Kenneth Boche – Selected Research, Technical, and Published Writing:
Master’s Thesis: “Factors Affecting Meadow-Forest Borders in Yosemite National Park, California” Thesis for Master’s degree in geography, UCLA, 1974.
“Economic Evaluation of Selected Residential Energy-Efficiency Measures and Low Cost Solar Water Heating Options” County of Hawaii, Department of Research and Development.
“Action Plan Outline of Projects” Compiled for the Kohala Forest Management Group, a community-based planning group. A summary of each project that comprised the Group’s recommendations.
“Regional Energy Initiatives: The Na Makani Action Plan,” a report to The County of Hawaii, Department of Research and Development on the North Kohala community’s energy planning.
“The Propagation of Selected Native Hawaiian and Polynesian Introduced Plants,” a report of research conducted at Aikane Nursery which I owned and operated in Hawaii.
Successful Grant Writing:
Wrote grant proposal from Mariposa County School District to State of California. Amount requested & awarded: $20,000. Purpose: To establish Environmental Educator position in Mariposa County Schools. El Portal resident, Michael Ross was hired for this position.
Wrote grant proposal from Plan to Protect Inc. to the State of Hawaii under the U. S. DOE “Remote Applications of Renewable Energy to Reduce or Avoid Diesel … Power Generation” program. Amount requested & awarded: $27,143. Purpose: To provide low-cost solar water heating to residents.
Wrote proposal from Plan to Protect Inc. to the County of Hawaii, Dept. of Research and Development. Amount requested & awarded: $2000.00. Purpose: To analyze energy-efficiency and low-cost solar water heating technologies.
Selected Publications
“Communities of Interest Should Have Just That, Common Interests” Mariposa Gazette, August 12, 2021. Presents the idea that The Sierra Nevada, from the Kern River’s foothills eastward to the Nevada state line, northward to the Oregon state line, and on the west by the Blue Oak-Live Oak-Chaparral Woodland vegetation zones share common cultural and economic interests.
“Let Mariposa Go to the Dogs and We Will All Be Better Off” Mariposa Gazette, July 29, 2021. Presents reasons that establishing dog parks will advance personal communications between neighbors who might otherwise have difficulties finding common ground. Advocates for our Planning Department to create a Backroads Tour of Mariposa County to promote rural development opportunities.
“Project Collaboration: The Educational Future of Mariposa” Mariposa Gazette, October 13, 2016. Explores opportunities of “Project-Based Learning” for students and Mariposa County schools.
“Cultural-historical perspective on Hawaiian forests” Hawaii Tribune-Herald, July 9, 1998. Advocated for forest/watershed protection & encouraged public meeting attendance.
“Community energy planning makes dollars and sense” West Hawaii Today, June 18, 1998. Advocated energy planning with increased community involvement.
“Choosing the best options for Hamakua’s future” West Hawaii Today, August 21, 1997. Advocated for use of former plantation lands as sites for sustainable village/affordable housing developments.
“Hawaii Island needs an integrated water resource plan” West Hawaii Today, Jan. 27, 1997. Advocated for comprehensive water resource planning with broad community involvement.
“Options for the future of the University of Hawaii at West Hawaii – A permaculture design proposal” Ka’u Landing, Nov., 1994. Advocated designing the new campus utilizing concepts from the permaculture design system and creating sustainability programs for the university.