EAT THINK DRINK: Lei of the Land
Protecting Hawai‘i’s Floral Industry
Tuesday, November 18, 2025
Prince Waikiki | 6:00–9:00 PM
The Hawai‘i Agricultural Foundation is excited to announce its keynote speaker, Eric Tanouye, President of the Hawai‘i Floriculture and Nursery Association and President of Green Point Nurseries on Hawai‘i Island.
Once a leading agricultural export, Hawai‘i’s floriculture industry has seen sharp decline over the past two decades. Today, nearly 90% of lei flowers are imported, raising urgent questions about authenticity, cultural preservation, and the future of local growers.
Join us for an evening of powerful dialogue on how we can protect Hawai‘i’s floral traditions and ensure this iconic industry thrives for generations to come.
Hele Imua Agriculture Apprentice Pilot Program
Applications now open for interns and small farms – Apply by October 24, 2025
The Hawai‘i Agricultural Foundation (HAF), in partnership with the State of Hawai‘i Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR) and Ulupono Initiative, is launching the Hele Imua Agriculture Apprentice Pilot Program — a new workforce development initiative designed to strengthen Hawai‘i’s agricultural sector through hands-on learning and paid training opportunities.
This 12-week pilot program beginning November 1 will connect three college students, recent graduates or people interested in agriculture careers with three small farms (with five or fewer employees) for on-the-job training. Interns will earn $20 per hour for up to 19.5 hours per week — gaining real-world experience while contributing to Hawai‘i’s local food future.
Modeled after the State’s Hele Imua Internship Program (Act 251, SLH), this pilot expands opportunities into the private sector, allowing small farms to host interns while HAF manages recruitment, payroll, and administrative responsibilities. The program will help DLIR assess and refine the process before the statewide private-sector rollout in 2026. For more information, contact HAF at info@hawaiiagfoundation.org or call 808-927-9749.
Applications for the 2025 pilot program
2025 Intern | 2025 Farm Partner
2026 Program Interest
2026 Intern | 2026 Farm Partner
New! Meet our 2025 Localicious Heroes®
Meet the farmers and producers shaping Hawai‘i’s local food movement in five inspiring new video shorts from the Localicious Heroes® series. From vibrant orchids to sticky rice and honey, these growers take us on a journey from farm to market—sharing their passion for sustainability, culture, and community along the way.
HAF publishes Farm to School Plan
As part of our mission to support local farmers and grow a sustainable food future, Hawai‘i Agricultural Foundation collaborated with the City and County of Honolulu – Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency, the Office of the First Lady, and the Hawai‘i State Department of Education (HIDOE) on a Farm to School Action Plan for Central Oʻahu. The plan was funded by the USDA Patrick Leahy Farm to School Program and awarded to HAF through a low-bid RFP from the City and County of Honolulu in October.
Working within a tight timeline, HAF focused the plan on the HIDOE Regional Kitchen serving the Leilehua, Mililani, and Waialua (LMW) Complex Area. When HAF began its contract with the City and County of Honolulu, HIDOE had already awarded a $28 million contract in September 2024 to Hensel Phelps Construction Co. to build the facility. The planned 18,000-square-foot, single-story kitchen will be located in Whitmore Village on 3–4 acres of a 34-acre parcel managed by the Agribusiness Development Corporation.
The LMW Regional Kitchen—the first of several planned statewide—will serve 20 schools in the area and can produce up to 20,000 meals daily. Its bulk purchasing capacity enables HIDOE to buy more local food and helps farmers plan for growth.*
While the plan centers on the LMW Complex Area, its key initiatives—such as child nutrition, menu development, scaling local agriculture, education, food safety, marketing, student engagement, sustainability, and evaluation—are designed to be scalable and applicable to other complex areas statewide.
For more information on the Farm to School Action Plan for Central Oʻahu visit resilientoahu.org/farmtoschoolactionplan. To view the entire plan, click here.
*Since the plan was published, the LMW Regional Kitchen project has expanded to be built in three phases. Once complete, it will serve up to 60,000 students per day.
Meet our Localicious Heroes
The Hawai‘i Agricultural Foundation has partnered up with Searider Productions at Wai‘anae High School—a collective of teachers, students and programs dedicated to helping the students of the Wai‘anae complex succeed in all their endeavors—to film and profile O‘ahu farmers and value-added producers to highlight the amazing work happening in Hawai‘i’s agricultural industry.
Empowering Future Ag Leaders
Shop Our Mika the Sous Chef Collection
Make mealtime more meaningful with our limited-edition Mika the Sous Chef Collection! Perfect for keiki and families, easy-to-follow recipes from Hawai‘i’s top chefs will inspire healthy eating and a love for local ingredients.
Shop today and combine cooking enjoyment with community impact! Every purchase supports our educational programs for schools statewide. Limited supply – don’t wait!