DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM Kona Bay Marine Resources Inc. was recognized as Hawaii's exporter of the year yesterday at Washington Place. Brian Goldstein, left, president, received the award from Rep. Michael Magaoay, left, Gov. Linda Lingle and Rep. Willie Espero.

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Kona Bay Marine Resources
Inc. is no shrimp when
it comes to exporting

CORRECTION Tuesday, December 21, 2004 » A caption on Page C1 Friday incorrectly listed the elective office of Willie Espero. He is a state senator, not a representative. The Honolulu Star-Bulletin strives to make its news report fair and accurate. If you have a question or comment about news coverage, call Editor Frank Bridgewater at 529-4791 or email him at corrections@starbulletin.com.

Gov. Linda Lingle yesterday recognized Kona Bay Marine Resources Inc., an aquaculture firm that uses biotechnology to grow disease-resistant shrimp broodstock and bivalve seed, as Hawaii's exporter of the year.

THE WINNER Name: Kona Bay Marine Resources Inc. Mission: Uses advanced technology to produce high quality disease-free shrimp broodstock and bivalves. Location: Keahole Point on the Big Island. Year founded: 1996 Other winning Hawaii exporters Plum Hall Inc.: Software development company, recognized as the Exporter of High Technology. Koyo USA Corp.: Exporter of desalinated Hawaii deep-sea water to the Japanese market was awarded Exporter of Manufactured Products. Pacific Floral Exchange Inc.: Tropical flower exporter was awarded Exporter of Fresh Commodities.

Kona Bay, which was among seven companies and individuals honored at Washington Place for achievements in exporting products and services, was recognized for its resourceful and innovative products and marketing strategies. Businesses and governments around the world seek the company's products and expertise to strengthen and develop their own shrimp industry.

"Through the export of Hawaii-grown and Hawaii-made products, these businesses are helping expand and diversify our economy, as well as promote Hawaii around the world," Lingle said. "We want to recognize these top exporting firms for their business achievements and thank them for what they do to support our economy and improve the lives of many here in Hawaii."

The global economy presents many opportunities for exporting, said Ted Liu, director of the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. Liu, who has led Hawaii businesses on trade missions to Asia-Pacific countries, said the objective of Hawaii's efforts is economic development, diversity and success in global markets.

"Export businesses will lay the basis for sustainable economic growth," Liu said. This is the seventh year that the state has recognized its top exporters to promote economic diversity.

Kona Bay Marine Resources was founded to commercialize biotechnology developed at the University of Hawaii and has since developed a proprietary technology that produces pathogen-free and -resistant shrimp. For example, Kona Bay can help shrimp stricken by an epidemic to become strong and resistant to the disease, or provide a healthy new variety to replace a vulnerable one.

Kona Bay, funded by venture capital, exemplifies the state's efforts to increase available capital by breaking into the Asia-Pacific region, which has been touted as having the strongest emerging markets, said Sandra Lee Kunimoto, chairwoman of the state Board of Agriculture.

"They will serve as a role model for other agricultural-based businesses," Kunimoto said. "While we do have challenges, we also have some wonderful advantages."

Kona Bay is a major producer of shrimp broodstock in Hawaii and exports to Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, China, Taiwan and the mainland. The company is also the largest shipper of broodstock shrimp to Thailand, which is the largest exporter of food shrimp in the world.

In July, Kona Bay received a license to export shrimp broodstock to Thailand -- one of only three licenses in the world that Thailand has granted. To meet increased demand, the company upped its capacity by 50 percent.

Kona Bay also exports baby clams to clam farmers in Europe, Mexico and the mainland.

"Our goal is to be the leading shrimp broodstock exporter in the world, and we're getting closer every day," said Kona Bay Chief Executive Brian Goldstein. "We have doubled our sales each year for the last two years, and more than 90 percent of our product sales are exported."

The private company declined to provide sales figures or other financial information.

"There's a very small market for our shrimp in Hawaii," Goldstein said. "Exporting has been very important to growing our business."

Goldstein's multi-pronged approach includes hosting international visitors at the company's site at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority at Keahole Point on the Big Island, as well as advertising.