Malama Kauai

ONE OF THE MOST REMOTE ISLANDS IN THE WORLD, KAUAI IMPORTS OVER 85 OF ITS FOOD DESPITE YEAR-ROUND PRODUCTION CAPABILITIES, HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST COSTS OF LIVING IN THE U.S., AND HAS THE LOWEST PER-FARM REVENUE AVERAGE IN HAWAII. TO MAKE PROGRESS ON THESE ISSUES, LONGSTANDING COMMUNITY-BASED NONPROFIT, MLAMA KAUAI (MK), WILL LAUNCH THEIR NEW MOLOAA INA CENTER FOOD HUB. THE FACILITY IS OPENING BY FALL 2023, AND THIS PROJECT WILL HELP TO STAFF THE FACILITY S LAUNCH, FOOD SAFETY COMPLIANCE, PROGRAM EXPANSIONS, AND FARM VALUE-PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT SERVICES. MK HAS BEEN THE LEADING FOOD HUB ON KAUAI SINCE 2020 AND HAS BEEN WORKING ON INCREASING FOOD PRODUCTION AND ACCESS FOR THE ISLAND SINCE 2006. THE PROJECT WILL FUND KEY STAFF POSITIONS CRITICAL TO EXPANDING PROGRAMS AND SERVICES TO UTILIZE THE NEW FACILITY FULLY. IT IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE AVERAGE YOY PRODUCER SALES BY 10 , FOR 175 LOCAL FARMERS AND FOOD PRODUCERS - 60 OF WHICH WILL BE SMALL, BIPOC-OWNED BUSINESSES. A MINIMUM OF 25 MOLOAA IRRIGATION COOPERATIVE MEMBERS WILL UTILIZE THE FACILITY FOR VALUE-ADDED PRODUCT PRODUCTION, STORAGE, AND BUSINESS ASSISTANCE. OUTCOMES OF THIS WORK WILL BOLSTER KAUAIS LOCAL AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY, ALLOW MK TO MEET THE SCALE NEEDED BY LARGE BUYERS, AND FILL GAPS IN THE CURRENT FOOD SYSTEM. THESE ACTIVITIES WILL ASSIST LOCAL FARMERS, RANCHERS, AND VALUE-ADDED PRODUCERS, IN GROWING THEIR BUSINESSES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM, AND SUBSEQUENTLY BUILD FOOD SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND ECONOMIC RESILIENCY FOR THE ISOLATED AND VULNERABLE ISLAND OF KAUAI.

CF CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED GRANTS

KAUA'I PEEP (POULTRY & EGG EDUCATION PROJECT) WILL INCREASE THE NUMBER OF, AND ENHANCE THE SUCCESS OF, KAUA?I'S BEGINNING EGG FARMERS AND INCREASE THEIR SALES THROUGH ESTABLISHED LOCAL ACCESS POINTS. PEEP WILL HOST12 2-HOUR ZOOM-BASED EDUCATIONAL MODULES WITH SUPPLIES PROVIDED, ON-FARM SITE VISITS AND FIELD TRIPS, AND MEET THE FARMER Q&A SESSIONS FOR 15 SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED BEGINNING FARMERS/RANCHERS ON THE REMOTE ISLAND OF KAUA'I IN THE STATE OF HAWAI'I.IN 2020, THE REMOTE ISLAND WAS FACED WITH BOTTOMING-OUT MARKETS DUE TO THE HALT OF TOURISM AND DISRUPTION OF SUPPLY CHAINS WHICH IMPORT UPWARDS OF 85% OF THE ISLAND'S FOOD, HIGHLIGHTING AN IMMENSE NEED AND DEMAND FOR LOCAL EGGS. PEEP WILL GIVE BEGINNING FARMERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET THIS NEED BY STARTING OR EXPANDING EGG PRODUCTION ON THEIR SMALL FARMS AND DISTRIBUTING THE EGGS THROUGH A GUARANTEED MARKET WITH M?LAMA KAUA'I?S FOOD HUB AND CSA (COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE) PROGRAM. KAUA'I LOST ITS LIVESTOCK COOPERATIVE EXTENSION AGENT IN 2020, AND DUE TO A COVID-RELATED HIRING FREEZE IT WILL LIKELY BE YEARS BEFORE THIS POSITION IS FILLED. THIS NONPROFIT-LED PROGRAM WILL HELP TO FILL THE GAP BY ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF MINORITY BEGINNING FARMERS AND RANCHERS WISHING TO EXPAND INTO EGG PRODUCTION, WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY INCREASING COMMUNITY ACCESS TO A LOCALLY PRODUCED PROTEIN. PEEP WILL ALSO CREATE A DATABASE OF EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS FOR FUTURE EGG PRODUCERS IN THE PACIFIC REGION, ESTABLISH COLLABORATIVE GROUP BUYING OPTIONS FOR FEED IMPORTS, AND DEVELOP A FARMER NETWORK BY FACILITATING INTRODUCTIONS BETWEEN EGG PRODUCERS WHICH WILL INCREASE THE SUSTAINABILITY OF KAUA'I'S LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM THROUGH PRODUCER MENTORSHIP.

**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** KALO TO KULA WILL ENSURE THAT CULTURAL FOOD STAPLE KALO (TARO) CONTINUES TO RECLAIM ITS RIGHTFUL PLACE IN OUR DAILY ISLAND FOOD CULTURE, BY DEVELOPING APPRECIATION BY YOUNG KALO CONSUMERS AND BRINGING KALO INTO SCHOOLS THROUGH FIELD TRIPS, STUDENT-LED PROJECTS, USDA COMPLIANT RECIPES, AND CAFETERIA STAFF TRAININGS. THOUGH KAUA'I IMPORTS UPWARDS OF 85% OF THEIR FOOD, IT PRODUCES 2/3 OF THE TARO IN HAWAI'I - MOST OF WHICH IS SOLD OFF-ISLAND. KAUA'I KALO FARMERS WILL BE SUPPORTED THROUGH A NEEDS ASSESSMENT, PROCESSING SUPPLIES DISTRIBUTION, AND PURCHASING OF KALO PRODUCTS.OUR GOAL IS TO CENTER KALO IN THE LOCAL FARM TO SCHOOL MOVEMENT, WITH INCREASED ACCESS TO, AND CONSUMPTION OF, KALO IN KAUA'I SCHOOLS. OUR PROJECT WILL INCLUDE POI AND OTHER KALO PRODUCTS, INCREASING ITS ADAPTATION INTO MEALS. YOUTH WILL LEAD THE PROJECT THROUGH TASTE TESTS AND RECIPE FEEDBACK, AND EXECUTION OF STUDENT-LED KALO PROJECTS AND HUAKA'I (EXCURSIONS/FIELD TRIPS) TO KALO FARMS. THESE OPPORTUNITIES CONNECT ACROSS HAWAI?I'S TRADITIONAL CULTURAL PRACTICES AND ARE POWERFUL FOCAL POINTS FOR STRENGTHENING OUR YOUTH'S SELF AWARENESS, SELF-SUFFICIENCY, AND HEALTH. THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE FOR NATIVE HAWAIIANS WHO STRUGGLE WITH SELF IDENTITY AND CULTURAL PRIDE DUE TO HISTORICAL ERASURE OR MISINFORMATION OF HAWAIIAN PEOPLE.TO ENSURE AN AUTHENTIC AND EQUITABLE APPROACH WHEN FOCUSING ON AN IMPORTANT CULTURAL CROP, ALL PROJECT STAFF AND PAID CONSULTANTS ARE NATIVE HAWAIIAN. KALO TO KULA WILL BRING TOGETHER KALO FARMERS, CULTURAL PRACTITIONERS, COMMUNITY-BASED NONPROFITS, CAFETERIA STAFF, TEACHERS, AND STUDENTS TO CONNECT OUR KEIKI TO KALO FOR A SUSTAINABLE KAUA'I.

FARM TO SCHOOL GRANT PROGRAM

RBDG RURAL BUSINESS COOP RURAL ENTERPRISE GRANT

MALAMA KAUAI'S VISTA PROJECT IS REQUESTING 8 VISTAS TO WORK WITHIN THE FOCUS AREA OF HEALTHY FUTURES, ON PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS THAT INCREASE FOOD ACCESS AND SELF-RELIANCE, CREATE CAREER PATHWAYS, AND DEVELOP EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS ON THE ISLAND OF KAUA`I. THESE POSITIONS ARE PLACED WITHIN MALAMA KAUA`I AS WELL AS TWO SUB-SITE LOCATIONS KE KULA NI`IHAU O KEKAHA PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL AND KAWAIKINI NEW CENTURY PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL. THE POSITIONS INCLUDE: - 2 YOUTH & FOOD PROGRAMS: THESE 2 VISTAS WILL SUPPORT SCHOOLS WITHIN THEIR SCHOOL COMPLEX AREA THROUGH CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT FOR FOOD AND GARDENING PROGRAMS AT SCHOOL AND AFTERSCHOOL SITES. DURING SCHOOL BREAKS, THEY ALSO SUPPORT OUR AG INTERNSHIP PROGRAM BY RECRUITING LOW-INCOME STUDENT PARTICIPANTS, AND MENTOR VOLUNTEERS TO PROVIDE EDUCATION TO THE PARTICIPANTS. - 2 FARM-TO-SCHOOL: SUB-SITED AT 2 OF OUR NEEDIEST HAWAIIAN-FOCUSED PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS, THESE VISTAS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR HELPING TO CREATE AND LAUNCH CULTURALLY-RELEVANT SCHOOL FOOD AND GARDENING PROGRAMS WITH A FOCUS ON FUNDRAISING AND VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT. - 1 VILLAGE HARVEST: WORKING WITH WITH KAUA`I MASTER GARDENERS, THE VILLAGE HARVEST VISTA WILL HELP TO TAKE THE PILOT GLEANING PROJECT AND EXPAND IT TO A FULL-TIME PROGRAM THROUGH RESOURCE AND SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT. THIS PROGRAM DIVERTS AGRICULTURAL FOOD WASTE TO FOOD BANKS AND FEEDING PROGRAMS FOR THE NEEDY. - 1 VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR: WITH THE INCREASED ACTIVITY, THERE IS AN IMMINENT NEED TO ORGANIZE, STREAMLINE, AND DEVELOP EFFECTIVE SYSTEMS FOR VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT, MANAGEMENT, AND RECOGNITION IN SUPPORT OF ALL VISTAS, INCLUDING THOSE SUB-SITED AT OTHER LOCATIONS. - 1 FUNDRAISING & DEVELOPMENT: THIS VISTA IS FOCUSED ON DEVELOPING PROGRAMS FOR EARNED INCOME GENERATION, AND DEVELOPING FUNDRAISERS THAT CAN BE CONTINUED BEYOND THEIR TERM. - 1 GRANT WRITER: THIS VISTA IS FOCUSED ON DEVELOPING MORE STREAMLINED PROCESSES AND SYSTEMS FOR GRANT APPLICATIONS, MANAGEMENT, AND REPORTING, WHILE ACTIVELY PARTICIPATING IN THE GRANT WRITING CYCLE. THEY WILL ALSO SUPPORT SHARING BEST PRACTICES FOR GRANT WRITING WITH OTHER VISTAS. THESE VISTAS WILL CONNECT SCHOOLS AND THE GREATER COMMUNITY TO INCREASE KNOWLEDGE FOR SELF-SUFFICIENCY, LOCAL FOOD PRODUCTION AND ACCESS, AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR KAUA`I, HAWAI`I RESIDENTS. THE BENEFICIARIES OF THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDE THE LOW INCOME COMMUNITY, CONSISTING OF STUDENTS, SCHOOLS, FAMILIES, AND THE GENERAL COMMUNITY ACROSS THE ISLAND.