The state of Hawaii is 90% dependent upon imported petroleum today but has embarked on a transition program to shift to indigenous renewable energy resources. Hawaii, like most tropical islands, has no fossil fuels (oil, gas, or coal) but has abundant renewable energy resources in fast growing biomass For the past 12 years, considerable work has been under way in Hawaii on the research and development of biomass and biofuels. The Hawaii Natural Energy Institute was established by the state Legislature in 1976 to be the lead agency in the state for the research and development of renewable energy. An important component in this effort has been also to examine the environmental impacts and safety aspects of renewable energy technologies, which in general have proved to be vastly superior to alternatives such as coal and nuclear energy This article summarizes progress to date in Hawaii's methanol-from-biomass research program. Although tropical island communities are somewhat unique, there is much that can be learned from a specific island in meeting future energy needs by means of its own indigenous renewable energy potential. Hawaii has become a model for tropical island communities.