"Seeds of Hope" film and speaker panel

After we returned to the classroom and had a delicious lunch made of locally grown foods (by Ka`aha`aina Cafe), we had a sneak preview of a film called "Seeds of Hope" that explains the challenges and opportunities facing sustainable agriculture in Hawai`i. We were treated to meeting the director of the film, Mr. Danny Miller. He started making films 25 years ago and has traveled the world telling stories about "individuals who do great work." He sees "green" as the field to go in, especially in Hawai`i.  

Other speakers formed a panel moderated by Mr. Kamuela Enos of Ma'o Farms (organic farm in Leeward O`ahu). They included: Hi`ilei Kawelo of Paepae O He`eia (Hawaiian aquaculture and education), Mark Noguchi (chef at Town restaurant) and Dexter Kishida of Kokua Hawai`i Foundation (he runs a farm to school program). They all had very interesting stories and perspectives to share about how they got into a green career and what motivates them. These locally-grown green professionals showed us that it takes vision, dedication, and hard work, and sometimes even sacrifices but the rewards are priceless.

A kitchen and market in Waialua Town

Our last stop of the Waialua farming tour was to the community kitchen and farmers' market. Mr. John Hirota helped build the community kitchen, which is certified by the Department of Health so that people using it can sell food made from the kitchen. People rotate using the kitchen. On this day, someone was bottling noni juice. Outside, we met Edith Ramascal, a former sugar plantation worker who now makes preserves out of just about any kind of fruit or vegetable. She wastes nothing! She also made 100% fruit popsicles, a welcome treat on this hot morning. The farmers' market featured fresh fruits and vegetables that are cheaper than anywhere else on O'ahu. Nearly all the farmers are also displaced sugar plantation workers. This is a story of how one door closes (sugar) and many others open with people helping each other.

Asparagus, anyone?

Mr. John Hirota, a farmer and chef from Waialua, arranged a tour for us at Twin Bridge Farm in Waialua. Mr. Milton Agader, co-owner of the farm who is originally from Kaua`i, explained how he grows asparagus on 75 acres to supply most of Hawai`i. Twin Bridge Farm has 18 employees and they grow year-round and harvest 7 days a week! In addition to growing asparagus, they also grow tomatoes, potatoes, and sweet onions. They are experimenting with a one acre organic asparagus test plot. A limiting factor for all farmers is water. Here, they get water from a well and they use drip and sprinkler irrigation.  Mr. Agader says a farmer needs to be a "Jack of all trades." As a small business person, he doesn't have the luxury of a large staff or a lot of capital to invest in equipment. But the benefit is that he can make decisions for the benefit of the farm, not someone above him. He also practices being a good steward of the land.

Pioneer Hy-Bred field trip

Our first field day focused on Sustainable Agriculture. We visited Pioneer Hy-Bred in Waialua and were given a tour by Mr. Alika Napier who runs the field operations. He explained the type of research they do to make corn grow better without using pesticides, including having a natural "sunscreen." Pioneer hires local farmers to grow a variety of crops for them as well as leases land so that they can grow their own crops.  We learned that general field labor gets paid pretty well at $20/hour. Pioneer has internships for high school and college students. They encourage local students to go to college to learn about agriculture and they might even pay for their tuition!

Meeting & greeting Green Collar professionals

On the first evening, about a dozen green collar professionals came to share information about what they do and how people can get involved in their line of work. Representatives from The Nature Conservancy, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Blue Planet Foundation, Marine AgriFuture, Hawai`i Department of Health, O'ahu Army Natural Resources Program, Kupu, and US Department of Agriculture created a buzz about green jobs.

First meeting

We met at Leeward Community College's Halau 'Ike O Pu'uloa (Native Hawaiian Student Support Program) on October 29 for an orientation led by  Auli'i Silva, director of the Halau. There was a lot to cover, including getting to know each other.

Meet the Inaugural HGCI Class!

On October 29 and 30, 2010, the Hawai‘i Green Collar Institute (HGCI) was launched! This new program introduces students from Leeward O'ahu to environmental and climate change issues in their communities and opens doors to future jobs in the environmental or "green collar" careers.

Over four weekends spanning five months (October to March), students will visit sites on O‘ahu to learn about food sustainability, waste and recycling, energy, and the health of our oceans and streams. On these visits, they'll gain hands-on experience with jobs that relate to each site and also interact with professionals to better understand those jobs. They'll also work in teams to complete an educational project that benefits their community.

HGCI is a partnership of the Malama Learning Center and Leeward Community College's Halau ‘Ike O Pu‘uloa.