Thursday, August 24, 2017—Deepen your connection with the ‘āina! Join The Kohala Center's Kohala Watershed Partnership crew for a morning of removing invasive Himalayan ginger at Pu‘u Pili to give our native forest a chance to breathe, rejuvenate, and retain moisture.
August 25–27, 2017—Big Island ‘Ohana Fest is a drug/alcohol free, family-friendly 3-day music festival focusing on local musicians, small local businesses, education, and family. Big Island ‘Ohana Fest is proudly being presented by KWXX. Aside from having 28 different acts on the main stage, there will be a plethora of food and craft vendors, an area dedicated to educational entities and social services, a secondary stage with cultural and educational speakers/activities, and an area dedicated to childrens games and activities. A portion of ticket sales will be donated to the Kohala Center and PARENTS, Inc.
Friday, September 8, 2017—Deepen your connection with the ‘āina! Join The Kohala Center's Kohala Watershed Partnership crew for a morning of planting native trees such as hō‘awa, wiliwili, koai‘a, ‘a‘ali‘i, and ‘iliahi to reestablish and expand Kohala Mountain’s native forests.
Tuesday, September 12—A presentation by Dr. Ted Kornecki, Agricultural Engineer, USDA-ARS National Soil Dynamics Lab Research Unit and Adjunct Professor of Biosystems Engineering, Auburn University. Dr. Kornecki will cover the following topics in his presentation followed by a question-and-answer session with the community:
Thursday, September 14, 2017—Interested in learning more about the GoFarm Hawai‘i Farmer Training program? Attend this free two-hour session to gain an overview of Hawai‘i’s agricultural industry and its importance. Learn about what’s involved in farming—both as a farmer and farm worker—including how to get started, challenges and opportunities, costs and benefits, and lifestyle. Prospective students wishing to enroll in the full GoFarm program must attend this session. Contact derrick@gofarmhawaii.org or 808-220-2312 to register.
Friday, September 22, 2017—Deepen your connection with the ‘āina! Join The Kohala Center's Kohala Watershed Partnership crew for a morning of digging out fountain grass and other invasive plants in the Koai‘a Tree Sanctuary to give native koai‘a and pilo space to grow and thrive.
September 23, 2017—Come be part of local community conversations on the hows and whys of growing seeds specifically adapted for Hawai‘i.
September 23, 2017—A field day at The Kohala Center’s Demonstration Farm in Honoka‘a will include a tour, hands-on training, and planting of an agroforestry system that’s designed to diversify crops, control weeds naturally, and improve soil health. This event is open to the public; high school students and teachers are especially encouraged to come learn about the upcoming fall High School Sustainable Agriculture Program. Contact Dave Sansone at dsansone@kohalacenter.org or 808-887-6411 for more information.
Saturdays from September 30 to October 21, 2017—The second phase of the GoFarm Hawai‘i program meets on four Saturdays focuses on the farming lifestyle and the essential knowledge areas required to succeed through field trips and visits to productive Hawai‘i Island farms. Prospective students must attend the free AgCurious session on Thursday, September 14. Contact Derrick Kiyabu at derrick@gofarmhawaii.org or 808-220-2312 for more information.
October 9–13, 2017—Attention high school students! The Kohala Center is offering an exciting opportunity for interested students to gain leadership and career experience through fieldwork in the Kohala Watershed. Students will be eligible to receive up to $250 for successfully participating in field days and completing additional program requirements, including an education and career pathway plan.