Kamuela Hardwoods Inc. (KH), located on Hawaii Island (aka “Big Island”), will apply over a decade’s experience in sourcing, manufacturing, and marketing locally-grown lumber products to develop drying schedules, determine economics and accelerate market acceptance for four Hawaii-grown, non-native plantation species (Eucalyptus saligna, E. grandis, E. robusta and Flindersia brayleyana) and two invasive species (falcataria Molucacana [albizia] and Prosopis pallida [mesquite]). Using vacuum drying heated with the mill’s wood residue and solar thermal, KH will develop best-practices for drying these species and will share the information learned with sawmills and kiln operators throughout the Hawaiian Islands. Current estimated use of all 6 species by KH is about 20,000 board feet annually and proposed project activites are expected to increase demand in total for all six species to over 350,000 board feet per year by the end of Year 3. At least three jobs will be retained and two created at KH and statewide there could be 3-5X increase in board ft usage and job retention and creation once project results are shared and adopted by others. This proposal supports the goals of the State Wood Utilization Team, funded in 2018 with a USFS Wood Innovation Grant and will accelerate use of abundant and underutilized tree species, helping Hawaii’s environment, communities and economy. A robust team will support this effort, including Hawaii Dept. of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry & Wildlife (DOFAW), Hawaii Forest Industry Association (HFIA), the Albizia project and University of Hawaii Extension.
Objectives:
1. Reduce the energy costs to dry wood by developing an appropriate combination of solar thermal and wood energy in conjunction with vacuum kiln technology.
2. Improve the quality of kiln dried Hawaiian lumber by creating appropriately scaled and cost effective techniques to prepare lumber for drying and kiln schedules to dry it.
3. Improve market acceptance and determine price points in local markets for non-structural lumber
4. Share the results with sawmill and kiln operators throughout the state to increase drying capacity, broaden markets by creating a print and online outreach publication targeted at industrial producers through HFIA, making two presentations to the Hawaii Wood Utilization Team and Hawaii Forest Industry Association (HFIA), and hosting at a site visit for industry, Hawaii Dept. of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry & Wildlife (DOFAW), and local elected officials.
Hawaii, lumber, Eucalyptus, mesquite, vacuum drying, dry kiln operations, Hawaii Dept. of Land and Natural
Resources Division of Forestry & Wildlife, Hawaii Forest Industry Association
