NEWS
FROM SUSTAINABLE BIORESOURCES, LLC
Discovery Harbour, Hawai`i, USA
ALOHA!
We have a small staff and are busy with multiple projects so the very time consuming work of developing content and keeping up a complex website is often delayed. In this section, we will try to keep our site visitors and followers informed about recent company developments and upcoming events. For information on events in past years please click on the title line below for the year of the news articles that you would like to access.
MAHALO!
CURRENT YEAR 2026
August, 2026
Impacts of Hurricane Lala
On August 16, 2027, Hurricane Lala passed over the southern tip of Hawai`i island causing severe damage and outages of utilities in our area. The downtown area of Naalehu was devastated. Our research nursery and seed bank at Discovery Harbour and our experimental farm at Ocean View, Hawai`i were damaged but not severely. Because of flooding and highway closures we could not get out of our community for 2-3 days.
Facility Damage. Nursery areas were flooded, pots were blown off tables, and many tree branches fell. Our office could not operate because of the loss of power and communications.
Moana Experimental Farm. A very large, old ohia tree near the farm entrance fell. One large branch crushed the corner area of our security fence, and a large trunk section is hanging precariously over the adjoining public road. Temporary fence repairs were made. Removal of the damaged tree will be a major and costly project requiring heavy equipment and arborist services that are not currently available. Green waste from the tree removal may have to be stored or disposed of onsite because of quarantine restrictions relating to Rapid Ohia Death (ROD).
There was minor damage to a storage shed on the farm. Our experimental crops were largely unaffected except for several tall specimens of Euphorbia ingens, which were partially uprooted and leaning. Because they apparently lack wind resistance and are now rated as potentially invasive in Hawai`i we have decided to remove them.
We will increase monitoring for canker and other diseases affecting dragon fruit because of the high rainfall, humidity and wind conditions may increase the transmission and infectivity of fungal diseases that affect the plants.
Utility Outages. Electrical power, cable internet and cellular communications had outages during the storm and for a week after making it difficult to conduct most company operations. Most of these utilities have been restored but have frequent outages.
Water Shortage. As of August 26th much of our Discovery Harbour community was without domestic water because of major damage to the county water system. Being located at a low elevation on the system we had water over the last week, but it is running out. A boil order has been issued, and the remaining water must be used for essential domestic uses only. We were watering our nursery plants sparingly with catchment or stored water, which has now run out. Many of our potted plants require daily or frequent watering. Without water these will be lost.
Damage to agricultural water systems in the Kau area has resulted in a dire situation for many farms, particularly those that have lost water supplies for livestock. The unirrigated crops on our experimental farm are adapted to xeric conditions and not affected by the water shortage.
Seed Bank Impacts. Our seed bank incudes several freezers holding irreplaceable collections of seeds. They are all monitored for high temperature excursions and equipped with sensors and internet based remote alarms. Power for the freezers is supplied by our photovoltaic panel system and the grid, and a backup battery system. When the storm struck power from the grid was lost, the solar power feed from the panels was blocked by a system malfunction and the back up battery was depleted. This required us to use a gasoline powered generator to power the freezers and keep the seeds from thawing. It was very difficult to do. With generator output limitations we had to alternate the freezers being supplied and monitor temperatures without internet access to the sensor output. Gasoline for the generator was also unavailable or in short supply.
Power has now been restored. Some of the freezers may have had brief periods of above freezing temperatures. We are planning to conduct germination tests to confirm seed viability when conditions permit.
Operating Status. We are short of help but have reopened and are primarily engaged in business and community recovery operations. Produce, mostly fresh dragon fruit is being harvested and donated to local food distribution charities. Orders for seeds and plants will be accepted but subject to delays in processing, inspection and shipment.
March 22, 2026
Severe Storms and Recovery Status
Over the last two weeks severe storms known as Kona Lows brought high winds and heavy rains to all of the Hawaiian islands. In the Kau District of Hawai`i island where we are located the storms dropped more than 20 inches of rain in a two day period. Winds before the rainstorms arrived caused our massive African moringa tree to fall, fortunately barely missing our office and lab areas. A power outage lasting two days affected all of our operations, particularly the six freezers holding our seed banks. We were able to use back up batteries and gasoline powered generators until power was restored. In the nearby communities of Waiohinu and Naalehu there was significant damage to local roads, and flooding of our highway blocked all northbound travel in the direction of Hilo.
The prolonged and continuing wet conditions, saturated soils and high humidity are promoting various fungal diseases affecting dragon fruit crops at our experimental farm in Ocean View. Populations of invasive African snails and several species of slugs at our Discovery Harbour nursery are undergoing explosive growth and require daily control efforts.
We are short staffed and our operations are still in the recovery phase. Storm related activities may delay our responses to contacts and filling of orders. We appreciate your patience and concern.
Mālama Pono,
Ed Rau
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February 15, 2026
Annual Meeting Announced
On Monday, March 16, 2026 the annual meeting of the Board of Directors of Sustainable Bioresources, LLC will be held at 9:30 am in the company’s offices in Discovery Harbour, Hawai`i.
PAST YEARS 2016-2025
May 26, 2025
Annual Meeting Announced
On Thursday, June 5, 2025 the annual meeting of the Board of Directors of Sustainable Bioresources, LLC will be held at 9:00 am in the company’s offices in Discovery Harbour, Hawai`i.
February 18, 2023
Annual Meeting Announced
On Monday, February 20, 2023 the annual meeting of the Board of Directors of Sustainable Bioresources, LLC will be held at 10:00 am in the company’s offices in Discovery Harbour, Hawai`i.
May 4, 2022
Annual Meeting Announced
On Wednesday, May 11, 2022 the annual meeting of the Board of Directors of Sustainable Bioresources, LLC will be held at 10:00 am in the company’s offices in Discovery Harbour, Hawaii.
February 26, 2022
Online Store Reopens
Our nursery and online store was closed temporarily for the winter season and is now open for business.
October 19, 2021
Online Store Reopens with Greatly Expanded Seed Selections
Our online store has been closed for inventory, an extensive updating of the listings and because of a shortage of personnel to process orders. We are pleased to be reopening the store on October 19th and now offer the largest known selection of moringa seeds in the world! These include dwarf varieties suitable for growing in containers and some hard to find newer varieties from India: ODC3, Bhagya KDM1 and Sarpan SD2.
September 10, 2021
Employee Injured Serving as a Volunteer Firefighter
Elizabeth “Lizzy” Stabo, our new Assistant Manager, tirelessly devotes much of her spare time helping several community organizations and serves with a Pahala, Hawai`i volunteer fire company. Last Friday (September 3, 2021) she left work here early to respond to an emergency call and assist in fighting an underground fire nearby in the Ka`ū District. Lizzy was severely injured while fighting the fire and flown to Oahu for emergency care. She is receiving continuing treatment at a burn unit in Honolulu. Additional details are available in this article from the Hawaii Tribune.
Please keep Lizzy in your thoughts and prayers.
September 1, 2021
COVID-19 Polices Updated – Vaccinations Required
Our policies relating to reducing the risks of COVID-19 transmission on our facilities have been updated. Effective September 1, 2021 all current employees must be fully vaccinated, or have started their vaccinations by September 8, 2021 and be fully vaccinated by October 23, 2021. These policies are available here
May 27, 2021
COVID-19 Polices Updated – May 27, 2021
Our policies relating to reducing the risks of COVID-19 transmission on our facilities have been updated. These include a vaccination requirement for new employees and interns.
April 20, 2021
Sustainability Research and Greener Futures Through New Cultivars
This was the topic of this week’s Thriving Farmer Podcast. Host Michael Kilpatrick interviewed Ed Rau, our company’s founder and president and discussed the company’s current initiatives including test marketing of their improved hoodia plants and seeds, establishing an International Moringa Seed Bank, and the benefits and challenges of moringa farming.
Here’s the link to the episode (#124) and shownotes: https://www.thrivingfarmerpodcast.com/edward-rau/
Now with over 100 episodes, the podcast is designed to help farmers thrive in business and life. Learn the latest tricks and strategies of successful farmers, strategize with in-depth interviews with leaders in the industry, and connect with stories of farmers just like you.
March 1, 2021
Temporary Store Closure – March 2021
We will be upgrading our online store catalog and software, and working on projects away from our Hawai‘i island location throughout much of March 2021. Shipping of orders placed during this period will be delayed until our return late in the month. We regret any inconvenience this may cause for our customers. Thank you for your understanding.
March 2021
Special Hoodia Plant Sale for Hawaii Customers
We are offering selected Hoodia plants to viewers of the HI NOW show at a discounted price through the month of March 2021. This offer is only for plants to be delivered to Hawaii addresses. All plants are Plant Pono (non-invasive in Hawaii), Certified Naturally Grown (organic), carry the Hawaii Department of Agriculture’s Seal of Quality and were grown in sustainable cultivation in our HDOA Certified Nursery on the Big Island. The plants will large enough to harvest 1-2 cuttings for dieters to prepare slices for appetite suppression. This was demonstrated on the HI NOW show.
Orders will be shipped as bare root plants in April. The shipping and handling cost for Priority Mail delivery will be $10.00. We recommend planting these in pots with fast draining media like cactus potting mix. Keep them in full sun. During extended periods of cool, rainy conditions they should be kept out of the rain to reduce the potential for fungus.
 Hoodia Plants on Sale |
 “Tree Hoodia” (Hoodia parviflora) Plants on Sale |
February 27, 2021
Our Company and Hawaiian Hoodia™ Featured on HI NOW TV Show!!!
On Saturday, February 27, 2021 our Hawaiian Hoodia™ plants made their debut with HI NOW on Hawaii TV channels K5 at 7am and KHNL at 6pm. This segment of the show is sponsored by the Hawaii Department of Agriculture for members of its Seal of Quality (SOQ) program to promote genuine Hawaiian grown products.
Kanoe Gibson and Kainoa Carlson, the show’s hosts, demonstrated use of the bitter hoodia chips made from our fresh, organic cuttings, and tasted them as they would be used as a natural appetite suppressant for people seeking to loose weight. This was the way the plant has been used by the indigenous people of southern Africa for thousands of years to curb appetite during long hunts and times of food shortages. Receptors on the tongue for the plant’s bitter compounds apparently trigger responses that turn off hunger.
Unfortunately, many of the hoodia pills and dietary supplements previously marketed by others were adulterated, flavored or processed in a manner that they were not likely to be effective. Some were unsafe or didn’t even contain hoodia.
Our improved Hawaiian Hoodia™ seeds and plants provide a way for consumers to grow their own supply of fresh, organic hoodia for personal use. We hope to increase our production capacity and introduce hoodia cuttings as a fresh, organic produce item for sales in food markets soon.
February 19, 2021
Annual Meeting Announced
On Monday, March 1, 2021 the annual meeting of the Board of Directors of Sustainable Bioresources, LLC will be held at 10:00 am in the company’s offices in Discovery Harbour, Hawaii.
January 21, 2021
New Moringa Project at South Point on the Big Island
We are pleased to report that we have signed a research agreement with He Lani Ka ‘Aina LLC for field trials to test seedlings of various species and varieties of moringa grown from our seed bank at a farm site located on Hawai‘i island near Ka Lae, the southernmost point of land in the United States. Also known as “South Point,” it’s believed that Ka Lae is the first place Polynesians came ashore when they reached the Hawaiian Islands as early as 750 A.D.
The area is windswept dryland and most of the project site and surrounding areas are completely dominated by guinea grass (Megathyrsus maximus), a non-native, highly invasive tropical species. The grass has degraded remnant native plant communities, prevents the establishment and restoration of native species, and provides fuel for frequent wildfires. Soils in the area largely consist of volcanic ash and have moderate fertility and water holding capacity. Until this project the land has only been used as pasture land, with some areas serving as marginal wildlife habitat. Moringa may be one of the few crop species that can be grown in this harsh environment.
NEWS FROM PREVIOUS YEARS
News Articles from 2020
Community Distribution of Free Moringa Tree Seedlings (May 13, 2020)
Sustainable Bioresources, LLC Joins the XPrize Pandemic Alliance (May 6, 2020)
Reopening of Online Store (April 20, 2020)
Moringa Proposed as a Potential Treatment for COVID-19 Infections (April 19, 2020)
Closure of Online Store (March 25, 2020)
Operations During the Coronavirus Crisis (March 19, 2020)
Warning – Website Spoofed: Contacts May Receive Fake Invoices (March 16, 2020)
Annual Meeting Announced (February 12, 2020)
SALES OF OUR NEW HOODIA CULTIVARS BEGAN ON NEW YEARS DAY 2020!!!
News Articles from 2019
Our New Products Will be Certified Naturally Grown! (October 8, 2019)
Seed Mixtures Now Available from Our Moringa Seed Bank! (April 3, 2019)
Annual Meeting Announced (March 1, 2019)
News Articles from 2018
Bumper Crop of Hō’awa Seeds! (October 2018)
Our International Moringa Seed Bank has Opened! (October 11, 2018)
Finally…We Have Reopened our Online Store!!! (October 11, 2018)
A Busy Hurricane Season – So Far (August-September 2018)
Maya Nut Field Trials to Begin Near Nā’ālehu (August 1, 2018)
Operations Resuming (July 23, 2018)
Curtailment of Operations in Response to Eruption (May 31, 2018)
Rains Remove Ash from Plants (May 29-30, 2018)
Running Pele’s Gauntlet (May 24, 2018)
Early Observations – Impacts of Vog and Volcanic Ash on Plants (May 20, 2018)
Staff on Emergency Deployments (May 15, 2018)
Study of Ash Accumulations on Plant Leaves Initiated (May 14, 2018)
Hawaii Volcanos National Park Closes (May 11, 2018)
New Eruption of Kilauea Volcano Begins (May 3, 2018)
Outbreak of Soft Rot Claims First Hoodia parviflora Crop (April 2018)
Research on Treatment for Rapid Ohia Death (ROD) Initiated (March 2018)
Annual Meeting Announced (March 28, 2018)
News Articles from 2017
We are Joining the March for Science (April 22, 2017)
Annual Meeting Announced (March 30, 2017)
HUBZone Approval Received (March 14, 2017)
News Articles from 2016
New Moringa Research Project Starting in Gambia (November 2016)
Maya Nut Germination Tests Completed; First Small Plantings for Hawaii Trials (September 2016 – April 2017)
Outdoor Hoodia Cultivation Experiments Terminated (Winter 2016 – 2017)