2025 Agriculture Farm Expansion Grant

Of the 18 proposals received, a selection committee reviewed and scored each eligible proposal. Upon careful consideration, 12 project proposals were partially or fully funded, for a total of $637,429.00. The Office of Economic Development is pleased to share the list of projects that received funding this year.

• Kumano I Ke Ala O Makaweli: Maha`iha`i Restoration Phase 3 – 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 and planning & staff training to ensure restoration activities are optimized for ecological and agricultural success.
• Waipa Foundation: Building Propagation capacity in Waipa – Expansion of Waipa Foundations plant propagation capacity of native & cultural plants, microgreens and vegetable seedlings to increase access to locally grown produce & strengthening community food systems for the only federally designated disadvantaged community on Kaua‘i.
• CG Foundation: Lydgate Farms Expansion of Cacao, Vanilla & Honey – Expansion of Lydgate Farms 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 – Laboratory expansion to expand micro-algae production, water testing, and general laboratory capacity at the Nomilo Fishpond.
• Kukulu Kumuhana O Anahola: Ulupono Anahola Farm – Expansion of the Ulupono Anahola Farm 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 – Repair of the `auwai irrigation ditch to improve and increase 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 (RPS) Solar Pumps – Addition of RPS Solar Pumps to replace the current piping system to the `auwai to expand lo`i production and quality, including less disease and water stagnation.
• Hawaii 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 Kauai’s long term ecological and economic sustainability.
• Malama Kaua‘i: Makaweli Pu`ulima `Auwai Improvements – Ditch modernization project for an aging and deteriorating system used by 6 Makaweli Kalo Farmers that participate in the kalo to kula program, increasing usable acreage and kalo production.
• Malama Kaua‘i: Olohena `Aina Center – Initial development of Phase 1 of the Olohena `Aina Project that encompasses 87 agricultural acres for a new agricultural park on the east side of Kauai.
• Bee Team: Building a Regenerative Model Through Natural Beekeeping and Bridging Indigenous Agricultural Practices – Infrastructure improvement to expand apiary capacity & production, bolster the ecological and economic resilience of Kauai, expand locally sourced and handcrafted products and boost the immunity of Kauai people through the distribution of honey.