THE KOHALA CENTER: Employment/Opportunities/Events

Employment

The Kohala Center is hiring a mahiʻāina specialist
The Kohala Center (TKC) is hiring a mahiʻāina specialist who is responsible for the long-term development and daily care of a 60-acre ʻili ʻāina nāhelehele, or native forested land division in Kawaihae-uka. This position supports TKC’s native seed bank, nursery, and planting efforts to include hosting learning and stewardship experiences, providing ongoing facilities operations and maintenance, and mālama ʻāina responsibilities. Visit our Career Center for more information and to apply.

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.

Terraformation is hiring a temporary agroforestry technician on Hawaiʻi Island
Terraformation is hiring a temporary agroforestry technician (with possibility of extension) who will be responsible for a variety of tasks related to the maintenance and care of tropical fruit and macadamia nut orchards in the Hilo area. Occasional travel to other locations on Hawaiʻi Island will be required. Apply online.

Lynker is hiring a marketing coordinator and technical service provider
The marketing coordinator and technical service provider support Lynker’s grant award from USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) entitled Hawaiʻi-Grown Partnership for Agriculture. The marketing coordinator will be responsible for leading the development and tracking the implementation of a marketing and market expansion incentive program. The technical service provider delivers direct in-field and remote technical assistance to agricultural and forestry producers participating in voluntary incentive programs.

Hawaiʻi ʻUlu Co-op is hiring a producer support lead
Hawaiʻi ʻUlu Co-op (HUC) is looking for a producer support lead to join their team. This hybrid position will work closely with farmers, partners, and HUC’s membership team to expand producer participation, support ʻulu agroforestry systems, and advance market opportunities for Hawaiʻi-grown ʻulu. View the job description online.

Opportunities

Report Damage from the March 2026 Kona Low 
Farmers facing impacts from the recent Kona Low storm can report agricultural damage to the USA Farm Service Agency (FSA), including damage to crops, livestock, and infrastructure. Farmers are advised to record damage through photos and/or videos prior to cleanup and to save receipts for repairs and recovery costs. To report damage in Hawaiʻi County, contact the Hilo FSA Office at (808) 933-8334.

Complete the Hawaiʻi Agricultural Disaster Impact Survey
Report damage resulting from the March 2026 Kona Low system to The Hawaiʻi Ag Disaster Response’s Statewide Rapid Assessment Tool. This tool helps government farm agencies to direct resources and appropriate supports to help meet local needs following disaster impacts. Learn more about the survey and complete a report here.

USDA Value-Added Producer Grant applications open
The USDA Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) is now accepting applications to support farmers and ranchers interested in developing new products, expanding marketing opportunities, and increasing farm income through value-added activities such as processing, packaging, branding, and marketing. The FY2026 application window is currently open. Proposals must be submitted through the USDA Grant Application Portal by 1:00 p.m. ET on April 22, 2026. Planning grants of up to $50,000 and working capital grants of up to $200,000 are available with a 1:1 match requirement. Learn more about the program including funding eligibility and program overview here.

Noi Kōkua Business Builder and ʻUmeke ʻAi Pono Community Feeding grants
Hawaiʻi Good Food Alliance is offering two grant pathways. Noi Kōkua awards up to $15,000 for farm and food business needs like equipment, production, value-added, and operation improvements. ʻUmeke ʻAi Pono awards up to $30,000 for the purchase of locally grown foods for community distribution and recipes/story gathering. Apply by April 1.

ʻĀina to Mākeke incubator–Cohort 8 accepting applications
ʻĀina to Mākeke is a 12-week incubator offered by UH Leeward Community College that examines what it takes to become a successful food business entrepreneur, guiding participants in how to scale-up a kitchen recipe into a commercial product ready for market. Participants will receive $1,000 through HACA’s Cottage Industry to Commercial Enterprise Scholarship towards the $1,500 program tuition. Cohort 8 will run June 15–September 2. Classes are virtual on Mondays and Wednesdays from 5:30–7:30 p.m., with one in-person showcase at the end. An info session will be held on March 31. Apply by April 20.

Kūlana ʻĀina food systems initiative for Native Hawaiians
Kūlana ʻĀina is an Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) food systems initiative supporting Native Hawaiians in strengthening skills, growing enterprises, and expanding opportunity across Hawaiʻi’s food economy. The program offers five tracks: kūlana ʻāina network, culinary workforce, business development, mahiʻai development, and kūlana ʻāina canoe crop to market innovation lab. Read more about the program here and submit an interest form here.

Survey: Agricultural disaster impacts
Agriculture Stewardship Hawaiʻi in partnership with Hawaiʻi Farmers Union, Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau, Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council, and others are working to assist farmers who have been impacted by recent flooding and high winds. If your agricultural operation experienced damage, fill out the survey to receive assistance and inform response efforts.

Survey: Hawaiʻi livestock and poultry dog attacks
The Hawaiʻi Sheep & Goat Association (HSGA), in partnership with the Hawaiʻi Cattlemen’s Council (HCC), the Hawaii Pork Industry Association (HPIA), and College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience (CTAHR) is conducting a survey to document dog attacks, losses, and prevention costs. Input will help strengthen laws and support measures that protect livestock operations across Hawaiʻi. Respond by April 10.

Survey: Farm equipment rentals
Sunbelt Rentals currently focuses on construction equipment rentals but is exploring expanded agricultural offerings–including tractors, skid-steers, tillers, sprayers, water trucks, mowers, trailers, and more–to better support local farmers, ranchers, and growers. Responses are anonymous and will directly shape what equipment is stocked, priced, and delivered to the Kona and Hilo areas. Take the survey online.

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.

Events

Farm-to-Lei ʻāina day and workshop
Saturday, March 21 • 2–5 p.m.
Pāpaʻikou, Hawaiʻi Island (address provided with registration)
Join Onomea Farm Hub, Project Kanu, and The Lei Bar for the final gathering of Farm-to-Lei, highlighting kalo and kokiʻo ʻula as the mea kanu of the month. Engage in an ʻāina work day, learn to make lei poʻo, sample a farm tasting, and stay for potluck.
»Register online

Webinar: Leaf damage and defoliation from avocado lace bug
Wednesday, March 25 • 9:30 a.m. (via Zoom)
Dr. Michael Bosch and College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience (CTAHR) is holding a webinar to learn about the latest research of avocado lace bug in Hawaiʻi, including feeding patterns, leaf damage and defoliation, and how the findings can be used for monitoring and management.
»Register online

Webinar: NRCS funding and conservation support
Wednesday, March 25 • 5 p.m. (via Zoom)
Hawaiʻi Farmers Union is holding a webinar to share about USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and their programs. Join for an introduction to NRCS and how they assist farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners across Hawaiʻi and the Pacific Islands.
»Register online

Plant sale from Big Island Growers
Friday, March 27 • 3–7 p.m.
Saturday, March 28 • 9 a.m.–2 p.m.
Jaycee Butler Building, 323 Manono St, Hilo, Hawaiʻi Island (map)
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.
»More information

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

Webinar: GoFarm Hawaiʻi Island AgCurious
Tuesday, April 7 • 5:30–7 p.m. (via Zoom)
GoFarm is holding an informational webinar about their beginner farmer training program on Hawaiʻi Island. The webinar will cover an overview of the program, participant expectations, application process and next steps, and Q&A with the farm coach and alumni. Read more about the program on GoFarm’s website.
»Register online

Produce Safety Alliance grower training
Monday, April 20–Wednesday, April 22 • 4–7 p.m. (via Zoom)
Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity (HDAB) and UH College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience (CTAHR) is holding a produce safety training for fruit and vegetable growers. Learn about the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and good agricultural practices (GAPs). If you need to complete a food safety training as required by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), this course will satisfy that requirement. Cost is $150. The deadline to register is April 13.
»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