THE KOHALA CENTER….Employment/Opportunities/Events

The Kohala Center is hiring a donor and volunteer engagement specialist
The Kohala Center is hiring a donor and volunteer engagement specialist who is responsible for building and maintaining relationships with supporters who contribute financially and/or donate their time. This position is based in Waimea with occasional travel to TKC-stewarded ʻāina in North Kohala, Honokaʻa, and Kahaluʻu. Visit our Career Center for more information and to apply.

Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden is hiring in Captain Cook, Hawaiʻi Island
Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden is hiring a full-time position to act as both a visitor contact associate and administrative assistant. This individual will be a welcoming face to visitors, manage the gift shop, and provide administrative support to staff. View the job description online.

Hawaiʻi ʻUlu Co-op is looking for two undergraduate student researchers in STEM
Hawaiʻi ʻUlu Co-op (HUC) seeks two UH–West Oʻahu (UHWO) undergraduate students pursuing STEM or STEM-related disciplines to conduct research and develop deliverables for a project related to cybersecurity and data systems development. The positions include faculty membership and compensation for successful completion. View the position description from UHWO and HUC and apply by April 1.

Cultivating canoe crops course on Hawaiʻi Island
GoFarm is offering a free hybrid course around the cultivation of canoe crops. Experience a variety of canoe crops including kalo, ʻōlena, kō, maiʻa, lāʻī, and ʻulu, exploring their cultivation, characteristics, and value chains. The course will run from April 9–May 30 with 2-hour Zoom sessions on Thursdays and in-person Saturday sessions at the GoFarm ʻAlae site in Hilo and other locations on Hawaiʻi Island. Apply by March 15.

USDA grant assistance for specialty crop farmers – acreage reporting due March 13
USDA’s $1 billion Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers (ASCF) Program provides one-time payments to producers impacted by market disruptions, rising input costs, inflation, and increased foreign competition. The program supports a wide range of specialty crops, including fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, coffee, sweet potato, kalo, ʻulu, and other Hawaiʻi-grown crops. Payments will be based on reported 2025 planted acres. Producers must submit their 2025 acreage report to the Farm Service Agency FSA by 5 p.m. ET on March 13. For questions and to report acreage in Hawaiʻi County, contact the Hilo FSA Office at (808) 933-8334.

USDA conservation reserve program (CRP) accepting offers
CRP provides financial and technical support to landowners who voluntarily convert unproductive or marginal land to beneficial vegetative cover for a period of 10-15 years. The goal of the program is to improve water quality, prevent soil erosion, and support wildlife habitat. USDA is accepting offers for its Continuous CRP through March 20. Enrollment for General CRP will run from March 9–April 17. Dates for Grassland CRP will be announced in the near future. Learn more about CRP here.

Grants for native food sovereignty
First Nations is accepting applications for their 2026 Native Food Sovereignty grants. These grants support the inherent right of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian communities to exercise self-determination and self-governance in all aspects of their food systems. Grants range from $10,000–$40,000 and support the following focus areas: first foods and maternal health, native farm to school, GATHER emerging organizations and programs, and governance of native food systems. Apply online by March 17.

Food canning workshops
Various dates in March–May
St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church, 54-3801 Akoni Pule Hwy, Kapaʻau, Hawaiʻi Island (map)
These one- to two-day workshops will teach you the science behind canning and the proper techniques for water bath canning, high pressure canning, and fermentation and pickling to create shelf-stable foods without the need for refrigeration.
»Register online

Mālama Hāloa kalo festival and symposium
Sunday, March 8 • 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
Bishop Museum, 1525 Bernice St, Honolulu, Oʻahu (map)
Join Bishop Museum for the 18th annual Mālama Hāloa kalo festival and symposium for an opportunity to learn about the different varieties of Hawaiian kalo and how to care for them. Each year, the festival focuses on a specific ʻohana kalo to encourage research into kalo genealogy–this year’s focus is kalo ʻohe.
»Register online

Webinar: Value-added producer grants
Wednesday, March 11 • 5:30 p.m. (via Zoom)
Join Agriculture Stewardship Hawaiʻi and USDA Rural Development to learn about the 2026 Value-Added Producer Grants (VAPG) program. This session will include an overview of the program, applicant and project eligibility, the application process, and how to get help with your application.
»Register online

Hawaiʻi Commercial Kitchens financial planning workshop
Thursday, March 12 • 1–4 p.m. (in-person & via Zoom)
Hilo Food Hub 555 Kalanianaʻole Ave, Hilo, Hawaiʻi Island (map)
Hawaiʻi Commercial Kitchens, in collaboration with the Hilo Food Hub, invites you to a free financial planning workshop with Dr. Brett Carey. Designed for food business owners, this session will cover how to review financial statements, explore financing options, and develop a simplified financial plan. Gain practical tools to improve cash flow, plan for growth, and strengthen your business.
»Register online

Hawaiian ʻAwa Workshop: Growing, Harvesting, & Preparation
Saturday, March 14 • 9 a.m.–12 p.m. & Sunday, March 15 • 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
Maui Nui Botanical Gardens (MNBG) 150 Kanaloa Ave, Kahului, Maui (map)
In this two-day workshop, cultural practitioner Kaʻiana Runnels will lead the class in exploring the heritage Hawaiian varieties of ʻawa by covering variety identification, planting methods, pest and disease control, and plant uses. Participants will dig up a two-year-old ʻawa (Piper methysticum) at MNBG and cut, clean, process, observe protocol, and sample fresh made ʻawa.
»Register online

Plant sale from Big Island Growers
Jaycee Butler Building, 323 Manono St, Hilo, Hawaiʻi Island (map)
Friday, March 27 • 3–7 p.m.
Saturday, March 28 • 9 a.m.–2 p.m.
Big Island Growers will have a wide selection and varieties of plants for sale including avocado, anthuriums, bamboo, banana, citrus, coffee, heliconia, exotic ginger, hibiscus, lanzones, lychee, longan, mango, native plants and seeds, palms, rare and exotic fruit trees, and more.

Lift Up Farmers event
Saturday, April 4 • 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
Touching The Earth Farm, 55-567 Lincoln Ave, Kapaʻau, Hawaiʻi Island (map)
Join HIP Agriculture and Touching The Earth Farm for a day of connection, learning, and community in coming together to strengthen Hawaiʻi’s agricultural future. The event will feature soil health education, coconut processing and value-added pathways, CRB awareness and prevention, and panels, demos, and talk story with farmers and food entrepreneurs.
»Register online

American National CattleWomen Region VI meeting
Monday, April 27–Wednesday, April 29
Hilton Waikōloa Village, 69-425 Waikōloa Beach Dr, Waikōloa Village, Hawaiʻi Island (map)
American National CattleWomen, in collaboration with Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council, is hosting a three-day regional event focused on leadership, education, and connection for women in agriculture. The event will feature presentations, field trips, networking opportunities, and more.
»Register online

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