Courtesy of KHON TV (http://khon.com) Posted: April 18, 2005 5:00 PM

Noni Plant Bears Fruit-Tina Shelton

You may have seen noni juice on the store shelves or heard a relative or co-worker swear that it can cure a host of ills. While the purported health benefits are being studied, there's no argument that the market for noni is growing.

Noni is the Hawaiian name for a fruit that originated in Indonesia and Australia. Native Hawaiians used it in traditional medicine. Neighbor island farms are producing it and now, so are growers on O'ahu.

At a processing plant in Wahiawa, Kamauoha Farms celebrated its first shipment Monday of "North Shore Noni."

The bottles bearing that name arrived from the Innomark Company in Utah. But the product inside is what it says on the label. The fruit is all Hawaiian. Kamauoha Farms buys noni from farms and small producers on the Big Island, and Oahu.

"Oh, man it's the best. it it looks better, smells better, and it's better for you," said La'akea Kamauoha, marketing director.

The Kamauoha Foundation, a nonprofit corporation, got a million dollar federal grant to promote cultivation and processing of Hawaii-grown noni. They're still hooking up "state of the art" juicing equipment imported from New Zealand.

Noni is about the size and weight of a small potato. But economically, it's anything but small potatoes. University of Hawaii-Hilo professor Scott Nelson estimates noni is a $15 to $20 million dollar industry in Hawaii. Other countries, including Tahiti, have a marketing head start in the product, which is called "nono" in that part of the world.

But the foundation, along with existing producers/processors on the Big Island and Maui, hope to convince the millions of people who already use noni that Hawaii's fruit is superior.

"Bottoms up!" said Don Saaga, leading a toast poured from the shipment that arrived at Kamauoha farms.

"This is our entire noni crew," he said, "the Kamauoha Foundation and our workers from here and our consultants from the mainland and from New Zealand." He's pointing to a group of about a half-dozen people. But the nonprofit company hopes to employ at least 35 people by the end of its first year in business.

Noni's medicinal value, if any, is still the subject of scientific study and debate. The product isn't regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Hawaii's Cancer Research Center is doing a preliminary clinical trial involving noni capsules produced on Maui and breast cancer patients. Some users claim relief from ailments including arthritis. But the science isn't considered conclusive.

Laie man nominated for national contest

By Kirk Matthews

Click here to see the News Clip

Energizer Battery Company is sponsoring a web contest to find Americans who "keep going." a father in Laie has been nominated and is in the running for the finals.

Spencer Kamauoha didn't know his name was even being considered.

"I said what's this energizer bunny about? I didn't know if I had to wear a bunny costume."

It was actually his daughter [Korrie], one of 7 daughters, who nominated Spencer.

"I think that's probably the greatest compliment to have you daughter hold you in high esteem and have respect for what you do. I think that's the greatest reward out of the whole thing."

We visited with Spencer on his noni farm in Waialua.

"This farm started with a grant from the administration for Native Americans. It's a native Hawaiian project. So we started growing noni about two years ago and it employs now about eleven people, mostly native Hawaiians and we're pretty proud of that."

But this is just his latest venture. He runs a photography operation at the Polynesian Cultural Center employing 70 college students. He's a scout leader, a church official, and teaches free classes on the growing and use of noni. He also sings with the Hawaiian Choir in his spare time. He says he's just like the rest of the Kahuku community.

"So I feel like I'm just part of that, trying to do my share and helping out with the community and especially our youth."

Spencer was attracted to the noni project because of its place in Polynesian lore.

"It seems to have some antibiotic effect and it's being studied at the University of Hawaii right now for it's anti-cancer properties."

There are 100 people listed at the energizer web site where you can vote for Spencer on line. The Keep Going Hall of Fame winner gets a prize of ten thousand dollars and a five thousand dollar donation to his favorite charity. I said this seems to fit since the noni is said to give people energy.

"Yeah, I think so. The noni is known for that, to give you energy and it's kind of an energizer itself."

Click here for more information on how to vote for The Energizer "Keep Going" Hall of Fame.

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