WHEN THE HARVEST IS LOST — Building a Stronger Safety Net for Hawai'i's Farmers

Farming has always required risk. But today, Hawai'i's farmers and ranchers are facing more threats than ever — from extreme weather, wildfire and drought to invasive species, rising costs, market volatility, and disruptions to water, energy, labor and transportation.

A single disaster can wipeout months — or years — of investment.

How can we make farming less vulnerable without asking farmers to carry all the risk?

Presented by Central Pacific Bank, join Hawai'i Agricultural Foundation for EAT THINK DRINK 34: WHEN THE HARVEST IS LOST — Building a Stronger Safety Net for Hawai'i’s Farmers, an important conversation about what it takes to protect Hawai'i agriculture—not only after disaster strikes, but before it happens.

Featuring keynote speaker Jennifer Nelligan, Chief Program Officer for the National Association of Conservation Districts, the evening will explore how conservation, risk management, crop insurance, disaster assistance, financing and public policy can work together to help farmers prepare for losses, recover and remain in agriculture.

Following the keynote, Brian Miyamoto, Executive Director of the Hawai'i Farm Bureau, will moderate a conversation with guest panelists bringing the discussion home to Hawai'i and exploring the challenges, resources and opportunities for building greater resilience across our local agricultural community.

‍PANELISTS

Michael Chock, Honolulu County USDA Farm Service Agency
Bridget Kapahu, Hawaii Meats LLC and Hawai'i Rancher
‍J.B. Martin, NRCS Pacific Islands Area, USDA
Dean Matsukawa, Hawai'i Department of Agriculture & Biosecurity

We’ll also examine a bigger question: Should Hawai'i rethink how it invests in agricultural resilience? If farmers are essential to our food security, land stewardship and rural communities, should more resources be directed toward helping them prepare for disaster rather than simply responding after the damage is done?

Join the conversationand help shape a more resilient future for Hawai'i agriculture.‍

EARLY BIRD TICKETS are on sale for a limited time.

Special pricing is available for Hawai'i State Department of Education teachers. Use promo code EDU34 and your @k12.hi.us email at checkout.

FEATURED CHEFS

Brooke Tadena, Prince Waikīkī
‍‍Dayton Cagaoan, DC Caterings
‍‍Kevin Guard, The Guarden
‍‍Andrew Le, The Pig & The Lady

Oct

WHEN THE HARVEST IS LOST — Building a Stronger Safety Net for Hawai'i's Farmers

A single disaster can wipeout months — or years — of investment.

How can we make farming less vulnerable without asking farmers to carry all the risk?

‍PANELISTS

Join the conversationand help shape a more resilient future for Hawai'i agriculture.‍

EARLY BIRD TICKETS are on sale for a limited time.

Special pricing is available for Hawai'i State Department of Education teachers. Use promo code EDU34 and your @k12.hi.us email at checkout.

FEATURED CHEFS

Brooke Tadena, Prince Waikīkī
‍‍Dayton Cagaoan, DC Caterings
‍‍Kevin Guard, The Guarden
‍‍Andrew Le, The Pig & The Lady

Early Bird Tickets On Sale!

Location:

Prince Waikiki

Time:

6:00 pm

9:00 pm

Keynote Presentation Panel Discussion Event Photos

EAT THINK DRINK is Hawaiʻi Agricultural Foundation’s signature speaker series where food, agriculture, and community come together. Each event features thought-provoking conversations with local and national leaders exploring the issues shaping Hawaiʻi’s agricultural future — from food security and workforce development to sustainability, innovation, and consumer awareness.

EAT THINK DRINK is presented by Central Pacific Bank with support from Armstrong Produce/FreshPoint Hawaii, Bayer, Centinel/Island Palm Communities, Hawai`i Longline Association, Matson, Prince Waikīkī, State of Hawai'i, Ulupono Initiative, United Airlines, and United Fishing Agency Ltd.

EXPLORE PAST EPISODES

Guests enjoy a chef-curated tasting experience while gaining fresh perspectives, making meaningful connections, and engaging in discussions that matter. Whether you're a farmer, educator, business leader, policymaker,or simply passionate about Hawaiʻi’s future, EAT THINK DRINK offers a seat at the table.

MUST BE 21 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER. No one under the age of 21 will be admitted to the event. Please bring valid government-issued photo I.D.

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Michael Chock is the Farm Loan Manager for Honolulu County at USDA Farm Service Agency. With over 9 years of experience in agricultural lending, Michael provides financial assistance to Hawaii’s farmers and ranchers. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, and going to the beach.

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Farm Loan Manager - Honolulu County, USDA Farm Service Agency

Michael Chock

Bridget Kapahu (formerly Bridget Napier) is a fourth-generation Hawaii rancher and Plant Manager of Hawaii Meats, bringing a unique perspective from both livestock production and meat processing. Raised in Hawaii agriculture, Bridget has spent much of her career working across the livestock industry and currently oversees operations at one of the state’s USDA-inspected meat processing facilities.

Bridget also serves as President of the Oʻahu Cattlemen’s Association, after previously serving as the association’s Secretary for 16 years. Her longstanding involvement in Hawaii’s cattle industry has allowed her to work alongside producers while also experiencing firsthand the challenges that exist beyond the ranch gate.

Her experience across ranching and processing gives her a practical perspective on processing capacity, transportation, labor, infrastructure, regulatory requirements, rising operating costs, and the vulnerabilities of an island food system.Bridget is passionate about strengthening Hawaii agriculture through practical solutions that support producers, preserve local agricultural capacity, and build a more resilient local food supply.

Plant Manager, Hawaii Meats LLC and Hawai'i Rancher

Bridget Kapahu

J.B. Martin is the NRCS Pacific Islands Area director, headquartered in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi.

He provides leadership for the state of Hawai'i; territories of American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Freely Associated States.

Martin's deeply rooted career with NRCS includes pivotal leadership positions and hands-on work in the field vital to NRCS’s mission.

Early in his career, he served as a soil conservationist inMarshalltown, Iowa; district conservationist in Burlington, Iowa, and Madison,Wisconsin; and area conservationist in Flagstaff, Arizona, where he managed more than 33 million acres in Northern Arizona while working with seven federally recognized Native American Tribes. He developed a strategic plan to establish the Flagstaff Area Office and helped the Navajo Nation reduce a backlog of $10 million in Environmental Quality Incentives Program contracts.

During his two years serving as the deputy state conservationist in Lakewood, Colorado, Martin addressed mismanagement of funds and authorities and developed special initiatives for conservation planning.His work led him to Raleigh, North Carolina, as state conservationist, where he implemented a special EQIP initiative to address issues relating to small and historically underserved farmers.

For the following nine years, Martin held various leadership positions at the NRCS Central National Technology Support Center in Fort Worth,Texas, including as acting director of the Southern Plains Climate Hub and acting division director of Strategic Planning and Accountability.

A native of Crystal Springs, Mississippi, Martin graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Economics from Alcorn StateUniversity in Lorman, Mississippi. He and his wife have one daughter. He enjoys watching sports, traveling, and outdoor activities.

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Director - NRCS Pacific Islands Area, USDA

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J.B. Martin

Dean Matsukawa serves as the Agricultural Loan Administrator for the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture & Biosecurity, where he leads a team managing a $22 million loan portfolio supporting local farmers. With over 30 years of experience in agricultural finance and a deep background in farming, Dean combines financial expertise with firsthand knowledge of Hawai‘i’s agricultural landscape.

Raised on his family’s farm in Waiahole Valley, Dean brings a lifetime of connection to the land. He has played a key role in modernizing loan systems, expanding access to capital for farmers statewide, and crafting legislation to strengthen the industry.

Dean holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Washington and is a graduate of lending and leadership programs through Fresno State, the Hawai‘i Leadership Academy, and the Agricultural Leadership Foundation of Hawai‘i. His contributions have earned him multiple honors, including the Department’s Manager of the Year award.

Agricultural Loan Administrator, Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture & Biosecurity

WHEN THE HARVEST IS LOST — Building a Stronger Safety Net for Hawai'i's Farmers

‍PANELISTS

FEATURED CHEFS

WHEN THE HARVEST IS LOST — Building a Stronger Safety Net for Hawai'i's Farmers

‍PANELISTS

FEATURED CHEFS

EXPLORE PAST EPISODES

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Keynote Speaker

Moderator

Panelists

Featured Chefs