Holaniku — is a hot mythical place said to have everything needed for mankind to survive.  

“The lizard then said to Aukelenuiaiku: “Go and bring me two ape’ leaves.”  When Aukelenuiaiku returned with the ape leaves he placed them in front of the  lizard. The lizard then vomited onto the two leaves until they were covered over, and then it said to Aukelenuiaiku : “My grandson, look on these two leaves.” Aukele-nuiaiku obeyed and looked on. The lizard then continued: “Here are two lands on  these two ape leaves, a large land and a small land; a warm and hot land, and a cold  land. These two lands,” however, Holaniku and Holanimoe, are very beautiful lands  and they possess everything necessary for the comfort of mankind; they possess food,  fish, sugar-cane, potatoes, bananas, awa, breadfruit and all other things good to eat.  Where I direct you there you must go.” (From Fornander)

http://www.archive.org/stream/memoirsofbernice04bern/memoirsofbernice04bern_djvu.txt

It’s also the name of the oldest island in the NWHI chain.   

http://www.hawaiianatolls.org/research/NOWRAMP2002/journals/holaniku.php

It’s also the ancient name of a star.

Hō.lani

1. n. Name of a mythical place. Stars observed by priests were Hōlani-ali?i and Hōlani-kū.

Holaniku and renewable energy go hand in hand as the name is about a mythical place with renewable resources.  It gives tribute to Hawaiian cosmonogy, which also includes Maui’s capturing of the sun. Further, the name connects Hawai`i Island, the youngest in the Hawaiian Chain to honor the oldest (Holaniku) and the Hawaiian life cycle and breathe new life into the name.

A very special mahalo to Trisha Kehaulani Watson, PhD for taking care of the research and cultural assistances in the selection of the project name.

There’s a lot of green good happening here!

By Darren T. Kimura Keahole Solar Power Company’s Founder

TALKING green is so easily done these days with the panic over record breaking oil costs, high energy costs, global warming and climate change. It seems you can’t pick up a newspaper or turn on the TV without hearing someone TALKING big on going green. Sometimes I wonder “Where were these people a few years ago when being green wasn’t so cool? I also wonder what will come from all this green TALK?”

The green and clean mission for KSP began with ACTION and the construction of Holaniku at Keahole Point, the first renewable energy project at NELHA in 30 years and the first MicroCSP solar farm in the world! This project is helping change the future of Kona and the Big Island.

At Holaniku we have the home grown Hawaiian technology that is helping us become independent from foreign oil. We have the intelligence here in Kona that will make us the beacon for the rest of the world when it comes to clean and green power.  Most importantly we are sending a powerful message to everyone that Kona is a place where Green Talk is meaningless. Kona is home to RENEWABLE GREEN ENERGY ACTION!

The motto for Holaniku is HOPU I KA LĀ – “Capture the Sun”

Hopu I ka Lā means capture the sun.  Hopu I ka Lā is a perfect example of what the solar plant is doing.  The solar plant is capturing the sun and using the energy to do better things and not damaging or taking from the land.  Hopu has a good meaning because it means to capture and to get something and to not let it go.

Kona goes green and becomes the first Sustainable Destination in Hawaii!

During his 14 years as Governor of the State of Hawaii, Governor Ariyoshi was instrumental in developing the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii which was created by the Legislature in 1974 to research renewable energy.

Governor Ariyoshi recognized that these ecologically-friendly techniques could benefit businesses and boost the economy, and was able to develop a master plan and attain a master lease to help reduce bureaucratic red tape for potential businesses.

Hawaiians have a great deal of respect for the Sun

By Kahu Uncle Earl Regidor

La – the sun – was very important to Na Po’e Kahiko. They used the sun in many different ways. One, was using it as part of the navigational tools that helped them find their way to this land we call Hawai’i. They believed the sun was one of two elements that created life, the other was fresh water. With out one or the other there would not be life as we know it.

With the way our economy is today, we need to find better ways to use the resources that was given to us by akua. I’m confident that by trying, it can make our lives a bit easier. We have the people with Ike (knowledge) and the technology to do just that. And if we succeed, than we won’t be so dependent on fossil fuel. I’m all for alternative energy, it is the way of our ancestors.