Six organizations will receive a combined $450,000 in funding through Kaua‘i County’s Agricultural Farm Expansion Grant Program for fiscal year 2026-27.
The funding is to support local farming, improve agricultural infrastructure and strengthen the island’s food security.
The county Office of Economic Development announced the grant recipients following a competitive application process.
Proposals were reviewed and scored by a selection committee using established criteria, including each project’s potential to increase agricultural production capacity, improve operational efficiency and support the long-term sustainability of local agriculture.
“Supporting our farmers means investing in Kaua‘i’s future,” said Nalani Ka‘auwai Brun, director of the Office of Economic Development. “These organizations competed for limited funding and demonstrated how their projects could make a meaningful difference in our agricultural community.”
Brun said the department is responsible for evaluating applications fairly and consistently based on the merits of each proposal and its alignment with the program’s goals.
The six funded projects will address a range of agricultural needs, from restoring traditional taro-growing infrastructure to expanding aquaculture and local food processing.
The grant recipients and their projects are:
- Mālama Kaua‘i: Continue restoration of the Pu‘ulima ‘Auwai in Makaweli, improving water access for six multigenerational kalo farming families and supporting the long-term viability of traditional agriculture..
- Waioli Valley Taro Hui: Restore approximately two acres of overgrown lo‘i and ‘auwai to improve irrigation, drainage and productivity while preserving generations of family kalo farming..
- Lydgate Farms LLC: Expand local cacao processing and chocolate manufacturing capacity through development of a commercial processing facility on Kaua‘i, creating opportunities for local production and employment..
- Ho‘omalu Ke Kai: Expand renewable energy infrastructure at Kaua‘i Sea Farm to increase sustainable aquaculture production and improve operational resilience..
- Nourish Kaua‘i ‘Ohana: Help Lin’s Farm acquire agricultural equipment to improve efficiency, reduce labor-intensive operations and expand production on its 21-acre farm..
- ‘Āina Ho‘okupu o Kīlauea: Purchase a tractor for the Kīlauea Community Agricultural Center to support farm operations, increase production capacity, and assist small independent farmers.
The projects reflect the grant program’s focus on strengthening different parts of Kaua‘i’s agricultural industry, including traditional farming, food production, processing, aquaculture and equipment access.
For more information about the Agricultural Farm Expansion Grant Program, contact the Office of Economic Development at 808-241-4946 or email oed@kauai.gov.
