Pacific Biodiesel Technologies held a Hawaiian blessing Friday on Maui as it prepared to begin farming sunflowers as a biofuel crop on 115 acres in the island’s central valley.

Biofuel is renewable fuel made using natural vegetable oils and fats. It can replace petroleum diesel fuel or can be mixed with diesel. The company, which was founded on Maui in 1995, produces 5.5 million gallons of biofuel annually.

The new project will expand diversified agriculture by growing combine-harvested oil crops on land previously used for sugar cane production. This is the largest biofuel crop project in the state and the only biofuel farming operation in Hawaii running on 100 percent renewable fuel.

“We’re designing a sustainable, zero-waste and economically viable system to grow food, animal feed and fuel,” Pacific Biodiesel President Bob King said in a statement. “Short-term crops that harvest in 100 days or less can be planted, harvested, crushed and converted to biodiesel, all in Hawaii. We’re focusing on several different crops in various crop rotations and experimenting with different soil amendments such as compost and others made from byproducts of the production of our biodiesel, like glycerin and potassium sulfate.”

Bob and Kelly King, founders of Pacific Biodiesel, were joined on the crop site by invited guests, including project stakeholders, local farmers, legislators and other community supporters for the blessing, which was performed by Kahu Kimokeo Kapahulehua. Also attending the event were U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono and U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard.

Pacific Biodiesel expects the initial yield from the sunflowers will produce 100-plus gallons of oil per acre per harvest, with up to three harvests per year possible. With the first seeds planted in February, the company said it anticipates the initial sunflower blooms by Earth Day on April 22. That day coincides with the first anniversary of Pacific Biodiesel becoming the world’s first biodiesel producer certified by the Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance.

The company plans to hold a community event to share the first sunflower blooms.

“There are 36,000 acres of fertile sugar cane lands on Maui that ceased operation at the end of 2016,” said Pacific Biodiesel Vice President Kelly King, who recently became a member of the Maui County Council. “It is important for the community and the state to keep this land in agriculture to benefit Maui’s economy and environment, and to help the state increase its energy security, reduce reliance on fossil fuel and achieve its 100 percent renewable energy mandate by 2045.”