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As part of the Hawai`i Innovation Initiative, Governor Lingle is presenting a monthly Innovation Award, which will acknowledge and encourage innovation across all sectors in Hawai`i.
The awards recognize deserving individuals, companies, nonprofits, organizations and government agencies that are developing innovative products, services and ways of doing things.
Hawai`i residents are encouraged to nominate a deserving organization, individual or government agency that is innovating new ways to meet the challenges of the 21st century in one of the following categories.
Read about the criteria, selection process and committee.
This month's honorees:
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Innovation by an Individual: Dr. Dennis Gonsalves
Dr. Dennis Gonsalves' innovative work to create a papaya that is genetically resistant to the papaya ringspot virus is credited with saving Hawai`i's papaya industry in 1998 when papaya production fell by 50 percent as a result of the virus. Dr. Gonsalves and his team developed an innovative method akin to vaccinating papaya by splicing a gene from the virus and inserting it into the genome of the papaya. In addition to benefiting the papaya industry, the innovative process of "vaccinating" a product against disease could also be applied to a variety of Hawai`i's agricultural industries.
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Innovation by an Organization: Kaheawa Wind Power
Kaheawa Wind Power's innovative technologies are harnessing one of Hawai`i's most abundant natural renewable energy sources – wind. Their efforts are making a significant contribution to the critically important goal to increase Hawai`i's energy independence by having 70 percent of Hawai`i's energy come from clean, renewable sources by 2030. Kaheawa Wind's 30-megawatt wind farm located in West Maui generated more than 125,000 megawatt hours of electricity in 2007. The energy produced would have required 236,000 barrels of oil if it had been produced at a traditional fossil-fuel-burning facility.
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Innovation in Government: Department of Human Services, Child Welfare Services Branch
Demonstrating that innovation can be applied to improve all facets of our society, the Department of Human Services (DHS) Child Welfare Service Branch developed an innovative web-based system to more effectively evaluate risk factors in a child's home.
This innovative system and other DHS-led strategies for strengthening at-risk families and assessing the safety of their homes have resulted in a sharp decrease in the number of children in Hawai`i's foster care system over the past five years. The number of children in state care is at a 15-year low.
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CLICK TO NOMINATE
A Hawai`i-based business, nonprofit, or other organization that has developed innovative products of processes.
A Hawai`i resident who stands out for their innovative ideas or is fostering innovation in others, such as a teacher, creative leader, mentor or an exceptional student.
A government agency, division or department that is leading by example through innovative programming or services.
PAST HONOREES
- Click here to learn more about past honorees.
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