Hulikalimailalo
Honokaʻa, Hāmākua
In this program we are honored to partner with our great friends at Hāmākua Harvest to steward and manage 70 acre lease property for the betterment of the Hāmākua community through developing a living, learning space of healthy diversified sustainable agriculture and native forest restoration. Guided by traditional Hawaiian values and practices, we work towards transforming old sugarcane/pasture lands into a sustainable community resource divers in healthy AG practices.
Partner: Hāmākua Harvest
A living university of ʻĀina based Education, Economics, Technology grounded in ʻIke Kūʻuna Hawaiʻi featuring:
UKUKU Ulu, Kalo, Uhi, Kapioka, Uala, tropical starches
Ku Ka Niu Coconut groves
Lāʻau Maoli Native Forest sections
Goals
Create a robust landscape of healthy trees and crops to support community food needs,
Host and model best practices to shift Ag in Hawaiʻi towards supporting traditional and healthier environmental and community practices.
Model and encourage traditional, healthy local crops
Establish healthy out crops of native forest stands to serve as windblocks, habitats for native species, and create a seed bank for native forest rehabilitation in the Hāmākua Moku
Establish community org/ohana plots for the community to have access to ʻāina to cultivate.
Support focal crops for culture and the arts. Ex- Wauke for kapa making, Lauhala for weaving, Indigo for dyeing, medicinal plants for Lāʻaulapaʻau
More about our partner: Hāmākua Harvest
Hāmākua Harvest is a 501(c)3 with a mission to promote and advance Hāmākua agriculture by supporting local farmers, enriching the region’s social fabric, and promoting healthy rural lifestyles for the benefit of Hāmākua’s communities, economy, and environment.
Conceived in direct response to the community’s desire to maintain its rural lifestyle based on sustainable family farms, Hāmākua Harvest will provide a whole-systems, integrated agricultural hub, market, and teaching model for the community at large. Its design, purpose, and location at the corner of Māmalahoa Highway and Māmame Street in Honoka‘a reflects the region’s deep agricultural history and aims to demonstrate what a truly sustainable and agriculturally rich future could look like.
Each aspect of the project will incorporate a significant educational component designed to teach and inspire local youth and adults of all experience levels. Classroom-based and hands-on programs will be designed to help preserve the region’s agricultural roots, augment its contemporary rural character, and demonstrate specific farming and land management methods appropriate for its unique resource base.
Hāmākua Harvest is a locally based, hybrid organization comprised of a 501(c)(3) non-profit as well as a for-profit entity with both community-owned and privately owned elements. This strategic framework will increase the project’s viability and efficacy while fostering local entrepreneurship. Each entity is distinct but integrated with the other. Both will utilize innovative green technologies to enhance resource conservation and model sustainability.
Farmers’ Market: Our market needs volunteers to help with set-up in the morning, break-down at close, and assist with merchandise and SNAP/EBT sales at the Welcome Booth throughout the market day.
Become a Vendor – Visit our Vendor Information and Policies page to get set up.
Educational Presenters – Enrich the community with high-quality learning experiences!
Musicians and Entertainers – always wanted for the weekly farmers’ market.
Special Events – volunteers of all kinds (advertising, tech, photography, parking, etc.) are welcome too, let us know your skills or interests!
Please contact the Market Manager, kiilani@hamakuaharvest.org about becoming a market volunteer.
Huli Ka Lima i Lalo: The Hawaiian Cultural Center of Hāmākua is partnering with Hāmākua Harvest to cultivate community food security through growing, propagating, harvesting, and sharing traditional Hawaiian food crops and agricultural practices! Please contact the Hawaiian Cultural Center of Hāmākua’s Director, Lanakila at info.hoa.hawaii@gmail.com.
Board of Directors: Our Board of Directors is seeking professional expertise from volunteer board members or advisors. We are particularly looking for individuals with board experience and/or professional skills in nonprofit management, finance/accounting, fundraising, or policy/compliance. However, the most important qualification is deep investment in our Hāmākua communities! Please contact the Board of Directors, board@hamakuaharvest.org if you are interested in joining the board or supporting with administrative tasks.