Now & Again

With 50 years behind it, Hawaii Business looks back and looks ahead

1981 State officials projected that Hawaii’s aquaculture industry would generate more than $300 million by 2000. Let’s just say the industry fell short of those projections—very short. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, aquaculture in Hawaii was a $22.1 million industry by 2000.

FRESH CATCH: Photo taken from a 1981 Hawaii Business story on the promise of aquaculture in Hawaii.

Not meeting projections doesn’t mean aquaculture isn’t a money-making industry, or that its future looks bleak. Instead, it appears that the industry is on its way up. Since 2000, aquaculture sales have steadily increased, according to a 2005 report released by National Agriculture Statistics Services (NASS). In 2004, aquaculture raked in $28.1 million. As sales continue to rise, so does the number of commercial aquaculture farms in the state. In 1981, there were 40 aquaculture farms according to Hawaii Business. Since then, 60 more farms have opened, bringing the total to 100 farms in Hawaii.

Aquaculture encompasses 30 different species of locally raised plants and animals and is broken into four categories—shellfish; finfish; algae, spirulina and other microalgae; and other (which include aquarium animals and plants, pearl oysters, etc.). Of those categories, algae was ranked No. 1 in Hawaii in 2004, raking in $12.6 million, according to NASS. Trailing behind, shellfish accounted for $8.3 million of total sales (Hawaii produced an estimated 956,000 pounds of shellfish).

If aquaculture keeps up, one day, it may reach the initially projected hundreds of millions in sales.

1971 This ad may take a second to read. After all, when you read “temporarily... SHE’S YOURS!!!!!!” in bold, you can’t help but raise your eyebrows. Founded in 1958, Western Girl Inc. aimed to provide temporary workers, such as secretaries or product demonstrators, to help businesses. Almost 50 years later, the company’s name has changed to Westaff, but it continues to provide employment for those in need and also concentrates on matching the best candidate for each job. According to its Web site, its ultimate goal is “to provide the highest quality employees and service in the staffing and employment industry,” and these days, the temps are not only ladies, but men as well.

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