Veggie U Hawaiʻi

About Veggie U Hawaiʻi

Established in 2014 by James Beard Award-Winning Chef Alan Wong, Veggie U Hawaiʻi aims to inspire young future farmers to pursue an agricultural-related career thus continuing to grow and expand our agricultural industry in Hawaiʻi. The program targets students in grades 3 through grade 5 statewide and currently has over 50 participating teachers in 24 schools statewide.

Veggie U Hawaiʻi is a 5-unit, 25-lesson curriculum that provides students with a seed planting, growing and harvesting experience through hands-on, STEM-focused lessons. Through this program, teachers engage their students with interactive lesson plans pertaining to sustainable farming methods, our local agricultural and making healthy food choices.

Contact Us

Veggie U Hawaiʻi – Upcoming Teacher Trainings

Trainings are offered in partnership with HIDOE.  There is no charge to attend these trainings. Teachers must register through Learnsoft (HIDOE dashboard).  Space is limited!

Dates of Teacher Trainings for SY 2025 – 2026:

9:00 am – 2:00 pm

  • Saturday, September 20, 2025 (on Oahu):  Learnsoft Learning Object ID and Instance Coming Soon
  • Saturday, September 27, 2025 (on Kauai): Learnsoft Learning Object ID and Instance  Coming Soon
  • Saturday, November 15, 2025 (on Hawaii Island): Learnsoft Learning Object ID and Instance  Coming Soon
  • Saturday, January 31, 2026 (on Oahu): Learnsoft Learning Object ID and Instance  Coming Soon

Locations:

On Oahu: On Kauai:

Hawaii Agriculture Research Center (HARC)

94-340 Kunia Road

Waipahu, HI 96797

Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School

4431 Nuhou Street

Lihue,  HI 96766

Participants will receive the Veggie U curriculum, a grow light, plant pans, microscopes, and a list of other materials to purchase (e.g., soil and seeds). HAF will reimburse participants for their purchases up to $100.00. In addition, teachers who complete the curriculum with their students are eligible for a HAF sponsored field trip to an agricultural site.

Veggie U Hawaiʻi program

The following is a summary of the Veggie U Hawaiʻi program:

Veggie U is a 5 unit, 25-lesson, hands-on curriculum that was developed in the state of Ohio that provides students with a seed-planting-growing-harvesting experience through rigorous lessons that encompass science, health, math, reading, writing and social studies.  The Veggie U program introduces students to the vital role agriculture plays in our daily lives.

Veggie U Materials
Each classroom is given materials to assist with the teaching and implementation of Veggie U. Classes will be provided with: an indoor grow light, planters, root viewers, and other reimbursable supplies. 

Curriculum

HAF aligned the following academic standards to the Veggie U curriculum: Hawaiʻi Content and Performance Standards, General Learner Outcomes, Common Core Language Arts and Math, and the Next Generation Science Standards.

Resources

HAF provides a digital teacher’s guide, electronic student pages, virtual field trips, and a website to easily navigate and implement the curriculum. 

Ms. Pescaia, Grade 4 Kailua Elementary

The students were very excited to begin something new, especially knowing they would become “mini” farmers. Most students know that vegetables are healthy, but more than half do not eat them regularly.

Kailua Elementary
Ms. Pescaia, Grade 4

Ms. Brown, Grade 4, Kailua Elementary

I was pleasantly surprised that many of my students were open to the idea of trying new vegetables and pretty much consumed vegetables on a regular basis.

Kailua Elementary
Ms. Brown, Grade 4

Ms. Miyashiro, Grade 4, Wilcox Elementary

The children enjoyed tasting various vegetables. They completed their journal entry describing their experiences and especially loved creating their own unique vegetables…students are loving Veggie U activities!

Wilcox Elementary
Ms. Miyashiro, Grade 4

Ms. Baldridge, Grade 4, Kihei Charter School

Many students learned new names of veggies along with trying new food. Some students realized that they had never tried that kind of veggie raw, while others shared times they had eaten that veggie before!

Kihei Charter School
Ms. Baldridge, Grade 4

Anonymous, 4th Grade Teacher

We are loving the program. We have a very large school garden. The kids are starting seeds in the room then moving them out to the garden as they grow. They are also working on a school fundraiser where they will be selling their plant starts. It has really been great!!!

Anonymous
4th Grade Teacher

Bring Ag Education to Your Classroom

If you’re interested in bringing this program to your classroom at no charge to you or your school, fill out the form below: