| Welcome! The Hilo Meeting of Feb. 22. | |
| yee | E aloha mai! (Welcome!) A meeting is planned for February 22, 2003, 9am-3pm, at the UH Komohana building in Hilo to discuss the future of 'awa (Hawaiian kava). Please feel free to discuss questions, issues, or concerns here. Everyone, including the general public, are welcome to participate. To paraphrase the CTAHR representative, Skip: "After polling 'awa leaders it appears that Saturday Feb.22 in conference room A at CTAHR's Komohana ag complex in Hilo is the best date and place for our discussion about the future of Hawaii's 'awa. Let's start at 9 am and finish by 3 pm. This is not a conference, a HAC board or membership meeting but a discussion of the commercial future of the industry. Naturally the meeting is open to anyone we don't need 100 people, we need representatives of the industry- growers, processors, kava cafes, scientists, consumers, and all the leaders. Agenda Introductions and expectations Stepping back and looking at the big picture using a SWOT (Strengths , Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis Identifying critical issues from the SWOT Prioritizing these issues Developing a plan to address these issues. I will facilitate, record and send the 'group memory' to participants and those on my 'awa leaders and kava scientists list. How to prepare? Find, bring and mention important information about the status of the industry, your plans, ideas, etc. My expectation for a successful meeting is that we develop a sense of shared knowledge of the current situation, identify a number of critical issues, and reach agreement on 'what's next'. I expect we will share this with others in Hawaii. I don't expect a complete action plan but a sense of whether or not you want to commit to developing one for the future." In my view (and I've never been in a SWOT team before - sounds like a military operation [:)]), one way to address the "O" portion of the "OT" is to look to more positive, uplifting, or fun events as a way to get positive public involvement or awareness. Perhaps one could be the Hawai'i Kava Tasting Event 2003 (Lyon) (see the respective Forum two folders above). To address the "T" is to perhaps be supportive of Amy Brown's research survey. Another example, would be the scientific-cultural front, e.g., Kawika's ethnobotanic research on 'awa. This would perhaps help publicize or provide further cultural grounds for 'awa in Hawai'i. I think we're better covered if we have both cultural and scientific stories to tell. Perhaps more later.... |
| yee | Sent: Tuesday, January 21, 2003 11:52 AM Subject: Re: Meeting 2/22 in Hilo to discuss HI kava industry future Aloha, I was reflecting on the past meetings and the situation with HAC. At the last meeting held, which was sponsored by AHA, Dr. Vincent Lebot spoke. I believe you were not able to attend, Skip. A poll was taken at that meeting to see who was interested in HAC continuing and willing to help. My recollection of positive answers included, Scot Nelson, Jerry Konanui, Jeri Ooka, Jeffrey Burger, Mel Jackson*, Jerry Punzal, and maybe myself. Mel answer was conditional that we actually have a distinct purpose or goal. During his talk, Lebot mentioned for the second time that he felt Hawaii should be focusing on a pasteurized fresh `awa drink. He said that it would be relatively easy for us to do. I felt then and still do feel that what he said made the most sense for our industry. It is the best way for us to directly increase and influence market. In addition, most of the new information that I have points to the fact that drinking `awa is not really an issue in the liver concern. There has been and still is money available to assist in value added farm products in Hawaii. One such example is a grant administered by Innovative Solutions and sponsored in part by the Hawaii State Department of Agriculture. Monies available are for a maximum of $27,000. Unfortunately, deadline for proposals is January 22, 2003. The value of a growers, etc. organization is number of people assisted by projects. I have discussed this with Mel Jackson and Ed Johnston and they both feel a pasteurized drink is a very good direction to focus upon. I, therefor, request that this subject be put on the agenda for the FEb. 22 meeting. comment? Jim Henderson |
| yee | Tue 1/21/2003 12:09 PM From Ed Johnston: Regarding what Jim is saying in his email-- Yes, these are the same comments I recall from the August meeting. A fresh beverage (and more fresh 'awa bars) will help the Hawai'i "industry". But we, for sure, would need a book keeper/grant writer if we seek outside monies. --Ed |
| yee | Thu 1/23/2003 2:25 PM Thanks Ed and Jim, I am agreement with the concept of a ready to drink retail product and the awa bars and we should gather info this . But let's be ready to step back at the meeting to hear all perspectives too. Today if my stomach and body hold up I'm meeting with Mr Ed Alstat <ealstat@eclecticherb.com> who some of you may have met him already or if not next week. Mr Alstat claims to have a freeze-dried product . Unfortunately I feel much too sick to drink it today. I bought frozen fresh-ground nene from Hale Noa to prepare for him, but I might just steer him to Hale Noa tonight and take a taxi home. Also is attached a Innovative Solutions a new program in CTAHR, Kathy McKenzie is the director <kamackenz@hawaii.edu>. A grant application for assisting a small businesses true the deadline is past by you can initiate discussion. If this look interesting I'll see if I can get one of team to join our 2/22 meeting. Regarding the fate of HAC, considering that AHA is still serving and the future of the kava industy is troubled; its not so important until a plan of action is in place SKip |
| yee | I'll be going to the meeting. If anyone wants any issue, concern, question, statement raised, please feel free to let me or Skip know. I'll post whatever info on the meeting that's obtained. My phone will be with me at (808) 256-5605 and will be answered as convenient. mahalo, Jonathan |