The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo

Early sunflowers bloom in Pacific Biodiesel’s 115-acre demonstration project between Waikapu and Maalaea as viewed from the side of Kuihelani Highway on Tuesday morning. The biofuel crop is expected to yield more than 100 gallons of oil per acre. Entire plants will be harvested and used, not just the seeds. The central valley’s strong winds and challenging conditions are predicted to make the plants produce more oil. The first harvest for the 100-day crop is set for June. Sunflowers track the sun, moving east to west through the day, and slowly turn back to the east at night in a process called heliotropism.