Olakino: A commitment to the health and vitality of the body

/in /by

November 2021—Trey Yoshizumi started Olakino Hawai‘i in 2020 as a beginning farmer with a mission to provide fresh microgreens and vegetables to Hawai‘i communities. A practitioner of aloha ‘āina and a successful young mahi ‘ai, Trey carefully tends to his pea tendrils, sunflower sprouts, and root veggies as they grow naturally in Waimea’s fertile soil. We recently had the opportunity to help Trey secure funding to scale operations, complete food safety training, and improve the farm’s financial recordkeeping systems. Trey now works as a farmer full time and employs a handful of mahi ‘ai who help the farm produce and distribute microgreens to farmers markets, retailers, and restaurants on Hawai‘i Island and O‘ahu, as well as to community feeding programs such as St. James Church’s weekly community meal in Waimea. For more information about our technical assistance offerings, contact Megan Blazak, rural and cooperative business development services manager. (Photo courtesy Olakino Hawai‘i)

Old Brooks: A new tomato variety adapted for Hawai‘i

/in /by

November 2021—Meet “Old Brooks,” a large slicing tomato that offers a tangy and complex flavor perfect for burgers, sandwiches, salads, soups, and sauces! This prolific, indeterminate heirloom tomato is grown and its seeds harvested at Nāmoku, our demonstration farm in Honoka‘a. Old Brooks thrives in Hāmākua’s demanding growing conditions, holding up against blossom end rot, early cracking, and late blight in our variety trials. Locally grown and adapted seeds from the Hawai‘i Seed Growers Network, which grew out of our Hawai‘i Public Seed Initiative, are a beautiful and healthy gift to ‘āina and loved ones. Visit hawaiiseedgrowersnetwork.com and shop their online store, which offers Old Brooks and nearly 90 varieties of non-GMO, open-pollinated local seeds, or contact Donna Mitts, program assistant and our resident seed warrior, for more information.

Lā Kalo: Strengthening pilina with Hāloa

/in /by

November 2021—Three generations—kūpuna, mākua, and kamali‘i—from numerous ‘ohana across nā moku (all districts of Hawai‘i Island) recently came together for a day at Nāmoku to mālama Hāloa. Following COVID-19 safety protocols, guests helped to harvest and clean all 183 varieties of kalo in our collection. We harvested more than 1,200 pounds of i‘o (taro corm) that yielded more than 3,000 huli of our kūpuna kalo (heirloom taro varieties), all of which were given to ‘ohana or replanted. We then prepared and planted huli in a new, significantly larger plot to fulfill a long-desired outcome for i‘o and huli to feed families and communities across nā moku for years to come. Please reach out to mahi‘āina supervisor Ka‘iana Runnels for information about future Lā Kalo and our Ōhāhā Mahi ‘Ai agricultural training and education programs.

Giving us paws: Local food producers cater to canines

/in , /by

November 2021—‘Īlio (dogs) are beloved members of many of our families, and they too can support and drive change in our local food system. Our team has recently supported Lava Paws and Pawniolo Pets, two raw pet food companies who are helping our four-legged companions eat better while reducing food waste by turning organs and animal parts typically not desired by human consumers into nutritious meals for dogs. We have worked with these local producers to network them with other meat processors and sources of financing, including Kiva and the Hawai‘i Food Producers Fund as well as Slow Money Hawai‘i. Contact Eric Bowman, business development and services integration coordinator, to learn more about these companies and our microloan programs for rural and cooperative businesses. (Photo courtesy Lava Paws)

Care in every cup: Drink 100% Kona coffee, support The Kohala Center

/in /by

November 2021—In celebration of #GivingTuesday, we are humbled to announce that Kona Earth has selected The Kohala Center as its nonprofit partner. New owners Joanie and Steve Wynn believe in giving back to the community that sustains them and wanted to support a local organization working to protect and heal Hawai‘i Island’s ecosystems. Through their recently launched Care in Every Cup program, a portion of their sales will be donated to The Kohala Center. They are currently offering a perfect stocking stuffer: a 2-ounce sample of their 100% Kona Earth classic coffee with a special edition mug, with $5 of each item purchase supporting our research, education, and ‘āina stewardship efforts. Visit KonaEarth.com/collections/gifts to learn more.

Hawai‘i ‘Ulu Cooperative celebrates five years

/in /by

August 2021—Ho‘omaika‘i (congratulations) to the Hawai‘i ‘Ulu Cooperative (HUC) and its 100-plus farmer-members, who recently celebrated five years of growing and selling ‘ulu (breadfruit), ‘ulu-based products, and a variety of minimally processed traditional Hawaiian crops. Over the years, members of our Kula Agroecosystems team have assisted HUC with cooperative business development, marketing and branding, grant and microloan procurement, and building relationships with local institutional buyers. The Co-op is a testament to how cooperative businesses, regenerative agriculture, and canoe crops can and are strengthening Hawai‘iʻs community-based food systems, empowering local farmers, and diversifying our local economy.

Get to know the Two-Lined Spittlebug

/in /by

August 2021—We have been collaborating with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service to increase awareness about a threat to Hawai‘i’s ranching communities and pasture lands: The Two-Lined Spittlebug (TLSB). This invasive insect has progressively destroyed pasture grasses that cattle feed on, with some areas seeing complete loss of grasses within one year. To date, TLSB has only been found on West Hawai‘i Island, but its potential to spread could devastate ranching communities across the islands. We can all help protect ‘āina and a vital part of our local food system by knowing how to identify, report, and take precautions not to transport TLSB. Learn more at TLSBHawaii.com and check out this short informational video and documentary.