Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, 1 January 1984 — ISLAND NOTES [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ISLAND NOTES

HAWAII Windmills lnstalled at South Point, Ka'u Two windmills have been installed by Hawaii Energy Developers IV approximately five miles from the Mamalahoa Highway, down South Point Road. Eaeh generator is capable of supplying 108 homes with electricity. The electricity will be sold to Hawaii Electric Light Company. The generators, built in Belgium, are 200-kilowatt producing generators. An additional 25 windmills are projected in 1984. An iee plant for South Point fishermen and a nitrogen installation to

manufacture fertilizer are two specific uses being considered for the electricity. A third use might be the pumping of water for agricultural uses. The design of these windmills is based on the Dutch windmills and the prairie water pumpers, then altered by applying modern aerodynamic and electrical theory plus the most durable materials. Control functions are handled by a specially designed and programmed industrial computer built into eaeh maehine.

Ruby MacDonald

Community Resource Specialist West Hawaii

Kamaoa Windfarm, Kamaoa, Ka'u