Hawai`i Pure Plant Oil, LLC. (HIPPO) was formed in 2008 by father and son 
partners, Christian and James Twigg-Smith,
sixth and seventh generation kama`aina (Hawaiian-born). Christian runs a successful 100-acre coffee farm, Kona Blue Sky Coffee; and a civil construction company, CTS Earthmoving.
After earning a BA in Accounting from University of Colorado, Boulder, James (pictured at right) returned home with an agricultural background, business
acumen, and a vision for a sustainable plant-based biodiesel industry. They created a limited liability company to pursue this dream.
After experiments at several elevations, they found the perfect growing conditions for Jatropha on former sugar
and papaya land in
Kea`au, on the east-side of Hawai`i Island. They leased 1,000 acres and have planted 250-acres beginning in May, 2008 (pictured at left).
Under their stewardship, these trees are already being harvested and the seeds replanted.
Jatropha Background
Jatropha Curcas is a small tree indigenous to Latin and South America. It was conventionally used around the world as a natural hedge or fence-row to protect crops and water sources from animals repelled by its poisonous seeds. The trees grow quickly from seed or cuttings and produce harvestable seed in the first year of growth, with up to three fruiting 
cycles occurring within a year. While poisonous, the seeds contain from 43 to 59 percent oil.
Jatropha is touted as one of the most promising feedstocks in the production of biodiesel as a substitute for diesel fuel. It is from 10 to 50 times more productive than corn per acre, and unlike corn does not compete with food or feed production. With its cost structure lower than mineral petroleum, the biodiesel market is only limited by how many acres can be devoted to its cultivation.
Christian Twigg-Smith |
James Twigg-Smith |
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