The County of Hawaiʻi and Partners Collect Community Input on the Draft 5-Year Agrifood and Community Food Security Plan

On June 22, the Kohala Regional Agrifood Summit was held in Hāwī, bringing together panelists from across the local food system: Alohilani Kaiamakini of ʻAhaʻāina ʻO Niuliʻi; Keala Kahuanui of Nā Kālai Waʻa’s food provisioning program, Hanauna Mau; and Max Bowman of ʻAnoʻano Farms. Each reflected on the challenges and opportunities they see in their own regions and areas of expertise.

The summit was one of six regional gatherings held across the island’s districts in June and July by the County of Hawaiʻi Department of Research and Development and its partners, who developed the Draft County of Hawaiʻi 5-Year Agrifood and Community Food Security Plan. Behind the scenes, members of the Hawaiʻi County Healthy Eating + Active Living (HEAL) Coalition, along with others from food and agriculture-focused organizations, had been reviewing the draft plan and providing feedback. The summit opened that process to the wider public, giving community members a chance to weigh in directly, in their own regions.

Moderated by Maya Parish of the Kohala Food Hub, the panel surfaced both pressing challenges and inspiring successes. One panelist, an educator working with high school students in agriculture, spoke about the lack of a clear entry point for young people who want to work in the field after graduation. He sees great passion among his students, but startup costs for a farm are high and the risks significant. Naming a need like this is often the first step toward new programs and policies to address it.

There were inspiring moments too, like when Ms. Kahuanui shared how her organization provisioned a long-distance sailing voyage entirely with food grown and gathered on the island. Showcasing successes like this builds momentum for similar efforts, such as expanding the preservation of locally grown food to strengthen the island’s food security.

As inspiring as the panel was, perhaps the most impactful part of the evening was the time set aside for attendees to share their own thoughts on the draft plan, either on paper or by computer, making it easy for everyone to participate. Rather than a top-down approach to change, the County is taking the draft plan directly to communities across the island, valuing the lived experiences of people in different neighborhoods and climate zones. This approach demonstrates a genuine commitment to community-led planning.

The hope is that community members will stay engaged and help move the plan toward implementation. The August 14-15 Hawaiʻi Island Agrifood Summit, where the final plan was to be presented, was canceled due to Hurricane Lala, but it will be rescheduled, and will no doubt be another impactful gathering of people working together for a more resilient, food-secure Hawaiʻi Island.

For more information about the Hawaiʻi County HEAL Coalition, contact Emma Waters at emmawaters@hiphi.org.