers. HOSPRO also plans to begin processing green waste and invasive trees into biochar, another element for restoring the soils and useful in animal feed.
Another consideration is that the oil palm is a beautiful tree and can add a productive element to anyone’s landscaping. Several of them can provide a windbreak or a tree-lined driveway.