SBIR-STTR Award

This project focuses on rural development and will study the feasibility of developing a local sea salt production and processing system that supports commercial enterprises, provides for cultural needs, as well as enables the employment and/or entrepreneurship of community members. Salt production and harvesting were integral practices of the ancient Hawaiians. Developing a modern processing system is the challenge pursued by the project as a means to help revitalize a seriously depressed economy in this rural community. The research involves studying the viability of off-shore evaporation sites, well and deep ocean brine, evaporation equipment, and a portable filtering and purification system. Laboratory tests during Phase I will be conducted to identify the contents of the various stages of evaporating sea water. Phase II will further refine the purification process to attain high quality, FDA standards, while developing training activities for the community. Phase III will bring the project into the commercialization stage. ANTICIPATED RESULTS & POTENTIAL COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS OF RESEARCH The project will empower the community by enhancing cultural practices and by providing for employment and/or entrepreneurial pursuits that are compatible with the lifestyle of the people and the local environment. Commercial uses of the Hawaii-Molokai produced salt are expected to range from cultural uses to cosmetics and are anticipated to have high appeal in a worldwide market that is already open to many "Hawaiian Island" creations. With the empowerment of people and the continued respect for the resources of the environment, this project will be effective in the development of rural depressed areas.

HMSSS project focuses on the production of solar sea salt-leveraging sun, seawater, and wind resources-as the basis for commercial enterprises, jobs, and entrepreneurial opportunities for Molokai, an economically depressed community. The feasibility of HMSSS processes was clearly substantiated by Phase I test results, which showed that the processed products met FDA requirements. Phase II is the critical step to commercialization. Refinement in production systems, documentation of processes for community entry, further development of direct seawater retrieval and solar power systems, and extensions of commercial plans (marketing, operations, and financing) are primary activities for this research and development. With these implementations, HMSSS can directly create full-time and part-time jobs over the next two years, significant in a community with high unemployment. The project will expand economic development by allowing interested individuals choice in their participation at the commercial level of production. Choices will include direct employment, as well as entrepreneurial engagement in varying stages of salt production: processing, wholesaling, and retailing.