Hawai‘i Hemp Conference to be Held in Hilo, June 10

The 2017 Hawai‘i Hemp Conference will be held at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel on June 10, 2017.

A field of hemp in France. Wikimedia image.

“The time is now to get into hemp,” said the event producer Morris Beegle. “Sales continue to grow by 25-30% annually on the mainland, over 30 states have passed pro-hemp legislation, and Hawai‘i is about to come online in a big way.”

The educational conference will feature a “Lets Talk Hemp” Speaker Series produced by a Colorado Hemp Company and presented by Functional Remedies.

Doug Fine, a hemp farmer, investigative journalist, TV producer, and author of “Hemp Bound, First Legal Harvest,” and “Too High to Fail,” will be the events keynote speaker. Fine said, “Hawai‘i’s Governor has set an expressed goal of food independence for the Aloha State, and hemp can, should and hopefully will be a cornerstone of that effort.”

Fine will host “Let’s Talk Hemp Hawai‘i” with multiple keynote presentations, including panels that will cover a broad range of topics important to farmers, processors, manufacturers, legislators, entrepreneurs, and investors that are interested in participating in the emerging Hawai‘i Hemp industry.

Weekend activities will also include farm field visits on Sunday, June 11, where common to complicated questions will be answered by expert local farmers.

Hawai‘i Farmers Union president Vincent Mina will host a panel discussion, “After Sugar: Making a Living from the Soil.” Participants that are interested in farming in Hawai‘i will learn more about hemp, microgreens, sugar cane, canoe plants and regenerative farming in the panel.

The Future of Hemp Legislation in Hawai‘i panel will include State Representatives who have supported hemp cultivation and production in Hawai‘i. Senator Mike Gabbard, Representative Richard Creagan, and Senator Russell Ruderman will discuss the current hemp legislation and what’s to come through the HDOA Pilot Program. Participants will hear from Representative Cynthia Thielen who has advocated a local hemp program since the 1990’s, and U.S. Congressional Representative Tulsi Gabbard, co-sponsor of HB525 – The Industrial Hemp Farming Act at the federal level. Both women will make an appearance via recorded video.

Also on June 10, there will be a mini-expo and marketplace that will be free and open to the public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be organic, sustainable hemp products and services. Attendees will be able to see what is made from hemp including body care products, clothing, food and supplements, animal treats, nutraceuticals, paper, building materials, bioplastics, chemical replacement ingredients, nano-fiber technologies, and more.

The Hawai‘i Hemp Conference will have additional networking and entertainment activities including a welcoming E Komo Mai Happy Hour, Dinner and Concert on Friday, June 9 with live music from “Off the Grid”, “Lava” and “Green Flash.’

Another networking dinner and after conference party will be held on Saturday, June 10, with musical artist Damon Williams.

On Sunday, June 11, there will be A Hui Hou Brunch with live jazz music followed by a Hawai‘i Farm Tour to conclude the inaugural Hawai‘i Hemp Conference.

For complete details, ticket information and registration, visit here.