‘MA Farm

One Farm’s Mission to Spread the Vision of a Food Secure Hawai‘i

Boasting chemical, pesticide, and fertilizer-free produce, ‘MA Farm in Waimanalo seeks to provide produce for its church and local community.  Recently reestablished in Waimanalo in 2021, the farm aims to restore the land and restore lives through sustainable and ‘āina centered farming.

‘MA Farm’s incredible start and growth is the result of Bruce Cambellʻs love for computers and farming. A former web producer and bible teacher who moved to Hawai‘i at the age of 15, Cambell found his love for farming when his student was in need of work. “A student of mine had recently become homeless, so I took it upon myself to help him by planting food and we later founded a cucumber farm,” Cambell said. “I didn’t have any farm training, nor any mentors to help me, but we found a way to grow, sell, and market our produce and that was how we started, by just doing it.”

Beginning his journey in Hawai‘i Kai, Cambell turned an acre and a half lot that was a former cucumber farm into a small diversified farm. Realizing the healing benefits that growing local not only had on the community, but also on one’s lifestyle, Cambell became committed to building and diversifying his farm.

As a farm, they want to contribute beyond just producing food. Cambell feels the need to start producing food for health, as well as food security and cultural ties to the land. “We know just how vulnerable we are because 80% of what we eat is from the mainland, and this just emphasizes our need to continue growing and producing locally,” shared Cambell. A study done by University of Hawai‘i in 2021 found that 48% of Hawaiʻi families with children have experienced food insecurity.

During the COVID pandemic, farms like ‘MA Farm was able to provide food for Oʻahu residents. By selling at farmers markets and donating produce, Cambell experienced firsthand, how Hawaiʻi relies on mainland imports and how critical it is to continue the momentum of buying local and building a resilience. Cambell hopes that future generations will pick up farming. “It’s just the pono [right] thing to do,” Campbell expresses. “We need to grow our food here on the ‘āina.” Cambell expresses.