Aquaponics & Commercial Aquaponics Courses

Aquaponics and introduction to commercial aquaponics science courses will begin Jan. 17, 2017, for backyard, small-scale and commercial entrepreneurs ready to enhance their understanding in the applications of business and aquaponic science side of growing food in a soilless aquatic environment with fish.

Business topics will include business planning principles and of sustainable soil-less food production.

Sustainable Science Management applied topics as they related to aquaponics include scientific method; water chemistry and water quality testing; animal and plant selection for aquaponics systems aquaponics ecology, standard operating procedures and food security methods; and design and maintenance of aquaponics systems.

Registration is open until Jan. 13 and students may audit the course or sign up to earn credit toward an aquaponics technician certification. For students with day jobs, the course is offered online and in the evenings to include both weekly lectures and lab.

Leo Kaniela Caires, a sustainable energy expert, entrepreneur and Maui High School graduate, will instruct the course. Caires holds a bachelor’s of science from the University of Wyoming College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. He holds an MBA with an emphasis in business entrepreneurship and is completing his doctorate in leadership and management.

“Entrepreneurial thinking is being able to simplify complicated concepts, and create great experiences and opportunities for customers and the marketplace,” Caires said.

“The new greenhouse controlled environment will be a creative incubator for new aquaponics food production ventures—large and backyard scale on Maui,” he said. “I’m excited to be involved in this emerging food production methodology on Maui.”

Caires added that soilless food production is emerging much like sustainable energy made its way into mainstream energy thinking. Caires added aquaponics has a place in agribusiness diversity and the state’s changing food production landscape.

The hands-on lab opportunity will be conducted in the new commercial-scale aquaponics controlled-environment greenhouse situated on UHMC Kahului campus. Classes will offer new entrepreneurs the opportunity to increase their understanding of fundamental concepts and applications in business start-ups and early-stage agribusiness to be applied in a real world environment.

Maui high school students with an aquaponics background are encourages to sign up in this “program of study” in Natural Resources Production, a Universal Design in Learning (UDL) partnership with the Hawaii Department of Education and the UH-Manoa College of Education.

Topics will include the entrepreneurship will go right into the heart of creating models to monetize and create value, which can be applied aquaponics food production. Important basic aspects of managing and marketing a business are covered, including financial planning, operations, personnel, record keeping, budgeting, problem-solving and more.

Students will work in cohorts to explore small-scale production using applied aquaponics startup systems and operation of UHMC’s commercial greenhouse systems.

The courses are being offered online for rural Maui and Neighbor Island students.

Bus 190V Aquaponics Entrepreneurship
Register online
Late Registration: Jan. 9–13, 2017
First Day of Instruction: Jan. 9, 2017
Bus 190V Aquaponics: begins Jan. 17, 2017

SSM 190V Introduction to Aquaponics Science
Register online 
Late Registration: Jan. 9–13, 2017
First Day of Instruction: Jan. 9, 2017
SSM 190V Introduction to Aquaponics Science: begins Jan. 17, 2017

UHMC aquaponics facilities. Dec. 2016. Courtesy photo.

UHMC aquaponics facilities. Dec. 2016. Courtesy photo.

UHMC aquaponics facilities. Dec. 2016. Courtesy photo.

UHMC aquaponics facilities. Dec. 2016. Courtesy photo.

UHMC aquaponics facilities. Dec. 2016. Courtesy photo.