Progress 09/01/20 to 08/31/21
Outputs
Target Audience:We support the underserved Native Hawaiian community in Maui County. Changes/Problems:Covid restrictions for the last 1.5 years of the grant were obviously limiting. Zoom workshops were held monthly and field work was maintained by staff and small groups of students. The lack of in-person training on the farm had a negative impact but we feel the participants met the competancy goals we set we accomplished. Classes will continue without funding and our Beginner Farmers are all comitted to perpetuating these traditional methods of agroforestry. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Our Native Hawaiian students were trained in best practices according to traditional techniques. Experts in the field shared their knowledge and land was made available for planting and cultivation. Some of our students already had experience in commercial farming but wanted to layer the culutral aspects into their work. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?We did workshops for our community groups who were unable to commit to a three-year learning arc but were interested in the knowledge we were sharing.These include high schools and agricultural organizations in Maui County. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
We trained beginning Native Hawaiian farmers to become self-sustaining in food production using traditional methods of cultivation and harvest. We established a base camp/nursery/workshop space on vacant land at the Hokunui farm. Due to Covid our Cultural Resource building construction is behind schedule.
Publications
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Progress 09/01/18 to 08/31/21
Outputs
Target Audience:Our participants are underserved Native Hawaiians in the Maui community with some background in agriculture. Changes/Problems:No changes to our programs as outlined in the grant although Covid restrictions impacted our in-person field work. We pivoted using small working groups for fieldwork and Zoom workshops for classrom learning. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Provided over 30 hands-on workshops and online webinars on agroforestry cultivation, management, processing, cultural protocol, and marketing to new and beginning Native Hawaiian farmers. Provided curricula on cultural protocol native plant identification, Biodynamics (moon phase farming), Indigenous microorganisms, soil health and quality, business startup and finances and management, income opportunities of agroforestry crops for food security, medicine, ceremony, and hula. Introduced the concept of value-added crops for market. 90% of participants did not have any knowledge of value-add. Discussion of the many challenges Native Hawaiian farmers face regarding access to resources, sexism, racism, colonialism, gender and indigenous inequalities in the local farming communities. Efforts were made to address the injustice and inequality with professionals in the field. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? We have done outreach workshops with the communities on all islands (mostly through Zoom during Covid lockdown). Flyers, email, social media and radio spots were featured. Staff participation at Hawaiian language immersion parent/teacher conferences was instrumental in gettingsupport from the indigenous community. We hosted Hula Halau (hula schools), middle and primary schools for weekend work sessions. Some participants flew in from other islands to work in the field and get an understanding of our emphasis on Hawaiian traditional practices and modern farming techniques. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Increased opportunities for Native Hawaiian practitioners to share multi-generational knowledge that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Created an accessible platform for Indigenous foundational knowledge. This increased opportunities for Native Hawaiian farmers to learn from expert professionals and community members who are farmers and offer assistance to Hawai?i?s Agricultural resources. 15 new and beginning Native Hawaiian farmers increased understanding about cultural protocol, regenerative agriculture. Over 1500 students, teachers and community members were trained in cultural protocols, planting and harvesting on farm with Halau Ke?alaokamaile Cultural Resource Center. Many cultural adornments and decorations were made from plants cultivated and harvested over the course of three years. Our partnership with H?k?nui Farms provided land for Native Hawaiian farmers to cultivate native crops and enter markets. Two participants were able to start new farms and bring their harvest to market: Polipoli Farms https://www.polipolifarms.com Kapu'ao Cultural Farms https://kanukaike.com 50% of cohort are well on their way to going to market. 10 value-added agroforestry products were introduced: Poi, Taro leaf, table Taro, Mamaki (herbal tea, dried and brewed), Banana chips, fresh Bananas, K? (Sugar cane for juicing), Farming apparel, Lei (head, and neck adornments), native plants to sell to community.
Publications
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Progress 09/01/19 to 08/31/20
Outputs
Target Audience:Our students are Native Hawaiians with an interest in sustainable farming who want to advance their understanding of the cultural connection between agriculture and Hawaiian thought processes and begin a career. Changes/Problems:In March 2020 we were forced to conduct regular online workshops for all participants due to COVID. We also divided our students into smaller groups to maintain the fields and keep up the forward motion. We also have a full-time staff to remain onsite and care for the crops we planted pre-COVID. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The training promotes leadership skills within our Native population. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?We bring in outside monthly community groups to experience our methods of cultural agroforestry. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We are moving past the COVID lockdown to fulfill the goals of this project on time.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Students are immersed in chant protocols, moon phases, and cultural polyforestry to provide a foundation for their work in the fields. Additional subjects include food safety, watershed preservation and enhancement, soil viability. Cultivation, management, processing and marketing of specific traditional crops that thrive in our geographic ecosystem is ongoing.
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Progress 09/01/18 to 08/31/19
Outputs
Target Audience:Our students are socially and culturally disadvantaged Native Hawaiians from the county of Maui. Changes/Problems:This period (Nov-April) is known in Hawaiian practices as Makahiki season, months where the weather is not conducive for planting due to wind and rain. We conducted workshops and off-site learning opportunities during this time and still managed to plant .5 acres in the month of May. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Monthly workshops provide an opportunity to become self-sufficient in farming utilizing traditional Hawaiian skills. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?In addition to the core 30 students we invite outside groups to attend workshops based on their interests. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Continue workshops following our curriculum through a series of guest mentors who speicialize in the different aspects of independent farming using traditional Hawaiian techniques and values for economic opportunites.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Workshops during this period included cultural protocol, moon phases, traditional weather prediction, budget and finances, funding opportunities and irrigation techniques.
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