Mahalo for your kōkua!
In early April, Aloha State Daily partnered with the Hawai‘i Farmers Union Foundation (HFUF) to aid Hawai‘i’s farmers and rural communities recovering from severe flooding. As of Wednesday afternoon, the Hawai‘i Flood Response Fund was over goal at nearly $202,000.
ASD secured a donor who will match gifts up to $100,000, doubling impact toward ongoing needs including crop loss, repairs and other needs, per the for GoFundMe page.
In March, communities across the Islands were devastated by back-to-back Kona Low storms that brought heavy rains and high winds. According to the Hawai‘i Farmers Union (HFU), more than 380 farmers statewide initially reported a total of $23 million in damage. Data collected by Hawaiʻi Agriculture Disaster Response estimates that 619 farms statewide reported losses exceeding $39 million, with Oʻahu farmers accounting for more than $26 million of that total amount.
HFUF’s Hawai‘i Flood Response Fund will remain open to directly support the long-term recovery of local farmers. Click here to donate.
“We have launched our grant program and have had over 120 applicants already, and we will begin to review them in the next weeks and begin releasing funds to farmers by the end of the month,” HFUF CFO Christian Zuckerman, who also serves as HFU vice president, told ASD by email Monday.
HFU has advocated “for the sovereign rights of family farmers, ranchers and fishers to create regenerative and sustainable agricultural communities that benefit the people of Hawaiʻi through education, cooperation and legislation.” Meanwhile, HFUF, its sister organization, provides charitable and educational outreach.
HFU Hāna Chapter members Leah and Matt “Ponch” Ponichtera, who own Hāna Macadamia, lost at least half of their six-acre macadamia grove on Maui in the storm. “This severely impacts our future production capabilities and income,” the Ponichteras stated. “Following the storm, we went five days without power or connectivity (and many neighbors, much longer). In an isolated area that also doesn't receive cell service, our community came together to share information, help meet immediate needs, grieve and get back to work. And there is plenty of work to be done.”
Per their own GoFundMe page, they are nearly to goal at just over $15,000 of $16,000, and "are focused on cleanup, safety and understanding what can be saved.”
Funds raised will go toward sustaining the farm amid recovery, acquiring additional equipment and labor to clear 45-plus downed trees and assisting with the loss of future harvest.
“And eventually, start growing again,” Leah Ponichtera said, adding, “To emerge from that and so quickly be reminded of the community that surrounds us both far and near has meant more to us than we can fully express. The support is overwhelming, and has lifted our spirits and hopes more than you'll know. Many mahalos. Now back to work.”
Those who applied for HFUF's most recent grant are advised to watch their inboxes and reach out to hfuu@hfuu.org with further question. Stay up-to-date with HFU:
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Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros can be reached at kelsey@alohastatedaily.com.
