Kaua‘i County selects recipients for agriculture farm expansion grants

The County of Kaua‘i’s Office of Economic Development has announced the recipients of its Agriculture Farm Expansion Grants for Fiscal Year 2023-2024.

This is the first year that the county offered funding for AFEG with the intent to advance Kaua‘i’s agricultural industry through targeted investments in the expansion of farming across the island.

“We are pleased with the results of this year’s first Agriculture Farm Expansion grant process. This grant program continues to bring more focus on building our agriculture portfolio by creating more direct support for our farming community here in Kaua‘i County,” said Nalani Brun, Director of the Office of Economic Development.

After requesting for proposals in November 2023, OED received 15 applications to the grant program. A selection committee reviewed and scored all the eligible projects and funded (partially or fully) nine proposals for a total of $429,843.

The list of projects that received funding is as follows:

• Hale Puna – Expanding Local Organic Crops. Funding will increase food security in West Kaua‘i by expanding their farm production and farmers’ market capacity by increasing yields sustainably by reinforcing crop diversity and expanding local sales.

• Hawai‘i Farmers Union United – Food to Farm Connecting the Food System with Compost. Funding will improve the capacity and availability of locally made compost by upgrading the current small-scale DIY sifting system to a portable power-screening system that will significantly increase efficiency-output and availability of finished compost for Kaua‘i’s agrarian community.

• Hui Makaainana o Makana – Ag Expansion. Funding will add farm equipment security infrastructure to increase farm productivity and output and the addition of irrigation equipment to regulate stream water to promote responsible and efficient water usage.

• Iwikua – Propagation Station – Waimea High School Nursery. Funding will establish a greenhouse/nursery to develop a food and fruit tree breeding program promoting agroforestry as a sustainable food production solution on the Westside of Kauaʻi.

• Kaua‘i County Farm Bureau – Mungmee Farm Expansion. Funding will grow equipment for expansion and facilitation of farm production and operational capabilities to navigate the existing 15 acres and expansion of production to an additional 10 acres not currently in utilization.

• Kaua‘i County Farm Bureau – Septic System for On-Farm Commercial Kitchen. Funding will install a septic system required for an on-farm commercial kitchen. This will allow vertical integration of rice farming operations to address logistical challenges of processing crops off farm by adding an on-farm commercial kitchen.

• Kaua‘i North Shore Food Pantry – Fencing and Coolers. Funding will install fencing to overcome threats from pests including feral pigs, chickens, and invasive weeds. This, in addition to employing soil health practices, will increase the amount of soil organic matter which increases soil holding capacity and the ability of the farm to better withstand drought conditions, increasing production.

• Kumano I Ke Ala – Mahaihai Project. Funding will pay for the first phase of the restoration of 20 acres of lo‘i in Waimea (currently overgrown farmland) including clearing and reconstruction/enhancement of an irrigation system to increase Kumano’s capacity to bolster regional small-scale kalo production.

• North Shore Economic Vitality Partnership – Increasing Kaua‘i’s Food Safety Certified Farms. Funding will provide food safety compliance support, training and certification in English, Mandarin and Thai, including assessment, development of farm operating procedures and other items required in food certification for distribution to larger commercial and institutional buyers.

For questions about the grant program or for more information on the grant selection process, email [email protected].