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Celebrating National Biodiesel Day
March 18, 2026
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Aloha, kākou!
As the nation's longest-operating biodiesel producer, Pacific Biodiesel today is celebrating National Biodiesel Day. Given the volatility of global energy markets, locally produced biodiesel is now more critically important than ever before – not only for the environment, but for energy security and national security.
With petroleum prices rising sharply these past couple weeks, it is important to note that Pacific Biodiesel's fuel prices have remained unchanged for more than a year. In this issue, you can read about current legislative initiatives in our state that are critical support for local renewable fuel.
Coincidentally, today is also Global Recycling Day! Every drop of used cooking oil we divert from Hawaiʻi's landfills helps us produce biodiesel for Hawaiʻi. In 2025, our Oʻahu pre-production plant increased their grease trap processing by 30% – bringing in even more local feedstock for biodiesel production at our Hawaiʻi Island refinery.
| | Pacific Biodiesel Director of Operations Jenna Long fuels up her vehicle with 100% biodiesel. The retail price of our company's locally produced biodiesel has remain unchanged for more than a year! | | |
Today is also part of National Agriculture Week. We’re excited to be continually expanding our agriculture operations. These efforts support local food and fuel – with culinary oils produced for local restaurants, which we later recover as feedstock for our biodiesel production. Agriculture is helping us to provide more of our own inputs locally!
Last but not least, we're thrilled to report that for the 15th year in a row, Pacific Biodiesel has been named one of Hawaiʻi's "Best Places to Work" by Hawaiʻi Magazine. Mahalo to our dedicated employees who provided the input to receive this acknowledgement.
Jenna Long
Director of Operations
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Rudolf Diesel, inventor of the diesel engine. | |
What's National Biodiesel Day?
Each year, National Biodiesel Day honors the visionary inventor of the diesel engine, Rudolph Diesel, on his birthday, March 18. Invented in the 1890s and unveiled at the World’s Fair in 1900, his diesel engine was originally designed to run on peanut oil. Rudolph Diesel pioneered an innovative engine technology and the recognition of plant oils as a renewable fuel source.
| | | | Supporting B5 for Hawaiʻi Highway Fuel | | |
“Hawaiʻi’s heavy dependence on imported petroleum threatens the State’s energy security, economic stability and national security interests in the Pacific region. Locally produced biodiesel provides an immediately deployable, renewable, energy-dense fuel that reduces reliance on foreign crude oil and increases the State’s resilience against global supply disruptions, both of which have strategic local community and military importance.”
This urgent and timely summary statement above appears in Senate Bill 2255 and House Bill 2423, which were introduced in the 2026 State of Hawai’i Legislature to propose B5 – 5% biodiesel blended in the state’s diesel highway transportation fuel.
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In his March 3 testimony supporting HB2423, Pacific Biodiesel Founder and President Bob King wrote:
"With the current war and crude oil supply disruptions in the Middle East, gas and diesel prices will likely spike in the coming weeks. Pacific Biodiesel has always strived to show the economic as well as environmental benefits of locally produced clean fuel, and our biodiesel price continues to be stable and unaffected by national conflict.
Having a B5 blending requirement for all highway diesel fuel sold in Hawai`i will help to moderate unpredictable diesel prices somewhat.
| | Pacific Biodiesel Founder and President Bob King | | As we have watched petroleum costs spike and drop due to external circumstances over the past three decades we have been in business, we have focused on pricing with a fair margin based on inputs and at times have been able to provide savings to our customers. In fact, we have not raised our retail or wholesale prices in over a year, something unheard of in the petroleum industry!" | | |
On March 5, Pacific Biodiesel Vice President Kelly King echoed her support of B5 in this excerpt from her testimony letter:
"As co-founder of Pacific Biodiesel, I am proud to have survived 30 years in a difficult industry with very fickle and inconsistent support from our federal, state and county governments. It has taken much dedication, sacrifice and hard work to maintain focus on sustainability and regenerative practices, but our 100 employees are determined to show it is possible to build a renewable energy company with integrity that puts community benefit first."
| | Pacific Biodiesel Co-Founder and Vice President Kelly King | | Learn more on our website about proposed legislation for a required 5% biodiesel blend in all highway diesel fuel sold in our state. This minimal blend is a small but important step towards cleaning up our stateʻs transportation emissions and reducing imports of fossil diesel to help support energy security and national security! | | |
March 18 is both National Biodiesel Day AND Global Recycling Day.
So today we are giving a special MAHALO shoutout to Maui Brewing Company – the first food and beverage producer in Hawaiʻi to utilize our local biodiesel to help power their manufacturing operations AND recycle with us the used cooking oil from their restaurant operations statewide.
| | Maui Brewing Company CEO, Co-Founder and longtime biodiesel supporter Garrett Morrero. This year marks his company's 21st anniversary. | | |
Just how much positive environmental impact does this one customer make each year? We estimate:
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In the past 12 months alone, the total gallons of UCO we recycled from Maui Brewing restaurants allowed us to produce nearly 18,000 gallons of biodiesel.
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When these gallons of 100% renewable fuel were later used in diesel engines around the state – from electricity production to powering boats, cars and trucks – it helped prevent nearly 377,349 LBS – or 171 metric tons – of carbon dioxide (CO2) from entering the atmosphere and polluting the environment.
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Also over the past 12 months, Maui Brewing used nearly 17,000 gallons of biodiesel to power their generators.
For every one gallon of UCO recycled by Pacific Biodiesel, we are able to produce nearly one gallon of premium distilled biodiesel at our refinery on Hawai’i Island.
That means the cumulative gallons of UCO recycled from Maui Brewing Company restaurants over the past 12 months enabled us to produce nearly the same amount of biodiesel utilized in the company’s generators last year. Talk about full circle sustainability!
Read more on our website and follow us at @pacificbiodiesel on social media for our upcoming video feature on Maui Brewing Company, celebrating its 21st anniversary this year! Weʻll interview CEO and Co-Founder Garrett Morrero about his companyʻs many sustainability practices including fueling their generators with our 100% biodiesel to help power their award-winning grid-independent production facility and restaurant in Kihei since 2018.
Mahalo, Maui Brewing Company! We are grateful to you and all our customers who help contribute to a cleaner, greener, healthier Hawaiʻi.
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Pacific Biodiesel's partnership with Kōkua Hawaii Foundation goes back a long way, with Kim and Jack Johnson among the earliest supporters of our renewable fuel.
Farm to Table Event - March 6
This quarter's Farm to Table Dinner at the Foundation's Kōkua Learning Farm in Haleʻiwa, hosted by Jack and Kim Johnson, featured renowned waterwoman, chef and cookbook author, Kimi Werner.
Chef Kimi's menu featured Kuleana Hawai'i Grown Sunflower Oil, donated by Pacific Biodiesel's sister company, Maiden Hawaiʻi Naturals, in several of her creations, including Waialua 'Ulu Tots.
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3Rs School Recycling Drives
This year marks 10 years that Kōkua Hawaiʻi Foundation has been helping our company recycle household used cooking oil on Oʻahu!
The Foundationʻs school recycling program helps collect household used cooking oil while educating students and families on the benefits of recycling this waste material into biodiesel. Read more about this in our Global Recycling Day article below.
| | Chef Mark "Gooch" Noguchi, cofounder of Pili Group and Chef Hui, helps to fry ulu tots in Kuleana Hawaiʻi Grown Sunflower Oil donated by our company for the Kōkua Hawaiʻi Foundation event featuring Chef Kimi Werner on March 6. | | Today Is Global Recycling Day | | |
On this Global Recycling Day, Pacific Biodiesel is giving a Mahalo shoutout to our restaurant and foodservice customers around the state who recycle their used cooking oil (UCO) with our company, helping to keep this waste out of local landfills. We utilize Hawaiʻi's UCO for the production of biodiesel at our refinery on Hawaiʻi Island.
We also send a big Mahalo to our partners in household used cooking oil (UCO) collection:
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On the Valley Isle, Mālama Maui Nui collects household UCO at their Puʻunēnē location Tuesdays through Saturdays.
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Kōkua Hawaiʻi Foundation sponsors 3Rs School Recycling Drives on Oʻahu where they collect household UCO among other items to be recycled.
For each gallon of household UCO collected, Pacific Biodiesel donates $1 to Mālama Maui Nui and to the participating schools on O'ahu.
Every drop matters! For each gallon of UCO recycled, nearly one gallon of biodiesel is produced at our refinery on Hawaiʻi Island.
Click the link below for tips and locations for recycling your used cooking oil with us!
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Agriculture Update
by Director of Agriculture Operations Jamie Twigg-Smith
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It's National Agriculture Week (March 15-21). March 24 is National Ag Day with the theme "Together We Grow: Celebrating 250 Years of Progress in Agriculture." And growing, we are!
“Another crop is emerging in our regenerative farming operations for 2026…canola! Following our successful harvests of more than 500 acres of sunflower and feed corn in Kaumakani last year, we’ve now added an 85-acre rotation of non-GMO canola to our crop line-up," reported Director of Agriculture Operations James Twigg-Smith. This first field is pictured below.
| | "Canola, an 80-day oilseed crop, has potential for culinary products, high-protein livestock feed and biofuel," he noted. "Though typically a temperate-climate crop, canola has performed well on Kauaʻi during our winter season and seemingly bodes well for future crops moving forward." | | |
Pacific Biodiesel recently planted its first sunflower fields of the 2026 season on Maui and, pictured above, this 100-acre field in Kaumakani, Kauaʻi. That means coming soon will be more fresh Kuleana Hawaiʻi Grown Sunflower Oil produced by our sister company, Maiden Hawaiʻi Naturals, LLC.
We'll share more updates as these fields – and our production – continues to grow. Follow @pacificbiodiesel on social media to stay in the know!
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#AGDAY26 – According to nonprofit The Agriculture Council of America (ACA), National Ag Day encourages every American to:
- Understand how food, fiber, and fuel products are produced.
- Appreciate the role agriculture plays in providing safe, abundant, and affordable products.
- Value the essential role of agriculture in maintaining a strong economy.
- Acknowledge and consider career opportunities in the agriculture, food and fiber industry.
| | | | Around Town and Around the World | |
Hawaiʻi Restaurant Association Food Service Expo - February 25-26
Pacific Biodiesel teamed up with its sister company, Maiden Hawaiʻi Naturals, to connect with restaurant customers and contacts at the 2026 Hawai'i Restaurant Association Food Service Expo held last month at the Blaisdell Center on Oʻahu. Pacific Biodiesel services for restaurants were featured alongside the newly launched brand of premium culinary oils, Kuleana Hawai’i Grown Oils, now available for restaurants and other food service facilities throughout the state.
Hosted by the Hawaii Restaurant Association (HRA), the expo is dedicated to supporting and celebrating Hawaiʻi’s dynamic restaurant and food service community. The exclusive event brings together local restaurant owners, chefs, and food industry professionals to discover and showcase the latest culinary innovations and business solutions.
| | Pacific Biodiesel and Maiden Hawaiʻi Naturals Sales Manager Chris Long was interviewed during the expo by Casey Lund for Hawaii News Now. | |
Ag Day at the Capitol - February 26
Director of Agriculture Operations Jamie Twigg-Smith represented Pacific Biodiesel at the 2026 Ag Day at the Capitol. The annual event presented by the Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau celebrates Hawaiʻi’s farmers, ranchers, food producers, and agricultural leaders who work tirelessly to keep our islands fed and thriving. This event brings together the ag community, legislators, and the public to showcase locally grown products, share innovative ideas, and highlight the importance of local agriculture, food security, and sustainability across Hawaiʻi.
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Hawaiʻi Buildings, Facilities and Property Management Expo - March 4-5
Pacific Biodiesel attended the 18th Annual Hawaiʻi Buildings, Facilities and Property Management expo at the Blaisdell Center on Oʻahu earlier this month. The expo is a showcase for the products, services and equipment utilized by owners, managers and operations personnel from Hawaiʻi’s buildings, facilities and property management firms.
This year we were located next to Honolulu Disposal and EcoFeed, both partners in waste disposal.
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Joining our team at this year's expo were Oʻahu Fleet Manager Dana Shinsato and Neighbor Island Operations Manager Jason Imamura.
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Gutsy Women Speak out - March 8
Pictured at right, Pacific Biodiesel Co-Founder Kelly King was one of the featured speakers March 8 at "Gutsy Women: Speak Out", an event celebrating Women's History Month hosted by Pro Arts Maui in Kihei. March 8 was also International Womenʻs Day.
In addition to several inspirational speeches, the event included musical performances and poetry.
"It was amazing to see a sold-out crowd that included so many men showing their respect for the women of Maui County," King said.
"The event was extremely well organized with a variety of talented women. I was honored to share the stage with them," she added.
During her gutsy speech that evening, Kelly said, "I donʻt think there are extraordinary people; there are people who do extraordinary things! You just need to take that first step."
Mahalo for the inspiration, Kelly!
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FOODEX Japan - March 10-13
Bob and Kelly King earlier this month attended the 51st International Food and Beverage Exhibition, FOODEX Japan 2026 at Tokyo Big Sight.
The Kings featured Kuleana Hawaiʻi Grown Oils, produced by their company, Maiden Hawaiʻi Naturals, as part of the Hawaiʻi Pavillion.
As Asia's largest food trade show, the event brought together roughly 3,000 exhibitors from over 70 countries, highlighting trends in sustainability and innovative food technology.
| | Bob and Kelly King at FOODEX JAPAN 2026. | | Expo attendees learned about Kuleana Hawaiʻi Grown Oils from Pacific Biodiesel's Bob King, seen here at the companyʻs booth in the Hawaiʻi Pavillion. | | Best Places to Work in Hawaiʻi | |
For the 15th consecutive year, Pacific Biodiesel has been named one of the "Best Places to Work in Hawai'i" by Hawaiʻi Business magazine.
The Best Places to Work in Hawaiʻi is a survey and awards program that honors
employers in Hawaiʻi that are making their workplaces great, from input with rankings determined by employee feedback and workplace surveys.
"We are grateful to our employees who provided the input. We value each and every member of our team and appreciate their commitment to our mission and high standards," said Operations Director Jenna Long.
| Members of the company's Hawaiʻi Island team, just some of the nearly 100 employees in Pacific Biodiesel's operations across four islands. | | |
New Mexico Board Approves Clean Fuel Rules
The New Mexico Environmental Improvement Board on Jan. 22 unanimously adopted regulations implementing a Clean Transportation Fuel Program, making New Mexico the fourth U.S. state to adopt a clean fuel standard. Similar programs are already in place in California, Oregon and Washington. Read the article here..
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Biodiesel Reduces Ships' Soot Emissions up 80%
Experts from the Cleanship project document that the use of 100 percent biodiesel (B100) in real sailing can reduce black-carbon emissions by up to 81 percent at low engine load and up to 61 percent at high engine load compared to traditional marine gasoil (MGO). Find more in the article here.
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Pinnacle Marine's B100 Trial A Success
In Singapore, Pinnacle Marine celebrated the successful completion of a 1,000-hour sea trial of a first of its kind vessel powered entirely by 100% biodiesel made from renewable feedstock. The trial demonstrated that carbon neutral biofuels are a viable and immediate solution for the maritime energy transition. Read the article here.
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| | Founded in 1995, Pacific Biodiesel is the nation's longest operating and most experienced biodiesel producer, and the only commercial producer of liquid biofuels in the state. A Maui-based company with nearly 100 employees statewide, we established the first retail biodiesel pump in America and for three decades we've been an innovative leader in the renewable energy industry. With a nameplate production capacity of 5.5 million gallons annually, our refinery on Hawaiʻi Island utilizes advanced technology to produce premium distilled biodiesel. Our company has always focused on recycling with a zero waste philosophy that incorporates development of value-added co-products. Today, our collaborative, community-based "regenerative agriculture and renewable energy" production model demonstrates a circular economy approach to fighting climate change and helps Hawaiʻi achieve a clean, sustainable energy future. | | |
Founded on Maui in 1995, Pacific Biodiesel is Hawaiʻi's only commercial producer of liquid biofuels.
Our Mission: To promote a clean, sustainable energy future through the community-based production of renewable fuels
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Pacific Biodiesel
2050 Main Street, Suite 3B
Wailuku, HI 96793
Editor: Joy Galatro, Marketing Director
Staff Writer & Layout: Beth Mathias, Marketing Associate
For more information visit our website
biodiesel.com
or contact Beth Mathias at
bmathias@biodiesel.com
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