The Future of Hawai‘i’s Last Sugar Mill
Pu‘unēnē Mill on Maui was bought by Nan Inc., though much of it may be demolished.
Agriculture
Restoration of He‘eia Fishpond Nears a Major Milestone
Paepae o He‘eia has spent decades removing mangroves and rebuilding the fishpond wall. The nonprofit is now gearing up to start sustainable fish production.
Turning Local Crops into Lucrative Food and Beverage Startups
The new Wahiawā Value-Added Product Development Center rents equipment and space for small businesses to ramp up production.
The Heat Is Rising in Honolulu. More Trees Will Help Cool It Off.
Hawai‘i organizations were awarded $42.6 million in federal funds to expand the urban tree canopy. Some neighborhoods need it more than others.
This Protea Farm on Maui Is Still Going Strong
At Malolo Farm in Kula, Ali Minney and her family have supplied florists with the winter-blooming flowers for decades.
How Ag Tech Is Helping Hawai‘i Farmers Grow More Food
Innovations such as data sensors, drones and controlled environments make farming easier, more productive and more profitable.
This Nonprofit Helps Kaua‘i’s Farmers Start Up and Grow
Mālama Kaua‘i’s network increased sales by almost 6% in a year, with one farmer reaching six figures.
The Honolulu Fish Auction Celebrates Its 70th Anniversary
The auction at Pier 38 sells up to 90,000 pounds of fish a day and is a key part of the state’s biggest food-producing industry.
From Kona’s Natural Energy Lab, Hatch Invests in Aquaculture Startups Around the Globe
The aquaculture park pumps in ocean water from different depths, allowing innovators to work with both cold and warm water species.
Saving Hawai‘i’s Endemic Plants, One Seed at a Time
The Army Natural Resources Program has nearly 22.5 million specimens in its seed bank and replants about 2,000 endangered plants each year.
CSAs Became a Lifeline in the Pandemic for Consumers and Farmers
The organizations that sell produce directly to consumers have enjoyed dramatic increases in demand during the pandemic. Much of their produce came from farmers whose sales to restaurants declined.
Meadow Gold's Strategy: Double Down on Local
The company’s new owner plans to expand its dairy products and juices while adding a line of soy milk and other plant-based beverages – all with local ingredients.
Handmade Noodles with Okinawan Sweet Potatoes are a Staple at this Kāne‘ohe Takeout Restaurant
Homegrown in Hawai‘i, these noodles are a work of art.
A Green Formula for Rejuvenation
Kupu used stimulus money to protect the ‘āina and provide new opportunities for hundreds of people. Part 9 of a series of stories about resilience during the pandemic.
A Pueo and His Keeper
Five-year-old Makamae perches on Shari Nishikawa’s protected arm at the Honolulu Zoo.
Fires Consume More Hawaiʻi Forest in Recent Years
Fires burned more than 30,000 acres of forest and brushland in both 2018 and 2019 – far more than any other year in more than a decade.
My Job: Outdoor Jack-of-All-Trades
Gerry Kaho‘okano used to Tahitian dance with John (Leong, CEO of Pono Pacific Land Management) and he needed help. So he went to work for him as a field laborer.
People and Places that Grow Hawai‘i’s Food
It seems everyone wants more locally grown food. Here are those making it happen: their successes, challenges and ideas about how to make Hawai‘i more self-sufficient in food. Alternately fought over and forgotten, land in Lualualei Valley has long served…
Kona Coffee Farmers Favor 100% Labeling Rule
These farmers want the Kona name to be reserved only for 100% Kona coffee.
Making Koa Sustainable
The native tree is a vital part of Hawaiʻi's forests and watersheds, and prized by woodworkers and by Hawaiian cultural practitioners. The challenge is making koa sustainable for all of its valuable roles. https://vimeo.com/366353476 Video by Jeff Hawe Koa has…
What Hawaiʻi Thinks About Marijuana Laws
We included this topic in two statewide surveys: The BOSS Survey of 405 local business leaders and the 808 Poll of 547 members of the general public. In both surveys, we led the discussion on marijuana with this question: "Would…
Loans Support Food Sustainability
When Zac Hosler needed funding in 2014 to build out his aquaponics business in South Kona, he believed he would be rejected by a bank. “Financing for farmers is hard to come by,” says the majority owner of Ha Farms…
Local Trees Can Help Solve Our Housing Crisis
A UH graduate’s relentless three-year quest proves even invasive trees can be turned into useful, even beautiful, dwellings.