One Island’s learning center in Honaunau was host to the Sustainability Innovation Challenge Award showcase and prize winner announcements at the third annual Green Living Fair on Oct. 6. More than 50 people from around the island converged to see the award exhibitors and enjoy tours of the One Island facility. The award winners were presented with locally grown plumeria lei and their prizes were the focus of an information-rich community circle.
Award winners Leimana Pelton, a bamboo builder, and Tim Hall, an alternative energy developer, spoke to the group, sharing the history of the emergence of their award-winning concepts and products. Both of these inventors were originally sculptors who moved to the Big Island more than 15 years ago and found themselves compelled to respond to the natural energy of the island. Pelton won best of show and Hall, best alternative energy concept.
Thirteen awards were handed out to applicants islandwide, including one to the Belly Acres Eco Village, entered by Graham Ellis of Puna, as the People’s Choice Award; and another to Beyond Organic Growing System, entered by Jana Bogs of Kohala, as the Best of Agriculture Award.
Other award winners included: Gary Young, best of alternative transportation; Joseph Bellomo, best green building; Jeff Stone, best alternative energy product; Allan Jensen, second place, alternative transportation; William Greenwald, third place, alternative transportation; Danny Li, second place, green building; Aaron Anderson, third place, green building; Tim Lloyd, second place, agriculture; and Richard Bailey, third place, agriculture.