Aquaponic Association

[Raychel A Watkins]

Aloha everyone on Maui

Are you getting that rain we just had.  I didn't fair to bad as I have flat land.  The fish did real well as well as the plants.  Plants on land get beaten up by the rain.

Have any of you given any thought to joining the Aquqponic Association.I am interested in what you think about the idea.  Right now I am the Regional Director for Hawaii and we need a branch on Maui.  I am interested in candid answers so if you want to send me a personal note feel free to do so.  I am very interested in Aquapons from Hawaii feeling about an Association.  Hope to hear from you good or bad.

Mahalo Raychel

[Jennifer]

Raychel,

I had sent you an email asking if there were any positions open for the Hawaii branch.  I am a member of the aquaponics association and am located on Maui.  I would like to be part of a branch on Maui if one is established.  Mahalo,

Jennifer

[Jim Hall]

I thought I was signed up already. Can you check?

[Jim Hall]

Hi Larry, I was hoping to connect the not so secretive ones together too. We're only blocks away from each other as it is. Like most Maui Farmers the farm takes up most of the time. We have been able to get 100+ people out each month for the Maui Farmers Union. Lot's of interested people there too.

Larry Yonashiro said:

Oh, I guess.  Us folks on Maui move a little slow at times, and need to be pushed.  I've been having a hard time trying to get Maui aquapons to talk to each other.  Everything seems so secretive, or we're just lazy.  I was born and raised on Maui, but left for 34 years.  When I came back, I was so frustrated at how slow things get done here.  But, that's OK.  Now I'm starting to lay back myself.  So whatever.  I think it's a good idea to get together to show some solidarity in regards to moving aquaponics forward as a "real" industry in things like food safety and organic certifications.  Would be nice to form some coops to be able to provide consistency of our high quality products to the markets.  So I'm willing to help you, but it's not going to be easy.  It's like pulling teeth.  In hot, dry Kahului, we welcome all the rain, the more the better.

[Larry Yonashiro]

Hi Jim.  I guess you do exist.  I've been avoiding the farmers union because for some reason I had the impression that they were all a bunch of crazies there that will take up all your time.  Or maybe I'm the crazy one.  Got to get over this cynical attitude...

Jim Hall said:

Hi Larry, I was hoping to connect the not so secretive ones together too. We're only blocks away from each other as it is. Like most Maui Farmers the farm takes up most of the time. We have been able to get 100+ people out each month for the Maui Farmers Union. Lot's of interested people there too.

Larry Yonashiro said:

Oh, I guess.  Us folks on Maui move a little slow at times, and need to be pushed.  I've been having a hard time trying to get Maui aquapons to talk to each other.  Everything seems so secretive, or we're just lazy.  I was born and raised on Maui, but left for 34 years.  When I came back, I was so frustrated at how slow things get done here.  But, that's OK.  Now I'm starting to lay back myself.  So whatever.  I think it's a good idea to get together to show some solidarity in regards to moving aquaponics forward as a "real" industry in things like food safety and organic certifications.  Would be nice to form some coops to be able to provide consistency of our high quality products to the markets.  So I'm willing to help you, but it's not going to be easy.  It's like pulling teeth.  In hot, dry Kahului, we welcome all the rain, the more the better.

[Raychel A Watkins]

Wow  This is wonderful.  I expected to get blasted.  I have been hesitant to write anything because the people on Oahu are the same We can't seem to pull together.  There should be nothing competitive about us.  The pie is big enough for all of us.  We need to be a strong group or one day we could loose it all to the big guys and I don't mean commercial aquaponics. We also need to bring healthy local food back to Hawaii. 

Ok 3 of you answered.  We only need three to be branch.  Right now I forget the 3 offices but I think one is chair, one is secretary and maybe one is treasurer.  I  have to talk to the powers that be today at 2pm but I will get back to you. 

Larry you sound like you are the pushing force over there do you want to be the chair.  Work it out among yourselves and let me know.  So far we only have one other person in our branch over here but we are going ahead.  Chris got the Board of Water Supply to give us a space on their class roster.  We are giving a class on how to build an economical small aquaponic system this Saturday.  They had an overwhelming response and we will have full house.  They usually teach 20  we will teach 40.  I hope for good things.  I will keep you informed as of what to do. 

Mahalo for responding I am excited Raychel

[Raychel A Watkins]

Hey Larry I am a member of the Farmers Union.  Glen Martinez is the president.  I don't think they will take up all our time but with Glen there they will go forward.  The Farmers union is for safe local foods not GMO types.  They are trying to get the GMO types labelled. I was skeptical but have changed my mind

[Larry Yonashiro]

Sorry, I do tend to judge too quickly.  My apologies to the Farmers Union folks for my flippant remark.

[Larry Yonashiro]

Best of luck at the Board of Water Supply.  I have a niece working there as a professional engineer.  In case she takes the class, her name is Lyann.

I think the chair should go to Jim Hall.  Looks like he joined the association a while back.  In typical Maui fashion, I never joined.  (stop it already....)  I will gladly server in any of the other positions.

Raychel A Watkins said:

Wow  This is wonderful.  I expected to get blasted.  I have been hesitant to write anything because the people on Oahu are the same We can't seem to pull together.  There should be nothing competitive about us.  The pie is big enough for all of us.  We need to be a strong group or one day we could loose it all to the big guys and I don't mean commercial aquaponics. We also need to bring healthy local food back to Hawaii. 

Ok 3 of you answered.  We only need three to be branch.  Right now I forget the 3 offices but I think one is chair, one is secretary and maybe one is treasurer.  I  have to talk to the powers that be today at 2pm but I will get back to you. 

Larry you sound like you are the pushing force over there do you want to be the chair.  Work it out among yourselves and let me know.  So far we only have one other person in our branch over here but we are going ahead.  Chris got the Board of Water Supply to give us a space on their class roster.  We are giving a class on how to build an economical small aquaponic system this Saturday.  They had an overwhelming response and we will have full house.  They usually teach 20  we will teach 40.  I hope for good things.  I will keep you informed as of what to do. 

Mahalo for responding I am excited Raychel

[Aquachronic@ogg]

Aloha, aquapons! Would like more info on AAOM. Mahalo!

[Jennifer]

I support the decision for chair to go to Jim Hall as well if Larry feels like he does not want the position.  I will fill in wherever I am needed.  I should probably be the lowest person on the totem pole for now because I am most new to the island.  Mahalos,

Jennifer

Larry Yonashiro said:

Best of luck at the Board of Water Supply.  I have a niece working there as a professional engineer.  In case she takes the class, her name is Lyann.

I think the chair should go to Jim Hall.  Looks like he joined the association a while back.  In typical Maui fashion, I never joined.  (stop it already....)  I will gladly server in any of the other positions.

Raychel A Watkins said:

Wow  This is wonderful.  I expected to get blasted.  I have been hesitant to write anything because the people on Oahu are the same We can't seem to pull together.  There should be nothing competitive about us.  The pie is big enough for all of us.  We need to be a strong group or one day we could loose it all to the big guys and I don't mean commercial aquaponics. We also need to bring healthy local food back to Hawaii. 

Ok 3 of you answered.  We only need three to be branch.  Right now I forget the 3 offices but I think one is chair, one is secretary and maybe one is treasurer.  I  have to talk to the powers that be today at 2pm but I will get back to you. 

Larry you sound like you are the pushing force over there do you want to be the chair.  Work it out among yourselves and let me know.  So far we only have one other person in our branch over here but we are going ahead.  Chris got the Board of Water Supply to give us a space on their class roster.  We are giving a class on how to build an economical small aquaponic system this Saturday.  They had an overwhelming response and we will have full house.  They usually teach 20  we will teach 40.  I hope for good things.  I will keep you informed as of what to do. 

Mahalo for responding I am excited Raychel

[Jim Hall]

Yes!

Aquachronic@ogg said:

Aloha, aquapons! Would like more info on AAOM. Mahalo!

[Jim Hall]

I know of at least a half dozen that might join if they knew more. Some with systems & some wanting ones.


Larry Yonashiro said:

Best of luck at the Board of Water Supply.  I have a niece working there as a professional engineer.  In case she takes the class, her name is Lyann.

I think the chair should go to Jim Hall.  Looks like he joined the association a while back.  In typical Maui fashion, I never joined.  (stop it already....)  I will gladly server in any of the other positions.

Raychel A Watkins said:

Wow  This is wonderful.  I expected to get blasted.  I have been hesitant to write anything because the people on Oahu are the same We can't seem to pull together.  There should be nothing competitive about us.  The pie is big enough for all of us.  We need to be a strong group or one day we could loose it all to the big guys and I don't mean commercial aquaponics. We also need to bring healthy local food back to Hawaii. 

Ok 3 of you answered.  We only need three to be branch.  Right now I forget the 3 offices but I think one is chair, one is secretary and maybe one is treasurer.  I  have to talk to the powers that be today at 2pm but I will get back to you. 

Larry you sound like you are the pushing force over there do you want to be the chair.  Work it out among yourselves and let me know.  So far we only have one other person in our branch over here but we are going ahead.  Chris got the Board of Water Supply to give us a space on their class roster.  We are giving a class on how to build an economical small aquaponic system this Saturday.  They had an overwhelming response and we will have full house.  They usually teach 20  we will teach 40.  I hope for good things.  I will keep you informed as of what to do. 

Mahalo for responding I am excited Raychel