Aloha e friends,

A huge mahalo to everyone who helped support our end of year giving campaign! With your support we raised over $25,000 to help us continue to accelerate the growth of local food production and consumption, and sustainability across Kaua‘i! Every single contribution makes an impact in our community.

As the new year settles in, we're busy measuring what we accomplished last year and finalizing our goals for 2018. The experience is humbling, as we're reminded how many people and organizations are working hand-in-hand across Kaua‘i, the state, and even the world to see many of these common goals realized. It's inspiring to be reminded that we're all in this together, doing our part, even though we may not get to be together face-to-face frequently.

We're excited to get more of that face-to-face and continued collaboration this month with our Hawai‘i Investment Ready Cohort (which we're so blessed to be a part of!) as well a statewide Good Food Network Retreat next week. The year ahead is already looking exciting and the growth we've seen across the island this past year is inspiring. 

We all have good reason to be enthusiastic for all of the possibilities that the new year ahead holds for us all. Thank you for continuing to be a part of this growth in whatever capacity you serve in - it's all making a difference.

Mahalo for keeping in touch!

Megan Fox
Executive Director

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Stories in this issue include...

- Welcome Naoshi Grady to the Team
- 2/5: Mahi‘ai Technical Assistance Program Launch Workshop
- Volunteer Spotlight
- Featured Farmer/Rancher
- New Farm Lots Available at the Community Farm
- 1/17: Ku‘i Kalo at the County
- 1/17: GoFarm Free AgCurious Session
- 1/27: Sustainable Coastlines Kalapaki Bay Cleanup
- Support the Efforts & Our Wishlist

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Welcome Naoshi to the Team!

Naoshi Kaiuiokalani Grady, Mahi‘ai Technical Assistance Program Manager
Born and raised in Kilauea and the Kalihiwai ahupua‘a, the home of our Community Farm, Naoshi has been farming for close to 20 years, including running a successful ‘awa (kava) business. His products have been distributed throughout stores locally and through Whole Foods, and he has studied farming under many mahi‘ai that have come before him. We're excited to welcome him to the team to help build the capacity of minority farmers and ranchers across Kaua‘i!

From Naoshi: "I’m very excited and eager to help farmers and ranchers facilitate and grow their businesses, and also to help develop locally produced value added products to stimulate the Kaua‘i economy. By helping to serve the underserved minority community of farmers and ranchers we can create a sustainable and abundant Kaua‘i agricultural economy. I look forward to a prosperous and bountiful 2018!"

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Mon. 2/5 Mahi‘ai Technical Assistance Program

Launch & Kick-Off Workshop

Join us on Monday, February 5th from 3pm to 6pm at the Malama Kaua‘i Community Farm to learn more about our Mahi‘ai Technical Assistance Program and get prepared to launch or expand your farming or ranching operation in 2018!

In this first workshop of the series, we'll highlight free business planning and consulting services, so you can take the first step by creating or fine-tuning a solid business model and define your needs and next steps. Refreshments will also be offered.

3p: Mahi‘ai Technical Assistance Program - Naoshi Grady, Program Manager
Learn about our pilot program aimed at supporting minority farmers and ranchers through a monthly workshop series and technical assistance program. To learn more or sign up for individualized services, visit our WEBSITEEligible farmer/ranchers will be able to sign up for 1on1 technical assistance at the event.

3:30p: GoFarm Hawai‘i AgBusiness Program - Pomai Weigert
Learn about this free consulting program that helps people who produce, use, or promote agriculture in Hawaii to start, grow, and improve their bottom line. AgBusiness helps with business planning, marketing, financial analysis, and other guidance designed to launch businesses and products, lower costs, and increase sales.

5p: Farm Business Plans & Financials - John Latkiewicz, SBDC
John will provide business plan and financial templates and lead a discussion on writing a solid business plan to utilize for grant and loan applications. Participants will also be able to schedule a free follow-up session for 1on1 business planning assistance through the Small Business Development Center.

Mahalo to the support we've received from the County of Kaua‘i's Office of Economic Development and the G.N. Wilcox Trust of the Bank of Hawaii Foundation to offer this program pilot!

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Volunteer Spotlight: Lana Vali

Mahalo to our volunteer of the month - Lana Vali! Lana has been interning with us since November, helping to coordinate our AmeriCorps VISTA program and support a variety of VISTA projects. After finishing college last year, Lana returned to her home on the north shore and wanted to get involved with sustainability efforts on Kaua‘i. With her degree in mathematics, she's already earned herself the title of "Data Queen." In a short time, Lana's become a friend to everybody in the office, always offering a smile, a listening ear, and ample surf tips. We are so grateful for all of Lana's hard work to help us reach our objectives and support our AmeriCorps members.

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Featured Rancher: 

Willy Sanchez & Wailua Meat Co.

The launch of Mala’ai Kula, Kaua’i’s farm-to-school pilot program, has been a success thanks to the support of the incredible farmers and ranchers of Kaua’i that provide the lunch programs with quality, local ingredients. These locally sourced ingredients ensure that the program supports the local economy, local farmers and ranchers, as well as supplying students with healthy and wholesome school lunches made from scratch.

This month we shine the spotlight on Kaua’i-born cattle rancher Willy Sanchez and Wailua Meat Company. Willy has been tending to pastures and cattle since he was a kid, learning the ropes from his father, Manuel Sanchez. Manuel established one of Kaua’i’s first commercial slaughterhouses in 1945 and Willy has continued on the family business. Today, Wailua Meat Co. has a full-scale, state-of-the-art processing facility, manages 1,326 acres and has 500 head of cattle.

Wailua Meat Co. is a staple of Kaua’i’s food system and Willy is a well-respected and valued member of the community. Our island has very few options for non-imported proteins, ranches help to preserve our agricultural lands from development, and our locally ranged cattle ranches are far superior to mainland factory farms - so supporting our hard-working ranchers is important to do whenever possible!

Chef Barbara has been proud to serve Wailua Meat Co.’s grass-finished beef in dishes such as beef stew and poi meatballs for Kawaikini’s lunch program. Mahalo Uncle Willy for helping us to feed our keiki from this ‘āina!

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New Small Farm Lots Available

at the Community Farm in Kalihiwai

If you're looking for space to grow commercially and our Kalihiwai Community Garden plots are too small, good news - we're opening up new unused portions of the property for larger rentable spaces to help increase fruit and vegetable production on the property!

We currently have a few 15'x20' Community Garden plots available, and will have larger plots ranging up to 1/2 acre open soon. Please contact Jared at (808) 828-0685 x10 or [email protected] to schedule a farm tour and discussion about your experience and goals.

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1/17: Ku‘i Kalo at the County

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1/17: GoFarm Free AgCurious Session

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1/27: Sustainable Coastlines Kalapaki Bay Cleanup

Sustainable Coastlines Cleanup is hosting a big beach cleanup on Kaua‘i in collaboration with Surfrider Foundation on Saturday, January 27th at 9am - 1:30pm. Visit their Facebook Group for more info.

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Every time you shop at Amazon.com using this link, Amazon Smile will make a donation to Malama Kaua`i! Giving has never been so easy! Simply bookmark this link and use it every time you shop.

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Donate

Help us to continue our community-based work by making a tax-deductible donation. You can specify the program(s) or project(s) you'd like your donations to go to!

Monthly Donation Options


One Time Donation

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Our Wish List

Every tax-deductible donation helps to expand our impact in the community. Here are a few things we need currently:

Priority Items: Small Engine Repair Partner (have donated machines that need to be tuned up to be usable), Gas Cards

Office Supplies: Laptops / Tablets / iPhones, General Office Supplies (pens, paper, etc.)…Read more.

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