HAF offers meaningful ways for our community to connect with and support local agriculture. From thought-provoking events like EAT THINK DRINK to fundraising campaigns and volunteer opportunities, every action helps strengthen Hawai‘i’s food system. By joining us, you not only celebrate our farmers, ranchers, and food producers — you help build a more resilient and food-secure Hawai‘i for generations to come.
EAT THINK DRINK is HAF’s signature event series bringing together chefs, farmers, industry leaders, and the community to explore the most pressing issues shaping Hawai‘i’s food system. Each program pairs insightful dialogue with delicious, locally inspired dishes, creating an experience that informs, inspires, and connects.From food security to sustainability, policy to innovation, EAT THINK DRINK sparks conversation and action around building a stronger agricultural future for Hawai‘i.Stay tuned here for details on upcoming events — and join us at the table to be part of the conversation.
Hawai‘i Agricultural Foundation (HAF) invites farmers, ranchers, fishermen, and other agricultural producers to partner with us through our In the Fields program. This hands-on initiative offers students field trips to active farms, giving them a firsthand look at Hawai‘i’s working agricultural landscape.
If you’re interested in hosting a field trip or supporting this program, please complete the interest form or contact HAF for more information. Together, we can inspire the next generation and strengthen Hawai‘i’s food future.
HAF hosted its 20th EAT THINK DRINK (ETD) focused on Food Waste – Full Circle With Composting on Wednesday, November 16, 2022 at Prince Waikiki, Pi‘inaio Ballroom. The event was presented by Central Pacific Bank and Alaska Airlines and featured keynote speaker Marvin Min, Senior Vice President – Hawai‘i Division from Hawaiian Earth Recycling. Marvin Min is in charge of the Hawaii division- Hawaiian Earth Recycling (HER), Hawaiian Earth Products and Menehune Magic. HER has been an integral partner on diverting approximately 2 million tons of green waste, logs and untreated wood pallets from the landfill or being incinerated at H- Power, turning them into products such as soil amendments, blends, mulch and erosion control products, compost and potting mix for use throughout Hawaii. HER is the largest permitted green waste recycling company in Hawaii.
HAF hosted its 19th EAT THINK DRINK (ETD), AgTech: Growing Innovation on Thursday, August 25, 2022 at Tidepools by Central Pacific Bank. Presented by Central Pacific Bank and Alaska Airlines, AgTech: Growing Innovation featured keynote speaker Jeremy Williams, the Head of Climate LLC and Digital Farming for the Crop Science division of Bayer. Jeremy Williams, Head of Climate Corporation and Digital Farming for the Crop Science division of Bayer, provided an overview of how Bayer uses science innovations and cutting-edge technology at their farms to work more efficiently, help improve the overall sustainability of their farming operations, and help farmers to work in a more precise and data-driven fashion.
For this ETD event, HAF is hosted a private screening of Hashi Media’s Taste Our Love for Hawai‘i Episode 3: Aqua+Culture, featuring chefs Niki Nakayama and Mark Pomaski. Following the screening, we heard from keynote speaker Dick Jones, CEO of Blue Ocean Mariculture. Dick Jones, CEO of Blue Ocean Mariculture, provided an overview of aquaculture as a global industry and the potential for the industry here in our islands. He also shared his view on why Hawaiʻi can be a leader in new technologies and innovations for the industry. The presentation was followed by a panel that will share how loko iʻa of the past are also contributing to our local food supply, where investments are being made in aquaculture, and how this industry can contribute to Hawaiʻi’s economic diversification, food resiliency, job creation and cultural preservation.
Maui’s history with sugar dates back centuries as one of Hawai‘i’s leading agricultural crops until its last sugar plantation shutdown in 2016. In 2018, Mahi Pono purchased approximately 41,000 acres of agricultural land from Alexander & Baldwin, which was formerly Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Company Lands. In the past three years, Mahi Pono has focused on producing food with export potential for local consumption, creating jobs for local residents, and supporting local farmers in its agricultural park by providing farmable land, water and resources such as farming expertise, infrastructure, equipment, and development and farming capital. EAT THINK DRINK 17: Ag Redux — From Plantation to Diversification was presented by Central Pacific Bank and Alaska Airlines—and explored how Maui County is moving from its plantation past to diversified agriculture. Keynote speaker Darren Strand, Mahi Pono’s Vice President of Agricultural Operations & Business Development, shared the progress Mahi Pono has made to take former sugar cane lands to new crops for local consumption, as well as plans to develop produce for export in the future.
The HIDOE is the single largest purchaser of food in State, spending approximately $45 million on food annually, most of which is processed, frozen and canned. If just a portion of that was replaced with local agricultural products, it would give farmers a huge and consistent market, helping move the needle on our efforts toward greater sustainability. In addition, this past legislature, House Bill 767 was enacted and established a goal requiring at least 30% of all food served in public schools should consist of locally sourced products by 2030. In 2017, HAF hosted ETD, School Lunch: Hawai‘i’s Farm to School Initiative and brought thought leaders together to talk about the possibilities of increasing local produce in our public school cafeterias. Tanaka’s keynote presentation was followed by a panel made up of key players who are currently making a difference or are positioned to help further the farm to school initiative.
