Unique Experiences

Item Description

Keāhole Center (Formerly Friends of NELHA), a nonprofit, conservation education organization, offers public tours with a focus on renewable energy, sustainability, sustainable aquaculture and the uniqueness of the Hawaii Ocean Science and Technology (HOST) Park here at Keahole Point . Tours begin everyday at 10 am at the Gateway Visitor Center, a mesmerizing location where visitors are inspired by the technologies being developed on the Big Island. Tours are offered Monday through Friday (excluding holidays).

We offer daily tours (Monday-Friday at 10 am). Inspiring Innovation tours on Mondays, Ocean Conservation tours on Tuesdays & Thursdays, and Sustainable Aquaculture tours on Wednesdays and Fridays.

See the future now with Keāhole Center, and experience a fascinating visit to the Hawaii Ocean Science Technology Park on the Big Island near Kailua-Kona. Learn about how Hawaii is leading efforts to develop technology that can help preserve food security, and to preserve our natural resources. Friends of NELHA offers tours showcasing the creation of clean, renewable energy using seawater, in addition to the many other uses of this valuable resource.

http://friendsofnelha.org/

Inspiring Innovation (Mondays, 10 AM, Excluding Holidays)
Keāhole Center offers the Inspiring Innovation tour on Mondays.Come see, experience and learn about the Hawaii Ocean Science and Technology (HOST) Park administered by the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority (NELHA), up-close. Includes an engaging tour of West Hawaii Explorations Academy, a charter school at NELHA that is inspiring innovation through science inquiry and project-based education. The students will lead you throughout their campus, and share with you all of the great, research projects currently underway. Followed up with a visit to the Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Tower (OTEC), ending with a tour of ESPEC, where they are integrating deep seawater into a new, innovative way of growing fresh, organic greens!

Ocean Conservation Tour  (Tuesdays  & Thursdays, 10 AM, Excluding Holidays)
Come see, experience and learn about the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority (NELHA), up-close. Includes an engaging presentation on what is going on currently at the 900 acre Hawaii Ocean Science & Technology (HOST) park campus. A tour of West Hawaii Explorations Academy, a charter school at NELHA that is inspiring innovation through science inquiry and project-based education. The students will lead you throughout their campus, and share with you all of the great projects currently underway —some directly related to monitoring and conserving our natural resources.
We will then visit the Hawaiian Monk seal rehabilitation center, Ke Kai Ola, where you will learn about these critically endangered animals and efforts in place to rehabilitate, protect and restore them. Followed up with a visit to the Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion facility (OTEC) and new business incubator, hosting a variety of green businesses and blue technologies.

Sustainable Aquaculture Tour  (Wednesdays & Fridays, 10 AM, Excluding Holidays)
Learn about the Natural Energy Lab–the history of, the purpose, the various tenants and the uniqueness of its entirety.  Learn more about green businesses, blue technology and advances in renewable energy here in the Hawaiian Islands.  Tour includes a short presentation at the gateway Visitor Center, investigating projects on-site, a visit to Keahole Point to see the Ocean Thermal Energy facility (OTEC), the NELHA Water Quality Laboratory and a visit to two different NEHA aquaculture research facilities/businesses; Kamapchi Farms and Big Island Abalone.

Item Special Note

Must call to reserve tour date. Expires December 1, 2020.