Newsletter 4 - July 2009
Explore the roots of Hawaiian food culture in several events listed below. Pictured: Kumu Keala Ching with Ka Pa Hula Na Wai Iwi Ola at Pu'uhonua o Honaunau Cultural Festival in July 2006.
Contents
Events
Announcements
New Publications
Reports
Web resources
Submissions
Aloha mai e!
This is the July 2009 edition of the the Hawai'i Homegrown Food Network e-mail newsletter.
Looking for fun and stimulating activities to do this summer? Here you can find many events related to growing and eating local food.
Your submissions for future newsletters are welcome using the form below.
Mahalo nui loa,
Craig Elevitch
Pedro Tama
http://agroforestry.net
Events
Saturday-Sunday, June 27-28, 9 am - 3 pm
Event: Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park Annual Cultural Festival
Sponsor: National Park Service
Description: The theme is “Na Mea Hana Lima na Kupuna” - the working hands of our elders. Many activities are planned for both days including a royal court procession, cultural demonstrations and hula. Saturday features canoe rides and Sunday includes a hukilau and Hawaiian food tasting. Bring your family and friends and spend a day in the park. Come prepared for hot weather; bring water, sturdy walking shoes, hat and sunscreen.
Place: Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park
Cost: Park fees are waived for the weekend of this special event.
Contact: Call 328-2288 for more info
Wednesday, July 8 - August 4
Event: Summer Intern Program
Sponsor/Organizer: La'akea Community
Description: Spend a month with us exploring sustainability, both with the land and with each other. Permaculture skills and community communication skills will be taught.
Place: La'akea Community, Pahoa
Cost: $650, includes food, lodging and instruction
Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , http://permaculture-hawaii.com , 808-443-4076
Friday, July 10, 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Event: Farm Community Potluck and Seed Exchange
Sponsor/Organizer: Hawai'i Farmers Union and Hamakua - North Hilo Agricultural Cooperative
Description: Seed Exchange begins at 4:30 pm; potluck dinner begins at 6 pm. Home gardeners, farmers and other community members are most welcome whether you bring seeds, plants or cuttings, or just take some home! E komo mai kakou, kokua kekahi i kekahi, aloha kekahi i kekahi. (Welcome! Help each other, love each other!) Join us in growing community food sovereignty in Hamakua!
Place: Honoka'a's historic ILWU Jack Wayne Hall building (on the Waipi'o, makai end of Mamane Street), Honoka'a
Cost: Free
Contact/info: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , http://hawaiifarmersunion.org, or call 331-3002
Saturday, July 11, 10 am - 11:30 am
Event: Free Garden Tour
Sponsor/Organizer: Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden
Description: Come and see the garden's collection of native Hawaiian plants while hearing about their traditional cultural uses.
Place: Amy B. H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Gardens, Captain Cook, Mile Marker 110_
Cost: Free
Contact: Call if you have any questions, 323-3318 or e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Saturday, July 11, 10 am - Noon
Event: Tropical Edible landscaping
Sponsor/Organizer: La'akea Community
Description: Come learn about what you can grow that looks good and tastes great too!
Place: La'akea Community, Pahoa
Cost: $25 Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , http://permaculture-hawaii.com , 808-443-4076
Monday, July 13, 3 - 5 pm
Event: Permaculture Ethics and Principles
Sponsor/Organizer: La'akea Community
Description: Come learn the basics of Permaculture
Place: La'akea Community, Pahoa
Cost: $25
Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , http://permaculture-hawaii.com , 808-443-4076
Satuday, July 18, 11:30 am - 3:30 pm
Event: Raw Food Made Fun & Easy, taught by Lori Randall, raw foods expert.
Sponsor/Organizer: Waimea Community Education
Description: Learn how raw foods promote healthy living. Menu planning for breakfast, luch, dinner, snacks and dessert. Learn at least 12 recipes and take home more to make on your own. Come to class hungry, you will leave full. Most foods are locally grown.
Place: Waimea Community Education Center, 65-1184 Mamalahoa Hwy, Waimea
Cost: $60
Contact: Register at http://waimeaeducation.com , or call 885-1539.
Monday, July 20, 3 - 5 pm
Event: Gardens and Soil
Sponsor/Organizer: La'akea Community
Description: Explore and learn about forest gardens and plant integration
Place: La'akea Community, Pahoa
Cost: $25
Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., http://permaculture-hawaii.com , 808-443-4076
Thursday, July 25, 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Event: Honopua Farm: A Waimea Family Farm
Sponsor/Organizer: The Kohala Center
Description: Visit Honopua Farm and lunch with owners Ken and Roen Hufford.
Place: contact The Kohala Center
Cost: $25 (members) - $75 (non-members)
Contact: http://www.kohalacenter.org/TKCMemberEvents09/about.html and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Tel: 887-6411
Monday, July 27, 3 - 5 pm
Event: Water Systems Design
Sponsor/Organizer: La'akea Community
Description: Discover the wonders of water and key line design.
Place: La'akea Community, Pahoa
Cost: $25
Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., http://permaculture-hawaii.com , 808-443-4076
Saturday, August 1, All day
Event: 1st Annual Mango Festival
Organizer: The Sanctuary of Mana Kea Gardens and the Keauhou Farmers Market
Description: At Keauhou Farmers Market 8 am - noon; Farmer Chef Presentation 10 am; Mango Events and live music, 2 pm-6 pm, Keauhou Beach Resort ($10); Mango-inspired dinner 6:30 pm, Keauhou Beach Resort.
Place: Keauhou Shopping Center, Kailua-Kona, 8 am - noon; Keauhou Beach Resort, Ali'i Drive, Kailua-Kona, 2 pm - 8 pm.
Cost: 8 am - Noon: Free. 2 pm - 6 pm: $10. Dinner: $40.
Contact: Nancy Ginter-Miller 769-0672, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; http://www.keauhoufarmersmarket.com/mango.html
Monday, August 3, 3 - 5 pm
Event: Herbal Medicines and Permaculture Design
Sponsor/Organizer: La'akea Community
Description: What you can grow in your back yard to help you heal.
Place: La'akea Community, Pahoa
Cost: $25
Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., http://permaculture-hawaii.com , 808-443-4076
Saturday, August 8, 10 am - 11:30 am
Event: Free Garden Tour
Sponsor/Organizer: Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden
Description: Come and see the garden's collection of native Hawaiian plants while hearing about their traditional cultural uses.
Place: Amy B. H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Gardens, Captain Cook, Mile Marker 110_mauka side of Mamalahoa Highway
Cost: Free
Contact: Call if you have any questions, 323-3318 or e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Friday, August 14, 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Event: Farm Community Potluck and Seed Exchange
Sponsor/Organizer: Hawai'i Farmers Union and Hamakua - North Hilo Agricultural Cooperative
Description: Seed Exchange begins at 4:30 pm; potluck dinner begins at 6 pm. Home gardeners, farmers and other community members are most welcome whether you bring seeds, plants or cuttings, or just take some home! E komo mai kakou, kokua kekahi i kekahi, aloha kekahi i kekahi. (Welcome! Help each other, love each other!) Join us in growing community food sovereignty in Hamakua!
Place: Honoka'a's historic ILWU Jack Wayne Hall building (on the Waipi'o, makai end of Mamane Street), Honoka'a
Contact/info: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , http://hawaiifarmersunion.org, or call 331-3002
Monday, August 17 - 31
Event: Aloha Aina Permaculture Design Certification Course
Sponsor/Organizer: Living Mandala
Description: Come learn permaculture, a cornerstone of sustainability
Place: La'akea Community, Pahoa
Cost: $1500
Contact: http://livingmandala.com , (707) 634-1461
Saturday, August 22, 9 am - 4:30 pm
Event: North Kohala Food Forum
Sponsor/Organizer: North Kohala Food Forum Committee
Description: To facilitate achieving the goal of the North Kohala Community Development Plan of 50% local food production & consumption, this forum invites all key players in North Kohala's local food system (home growers, small farmers, food education programs, farmers' marketers, food stores, restaurants), along with the public (consumers), to share their knowledge, activities and ideas. The purpose is community education to promote new opportunities and partnerships for more diverse local food crops and improved marketing. An "all-local-food" lunch will be served.
Place: Kohala Intergenerational Center, Kamehameha Park, makai of gym, Kapa'au, North Kohala
Cost: $5 (covers food), $5 for Survey Response Report
Contact: Bob Martin, 808 889-5025, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., http://www.nkfoodforum.com/
Saturday, September 19
Event: 19th Annual Hawaii International Tropical Fruit Growers Conference
Sponsor/Organizer: Hawaii Tropical Fruit Growers (HTFG)
Description: Educational conference on growing and marketing tropical fruit
Place: Hilton Waikoloa
Cost: to be determined
Contact: Ken Love 323-2417
Friday, September 25, 9 - 11:30 am
Event: Backyard Kalo Farming
Sponsor/Organizer: Amy B. H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden
Description: With garden foreman Manuel Rego. Manuel has cared for the extensive collection of kalo at Amy Greenwell Garden for 24 years. Manuel will be assisted by Sunao Kadooka. Come and learn how to propagate, grow, and prepare kalo in your own backyard. Participants will also be supplied with kalo huli, or propagates, that can be planted for harvest. And, for the lucky attendees, this particular workshop will include Maui Lehua and other miscellaneous varieties.
Place: Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden, located in Captain Cook, 12 miles south of Kailua-Kona, Mile Marker 110_mauka side of Mamalahoa Highway
Cost: Free to Bishop Museum members; non-members $15
Contact: Call to register, Tel: 323-3318; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Saturday, Oct 31, 8 am - 2 pm
Event: Pua Plantasia, Annual Plant sale. Theme this Year: Sustainability.
Sponsor/Organizer: Kona Outdoor Circle (KOC)
Description: West Hawai'i's premier plant sale featuring only locally-grown trees, fruit trees, cuttings, shrubs, flowers, vegetable plants of every possible description. Classes this year on sustainability.
Place: Old Airport Pavilion, Kailua-Kona
Cost: Free
Contact: Kona Outdoor Circle, 329-7286; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ; http://konaoutdoorcircle.org .
Announcements
Training: Advanced study internship in tropical agroforestry and permaculture by the people who bring you this Hawaii Homegrown Food Network newsletter. The internship is a period of practical, supervised, real-life training on an agroforestry and permaculture research and demonstration farm in Holualoa, North Kona. For more information, visit http://www.agroforestry.net/internship/
Activity: Hawai'i Tea Society Tea Propagation Program
Sponsor: Hawai'i Tea Society Propagation Committee
Description: HTS offers a low-cost local source for high quality Camellia sinensis tea plants for farmers who want to grow a quality sustainable vog-resistant and hardy crop. We have been conducting this program for several years and hope to maintain this as an ongoing program. These plants are all from cuttings from known varieties that have produced very finished teas of the highest quality.
Place: Delivery direct to farmers.
Cost: Contact Eva Lee, Propagation Chair. Reduced rates for members. To join, go to http://hawaiiteasociety.com
Contact: Eva Lee, 967-7637, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Activity: Papaikou Community Garden Community members of Papaikou have begun the process of creating a community garden. Check out the wiki site for news, meetings and events. Please add your mana'o, kokua, mahalo and aloha to all the people who are making this happen. http://papaikou.localgarden.us/wiki/index.php?title=Scheduling_the_Next_Meeting
New publications
Ken Love and www.Hawaiifruit.net have released Hawaii Grown video segments on tips for harvesting, post-harvest care, marketing and producing quality tropical fruit. Find out what the chefs, grocers and wholesalers are looking for. Hard copies will be available soon for Hawaii Tropical Fruit Grower members. For more information contact: Ken Love, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXtsJrbKzVY intro
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQyIvvqsYFo bananas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cv7flUNn3IE avocados
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6--QUsDd3o figs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9cZzleYbII small fruit
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9K5J_eD55A citrus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcYsTTSA2tI Bob Paull
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s07i0OptXts choice Mart
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdvvY4HZAxA Chef Trask
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8eCYYmta4k Adaptations
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVUPwn32djU Virginia Easton Smith
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jv0PiBAgZI outro
Report
Hawai'i Island Homegrown Food Self-Reliance Workshop, Ocean View, Ka'u
June 6, 2009, 8:30 am - 5 pm
More than 40 Ka'u residents participated in this fourth Food Self-Reliance workshop sponsored by the Hawai'i County Resource Center and Permanent Agriculture Resources. It followed similar workshops in Kona, Kohala and Puna, with each workshop uniquely designed for growing conditions in its respective district. For Ocean View, conditions are particularly challenging: shallow soils and little rainfall. The workshop addressed these issues, and enlisted local farmers to describe how they meet this challenge. A major theme was soil building and conservation and water retention methods.
The morning session consisted of four presentations. First, Nick Francisco described in detail the propagation, planting, harvesting and cooking of dryland kalo. Next, Craig Elevitch presented a slideshow/talk about tropical agriculture and homestead growing techniques from several Polynesian and Micronesian islands. His overall thesis: in Hawai'i we have more to learn about tropical sustainability from Pacific islanders than from mainland farming. The third presentation was by Renee Gronwall, who related the many advantages for home gardeners in Ocean View (and anywhere with little space or soil) of growing vegetables in containers of every imaginable size and shape. Key to Renee's success with container-grown vegetables is her extensive use of homemade compost. The final morning presentation featured a resident of the Marshall Islands, the Reverand Johnson Jetton. He told the heart-wrenching story of the reclamation of Enewetak Atoll in the 1980's after its decimation by US nuclear testing from 1952 to 1958. Enewetak islanders, who had been removed for the testing, returned to Enewetak and transformed their barren and irradiated soil to productivity, primarily by building soil through the composting of all available organic material.
The highlights of the afternoon portion of the workshop were the visits to two commercially successful certified organic farms in Ocean View. Earth Matters Farm, stewarded by Gail and Greg Smith, and West Hawai'i Farm, operated by Cher Capps, both specialize in lettuce and leafy vegetables and both grow on raised beds averaging about about 3' x 25'. Earth Matters Farm uses extensive irrigation, while operators of West Hawai'i Farm hand water their beds. Both farms have been in operation for over 10 years and use virtually no external soil, fertilizer or weed control inputs, relying entirely on increasing soil fertility through composting of large amounts of recycled vegetable matter. In addition, West Hawai'i Farm adds worm castings to their compost and makes compost tea for fertilizer.
After the farm tour, participants returned to the Ocean View Community Center for a short presentation by Craig Elevitch about the many benefits of growing perennial leafy vegetables. His slideshow highlighted six edible perennials that are particularly suited to our climate. These include cassava, Sissoo spinach, chayote, Okinawan spinach, and chaya. The final event of this Hawai'i Food Self-Reliance Workshop was a discussion, led by Nalani Parlin, about how food sustainability fits into the Community Development Plan (CDP) for Ka'u. Participants were each asked to name their priorities for how best to achieve long-term food sustainability, and the group was then invited to get more actively involved in establishing food security goals in the on-going formulation of the Ka'u CDP.
As a final send-off, workshop coordinator Craig Elevitch handed out fresh cuttings to participants interested in starting a plot of perennial vegetables! You can learn more about the workshop and see photos at http://www.agroforestry.net/events/index.html#hgworkshops
Web resources
Hawai'i organizations
Agroforestry Net http://www.agroforestry.net
Hawai'i Agriculture Notes http://www.ahualoa.net/ag/notes_farming.html
Hawai'i Farmers Union http://www.hawaiifarmersunion.org
Hawai'i Fruit http://www.Hawaiifruit.net
Hawai'i Island School Garden Network http://www.kohalacenter.org/HISGN/about.html
Hawai'i Organic Farmers Association http://www.hawaiiorganicfarmers.org
Hawai'i SEED http://www.hawaiiseed.org
Hawai'i Tropical Fruit Growers http://www.hawaiitropicalfruitgrowers.org
Know Your Farmer Alliance http://www.knowyourfarmeralliance.com
Kona Coffee Council http://www.kona-coffee-council.com
Kona Coffee Farmers Association http://www.konacoffeefarmers.org
Kona Outdoor Circle http://www.konaoutdoorcircle.org
North Kohala Food Forum http://nkfoodforum.com
Slow Food Hawai'i http://www.slowfoodhawaii.org
Sustainable Hawaii http://sustainablehawaiiisland.org/
Waimea Outdoor Circle http://www.waimeaoutdoorcircle.org
Other Island websites
Andrea Dean Eat Local http://www.andreadean.com
Big Island Farmers Markets http://www.hcrs.info/sustainability/agriculture-and-food
Green Hawaii http://www.greenhawaii.com
Hawaii Physical Activity and Nutrition Newsletter http://http://www.healthyhawaii.com
How to Feed Chickens in Hawaii http://www.ahualoa.net/chickens/
La'akea Permaculture Community http://http://permaculture-hawaii.com
Plants Hawaii http://www.plantshawaii.com
South Kona Green Market http://www.skgm.org
University of Hawai’i College of Tropical Agriculture (CTAHR)
Organic - CTAHR http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/organic/
Buy Fresh - Buy Local http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/sustainag/BFBL.asp
Government agencies
Hawaii County Resource Center http://www.hcrc.info/sustainability/agriculture-and-food
National websites
Community Alliance with Family Farmers http://caff.org
Community Food Security Coalition http://www.foodsecurity.org
Food Declaration http://fooddeclaration.org
Food Share http://www.foodshare.net
National Homegrown Site http://www.homegrown.org
Natural Farming http://janonglove.com/janongusa/intro01.html
Videos
Permaculture -- Farms for the Future http://www.viddler.com/explore/PermaScience/videos/4/
Food, Inc. movie trailer http://www.foodincmovie.com/
Submissions
We invite you to submit information about educational events, resources, workshops, festivals, presentations, etc., related to growing, exchanging, selling, preparing, and eating locally grown food that is sustainable or organic. Please send us your submissions using the e-mail forms below. We will compile your submissions and send them to hundreds of Hawai'i Island sustainable food practitioners and supporters.
===== Submission Forms
The newsletter features upcoming events, new publications and web sites, resources and other vital news for the Grow Local/Eat Local Food movement. Our goal is to support and strengthen our Hawai'i Island sustainable and organic local food system: growers (farmers and gardeners), processors, wholesalers and marketers, retailers (stores and restaurants), and you and I -- eaters.
It's easy to submit the information you want to reach our Grow Local/Eat Local community:
1. First, click Reply to this e-mail.
2. Second, fill out the appropriate form(s): “EVENT,” “RESOURCE” and/or "REPORT" below.
3. Third, click Send.
We'll do the rest. Please note: Submissions will be published at the discretion of the editorial staff.
EVENT
Date & Time of Event:
Title of Event:
Sponsor/Organizer:
Brief Description:
Place (be specific):
Cost:
Contact (name, e-mail, website, phone):
RESOURCE
Web site:
Book:
Video:
Article:
Course:
Other:
Contact (name, e-mail, website, phone):
Are you a Grower__? Educator__? Processor__? Wholesaler__? Marketer__? Retailer__? Other___?
REPORT
If you have sponsored a recent event, would you like to write a brief news report about it for our newsletter? Yes ______ No _______.
If you would prefer us to write the report, may we contact you for a brief interview? Yes ______ No ______ Name, phone, e-mail:
Date and name of event:
Thank you for your contribution to the Hawai'i Homegrown Food Network. We envision an economically thriving, sustainable food system for Hawai'i Island that each year reduces our dependence on imported food.
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This newsletter is a free service of Agroforestry Net, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Agroforestry Net, Inc.
PO Box 428
Holualoa, HI 96725 USA
Tel: 808-324-4427
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