New initiative in Hawaiʻi could change the world's carbon footprint

HONOLULU (KHON2) -- A new innovative project which involves growing camelina sativa, a versatile oilseed plant, on farms across the Hawaiian Islands to produce renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is making big waves in farming in Hawaiʻi.

KHON2.com sat down with Chris Bennett, Vice President of Sustainable Energy Solutions at Pono Pacific, to discuss this groundbreaking initiative aimed at transforming Hawai‘i's energy landscape.

The project, in partnership with Par Hawaii, seeks to create a local source of biofuel feedstock for Par’s refinery on O‘ahu. This initiative, now in the field trial phase, aims to reduce Hawai‘i's reliance on imported crude oil and cut carbon emissions significantly.

A local solution for global problems

Pono Pacific and Par Hawaii’s collaboration on this biofuel project marks a significant step towards sustainability.

Par Hawaii is currently retrofitting its refinery in Kapolei to handle biofuel feedstocks, with the goal of producing locally sourced biofuels by the end of 2025.

“The refining process for these biofuels...