Kaua‘i County’s Office of Economic Development awarded 12 Agriculture Farm Expansion Grants for fiscal year 2024-25. This is the second year the office offered funding through the grant program aimed at advancing Kaua‘i’s agricultural industry through targeted investments in the expansion of farming and/or production around the island.
A selection committee reviewed and scored each of the eligible 18 proposals submitted, with the 12 selected projects partially or fully funded with a total of $637,429.
Projects that received funding this year included:
Kūmāno I Ke Ala O Makaweli — Maha‘iha‘i restoration phase three: Building out of 80 additional lo‘i patches and enhancing ‘auwai systems to support traditional Hawaiian kalo production, including technical assistance on sustainable soil health practices, Korean natural farming techniques, plus planning and staff training to ensure restoration activities are optimized for ecological and agricultural success.
Waipā Foundation — Building propagation capacity in Waipā: Expansion of plant propagation capacity of native and cultural plants, microgreens and vegetable seedlings to increase access to locally grown produce and strengthening community food systems for the only federally designated disadvantaged community on Kaua‘i.
CG Foundation — Lydgate Farms expansion of cacao, vanilla and honey: Expansion including adding new varieties of vanilla and vanilla curing, additional apiary hives, a honey house and additional planting of up to 167 cacao trees.
Ho‘omalu Ke Kai — Laboratory expansion for fishpond production: Expansion of micro-algae production, water testing and general laboratory capacity at the Nomilo Fishpond.
Kūkulu Kumuhana O Anahola — Ulupono Anahola Farm: Expansion including adding soil amendments, composting and mulching and preparation for a planting of 134 trees on an additional 3 acres.
Wai‘oli Valley Taro Hui Inc. — ‘Auwai irrigation ditch repair: Improving and increasing water flow to generate additional kalo for four farming business operations on 34 acres of lo‘i.
Wai‘oli Valley Taro Hui Inc. — Renewable Portfolio Standards solar pumps: Addition of Renewable Portfolio Standards solar pumps to replace the existing piping system to the ‘auwai to expand lo‘i production and quality, including less disease and water stagnation.
Hawai‘i Farm Bureau Foundation — Ueunten Farm resilience plan: Mitigation of current and future challenges from disease, invasive species and weather events by producing on-site composted mulching material and wood chips to improve soil quality for additional farm production and orchard management.
CG Foundation — Common ground community engagement with regenerative agriculture: Addition of farm infrastructure to increase plant propagation and increase farm yields enhancing Kaua‘i’s long-term ecological and economic sustainability.
Mālama Kaua‘i — Makaweli Pu‘ulima ‘Auwai improvements: Ditch modernization project for an aging and deteriorating system used by six Makaweli kalo farmers who participate in the kalo to kula program, increasing usable acreage and kalo production.
Mālama Kaua‘i — Olohena ‘Āina Center: Initial development of phase one of the project that encompasses 87 agricultural acres for a new agricultural park on the east side of Kaua‘i.
Bee Team — Building a regenerative model through natural beekeeping and bridging indigenous agricultural practices: Infrastructure improvement to expand apiary capacity and production, bolster the ecological and economic resilience of Kaua‘i, expand locally sourced and handcrafted products and boost the immunity of Kaua‘i people through the distribution of honey.
For additional information, contact Kaua‘i County’s Office of Economic Development at 808-241-4946 or via email at oed@kauai.gov.
— news from Kauai Now
— News Original —
12 projects receive Agriculture Farm Expansion Grants from Office of Economic Development : Kauai Now
Kauai News
12 projects receive Agriculture Farm Expansion Grants from Office of Economic Development
July 6, 2025, 5:00 AM HST
* Updated July 6, 5:59 AM
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Kaua‘i County’s Office of Economic Development awarded 12 Agriculture Farm Expansion Grants for fiscal year 2024-25.
This is the second year the office offered funding through the grant program aimed at advancing Kaua‘i’s agricultural industry through targeted investments in the expansion of farming and/or production around the island.
A selection committee carefully reviewed and scored each of the eligible 18 proposals submitted, with the 12 selected projects partially or fully funded with a total of $637,429.
Projects that received funding this year were:
Kūmāno I Ke Ala O Makaweli — Maha‘iha‘i restoration phase three: Building out of 80 additional lo‘i patches and enhancing ‘auwai systems to support traditional Hawaiian kalo production, including technical assistance on sustainable soil health practices, Korean natural farming techniques, plus planning and staff training to ensure restoration activities are optimized for ecological and agricultural success.
Waipā Foundation — Building propagation capacity in Waipā: Expansion of plant propagation capacity of native and cultural plants, microgreens and vegetable seedlings to increase access to locally grown produce and strengthening community food systems for the only federally designated disadvantaged community on Kaua‘i.
CG Foundation — Lydgate Farms expansion of cacao, vanilla and honey: Expansion including adding new varieties of vanilla and vanilla curing, additional apiary hives, a honey house and additional planting of up to 167 cacao trees.
Ho‘omalu Ke Kai — Laboratory expansion for fishpond production: Expansion of micro-algae production, water testing and general laboratory capacity at the Nomilo Fishpond.
Kūkulu Kumuhana O Anahola — Ulupono Anahola Farm: Expansion including adding soil amendments, composting and mulching and preparation for a planting of 134 trees on an additional 3 acres.
Wai‘oli Valley Taro Hui Inc. — ‘Auwai irrigation ditch repair: Improving and increasing water flow to generate additional kalo for four farming business operations on 34 acres of lo‘i.
Wai‘oli Valley Taro Hui Inc. — Renewable Portfolio Standards solar pumps: Addition of Renewable Portfolio Standards solar pumps to replace the existing piping system to the ‘auwai to expand lo‘i production and quality, including less disease and water stagnation.
Hawai‘i Farm Bureau Foundation — Ueunten Farm resilience plan: Mitigation of current and future challenges from disease, invasive species and weather events by producing on-site composted mulching material and wood chips to improve soil quality for additional farm production and orchard management.
CG Foundation — Common ground community engagement with regenerative agriculture: Addition of farm infrastructure to increase plant propagation and increase farm yields enhancing Kaua‘i’s long-term ecological and economic sustainability.
Mālama Kaua‘i — Makaweli Pu‘ulima ‘Auwai improvements: Ditch modernization project for an aging and deteriorating system used by six Makaweli kalo farmers who participate in the kalo to kula program, increasing usable acreage and kalo production.
Mālama Kaua‘i — Olohena ‘Āina Center: Initial development of phase one of the project that encompasses 87 agricultural acres for a new agricultural park on the east side of Kaua‘i.
Bee Team — Building a regenerative model through natural beekeeping and bridging indigenous agricultural practices: Infrastructure improvement to expand apiary capacity and production, bolster the ecological and economic resilience of Kaua‘i, expand locally sourced and handcrafted products and boost the immunity of Kaua‘i people through the distribution of honey.
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Contact Kaua‘i County’s Office of Economic Development at 808-241-4946 or via email at oed@kauai.gov for additional information.
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