The Kohala Center……Employment/Opportunities/Events

Employment

HIP Ag is hiring a farm-to-school garden coordinator
HIP Ag is hiring a farm-to-school garden coordinator to lead and support student involvement in the Garden-to-Cafeteria program and other farm-to-school initiatives at Kohala High School. For more information, visit the HIP Ag website or email institute@hipagriculture.org.

HuiMAU is hiring a mālama ʻāina technician
HuiMAU is hiring a mālama ʻāina technician to implement their ʻāina restoration efforts in alignment with their goal to restore cultural and natural landscapes to support living, sustainable cultural and subsistence practices. For more information and application details, visit the HuiMAU website or email kealaulili@gmail.com.

Hawaiʻi ʻUlu Cooperative is hiring an accounting specialist
Hawaiʻi ʻUlu Cooperative (HUC) is hiring an accounting specialist to manage their business finances and contribute to the development of budgets and strategic financial plans. Interested applicants can email their resume and cover letter to dana@eatbreadfruit.com. Visit HUC’s website for more information and to apply.

↑ Back to top

Opportunities

Hawaiʻi ʻUlu Cooperative’s expanding agroforestry project now accepting applications
Landowners interested in expanding agroforestry operations can apply for a new funding opportunity which offers upfront incentive funds and technical assistance. Projects must be a minimum of 3 acres with demonstrated economic viability. Selected applicants will receive support with planning, design, financial projections, and data analysis. The application deadline is Friday, March 14, 2025. For more details and to apply, visit their website.

Mālama da Farmer grant applications are open
The Hawaiʻi Food Basket (HFB) has opened applications for Mālama Da Farmer grants. These grants aim to support economic recovery of small food producers in Hawaiʻi County whose businesses were financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The County awarded funds to HFB to drive an increase in local food production by providing support to eligible small businesses and nonprofits interested in expanding their operations. Grant awards range from $5,000–$25,000. The deadline to apply is March 31, 2025 (11:59 p.m. HST). For more information and to apply, visit the HFB Mālama da Farmer website.

Survey information needed from farmers about agroforestry engagement
The University of Hawaiʻi (UH), in partnership with Hawaiʻi ʻUlu Cooperative, is aiming to better understand barriers to adopting agroforestry practices. Farmers and agricultural producers of all levels are invited to take this survey to provide their insights and experiences with agroforestry. This work is being conducted by graduate researchers Ivy Wappler and Ryan Weiskopf, and supported by Dr. Noa Lincoln and the UH Indigenous Cropping Systems laboratory.

Survey information needed from aspiring, beginning, and experienced farmers for a new farmer apprenticeship program
Input from aspiring, beginning and experienced farmers is being sought by community researchers from Leeward Community College to help shape a new farmer apprentice program. Insights will ensure the program supports and mentors the next generation of farmers effectively. There are two separate surveys depending on experience:

• Aspiring and beginning farmers (less than 5 years)
• Experienced farmers (5+ years)

↑ Back to top

Events

Grow Hawaiian Festival at the Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden
Saturday, February 22 • 9 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden, 82-6160 Hawaiʻi Belt Rd, Captain Cook, Hawaiʻi Island (map)
The Grow Hawaiian Festival, hosted by Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden, celebrates native Hawaiian plants and their uses for sustainability. This free, family-friendly event brings the community together to honor Hawaiian culture and ethnobotany through vibrant activities, including demonstrations and hands-on workshops (e.g.–hala and niu weaving, cordage, ipu arts, wood carving, kapa making and natural dyeing), guided garden tours and a tree giveaway and a plant sale. For more information, visit their website.

Hāmākua Homesteading public seminar series
Presented by Honeybee Education Program and Laupāhoehoe Train Museum
Monday, February 24 • 5:30–7 p.m.
Laupāhoehoe Public Library, 35-2065 Old Māmalahoa Hwy Laupāhoehoe, Hawaiʻi Island (map)
The series will run over five Mondays:

• February 24: Raising Goats, Homesteading Hawaiʻi Style with Juliet Higgins

• March 17: A Milk Cow on a Small Farm and Pasture Management with Grant Gerrish

• March 24: Introduction to Pastured Poultry with Brittany Anderson

• March 31: Raising Healthy Sheep: Care and Wool Craft with Leila Gerrish

• April 21: Regenerative Beekeeping in Hawaiʻi with Jenny Bach

Visit this website for more information or email Jenny Bach at info@wisewomenbeekeepers.com.

New webinar series: Tools to enhance your business management
Join experts online from the Center for Farm Financial Management at the University of Minnesota for a free weekly webinar series designed to enhance business management skills. The series will run every Thursday at 10 a.m. HST through May 1st with a different topic each week:

• February 27: Business Planning: Management & Organization

• March 6: Business Planning: Financials

• March 13: Business Planning: Wrap Up

• March 20: How much does it cost to grow? (Part I)

• March 27: How much does it cost to grow? (Part II)

• April 3: No Webinar

• April 10: Where should I market my products?

• April 17: How much did that market make?

• April 24: FSA Programs, Farm Answers, and USDA Beginning Farmer Programs

• May 1: Putting it all together

» Register online

Two USDA organic certification information sessions and guided farm tours on Hawaiʻi Island (Captain Cook and Waimea)
Monday, February 24 • 3–4.30 p.m.
Hōnaunau Rodeo Grounds, 84-5119 Keala O Keawe Rd, Captain Cook, Hawaiʻi Island (map)
Farm tour: 5 p.m., depart together to Ola Mahina Garden

Wednesday, February 26 • 3:30–4:30 p.m.
UH CTAHR Extension Office, 67-5189 Kamāmalu Rd, Waimea, Hawaiʻi Island (map)
Farm tour: 4.30 p.m., depart together to ʻAnoʻano Farms

Hawai‘i Farmers Union United (HFUU), in collaboration with UH College Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR) and the Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP), invites farmers, ranchers, and growers on Hawai’i Island for two free information sessions on resources and support available for transitioning to organic farming. Each in-person information session will provide participants with the opportunity to connect with industry experts and experience organic farming practices firsthand with a guided farm tour. Speakers at each event include Christian Zuckerman (HFUU) and Ted Radovich (CTAHR). Contact Ted Radovich at SOAP@hawaii.edu for more information and to register for either event.

Mālama Da Farmer: Planning to Scale virtual series
Free webinar series offered by GoFarm Hawaiʻi and the Hawaiʻi Food Basket that is designed to help scale up farm businesses. The series covers new crop opportunities, sales channels, value-added products, tools and equipment, and budgeting and funding. By registering for the entire series and attending at least one webinar, viewers will get access to all content even if they are unable to attend all sessions.

• February 24 • 5:30–7 p.m.: Tools and equipment

• March 3 • 5:30–7 p.m.: Building a budget and finding funding

» Register online