A dozen organizations on the Garden Isle have received grants from Kaua‘i County’s Office of Economic Development that support the island's agricultural industry.
The OED on Monday announced it had partially or fully funded 12 proposals for its Agriculture Farm Expansion Grants. Funding for the 2024-25 fiscal year totaled $637,429.
OED Director Nalani Brun said in a statement provided to Aloha State Daily Wednesday that collaboration is "at the heart of everything we do," and these grants reflect that same philosophy.
"Our farmers and their networks understand the needs of Kaua‘i County's sustainable food system better than anyone, and we are honored to support them in expanding their operations for the benefit of our island's future."
Mālama Kaua‘i, a nonprofit founded in 2006 that aims to increase local food production and access for Kaua‘i, received two grants.
Executive Director Megan Fox told Aloha State Daily in an email that the nonprofit received $55,000 that will be used for design and engineering work for the development of its new agricultural park, the Olohena ‘ĀINA Center.
According to Mālama Kaua‘i's website, the center will be an 87-acre agricultural park. The first 25 acres are "currently under development that includes 20 acres of sublicensed farm plots, four acres of agroforestry, as well as an acre of shared facilities for farmers including a washing and packing area, greenhouse, walk-in cold storage, and a meeting and business space," the site notes.
"With federal funding cuts, this was critical so we can keep moving forward on drafting all the necessary plans for permitting and installation of important needs such as irrigation and shared facilities for farmers," Fox said.
Mālama Kaua‘i also fiscally sponsored an ‘auwai (ditch or canal) modernization project for several multi-generational kalo farmers in Makaweli, she said, "so they can stop water loss and bring their lo‘i back."
Fox said that project received a $100,000 grant, noting, too, that the system hasn't been upgraded since the 1960s and has been deteriorating.
"We also applied for funds for both projects to the state's Grant-in-Aid programs, so it helps that the county has made a commitment to demonstrate that these projects are of significance to our island's food production," Fox said.
Wai‘oli Valley Taro Hui, Inc. also received two grants: $21,140 for an ‘auwai irrigation ditch repair to improve and increase water flow in order to grow more kalo, and $36,200 for the addition of renewable portfolio standards solar pumps to replace the current piping system to the ‘auwai and ultimately expand lo‘i production and quality, according to the county in Monday's announcement.
Secretary JoAnne Kaona said the organization is a small nonprofit made up of about 10 multi-generational family farms that grow kalo in Kaua‘i's Wai‘oli Valley.
"We are so excited to be awarded one of the Kaua‘i County's Agriculture Farm Expansion Grants," she told ASD in an email. "These funds will be used to purchase material required to restore 640 feet of our lower ‘auwai that has eroded. Restoring this leaky section of the ‘auwai will decrease water waste and increase the supply of water that feeds our lo‘is, allowing us to grow more kalo."
Here are the other organizations and projects that received funding. According to the county:
— Kumano I Ke Ala O Makaweli, $100,000 for the third phase of its Maha‘iha‘i restoration, which includes the build out of 80 additional lo‘i patches and enhancement of ‘auwai systems to support traditional Hawaiian kalo production.
— Waipā Foundation, $40,788 to expand its plant propagation capacity of native and cultural plants, microgreens and vegetable seedlings.
— CG Foundation, $70,000 for the expansion of Lydgate Farms, including the addition of new varieties of vanilla and vanilla curing, additional apiary hives, a honey house, and the planting of up to 167 additional cacao trees; and $52,509 for Common Ground community engagement with regenerative agriculture, including additional farm infrastructure to increase plant propagation and farm yields.
— Ho‘omalu Ke Kai, $46,596 for a laboratory expansion to increase micro-algae production, water testing, and general laboratory capacity at the Nomilo Fishpond.
— Kūkulu Kumuhana O Anahola, $50,000 for the expansion of the Ulupono Anahola Farm, which includes adding soil amendments, composting and mulching, and preparing for the planting of 134 trees on an additional three acres..
— Hawai‘i Farm Bureau Foundation: $24,206 for the Ueunten Farm Resilience Plan, which includes the mitigation of current and future challenges from disease, invasive species and weather events "by producing on-site composted mulching material and wood chips to improve soil quality for additional farm production and orchard management," the county says.
— Bee Team, $41,000 for infrastructure improvements to expand apiary capacity and production, boost the "ecological and economic resilience of Kaua‘i, expand locally sourced and handcrafted products and boost the immunity of Kaua‘i people through the distribution of honey," the county noted.
Stephanie Salmons can be reached at stephanie@alohastatedaily.com.
