“Our operating principle is 3QP: Quality programs, quality personnel and quality partnerships.” David Fuertes, Executive Director
Kahua Pa’a Mua means “to build a strong foundation”
Mission
The mission of Kahua Pa‘a Mua (KPM) is to enhance communities through economic, conservation/preservation, social and educational programs for youth and adults.
Background
Kahua Pa‘a Mua, Inc. is a North Kohala based 501-c-3 nonprofit organization founded in 2010.
David Fuertes and Carol Fuertes—both with over 40 years of community service in agricultural education, economic development and youth mentorship—initiated the formation of the non-profit Kahua Pa‘a Mua, Inc. for the benefit of the North Kohala community.
Kahua Pa‘a Mua was originally formed to assume and expand upon the work of the Palili ‘O Kohala Cooperative—an economic development project based upon the production of value added products from taro. For the last 9 years, Kahua Pa‘a Mua’s focus has been ‘aina-based education for youth and adults, combining traditional methodologies with Korean Natural Farming. Kahua Pa’a Mua provides resources for families to grow their own food and nurtures agricultural entrepreneurship. Current programs teach milti-generational families to grow traditional Hawaiian crops and row crop; backyard chickens and pigs using Natural Farming, and; fish and vegetables with backyard aquaponics.
KPM also hosts numerous school, organizations and community groups providing hands-on experiences with crops and animals using Natural Farming.
Staff
David Fuertes, Executive Director and Master Teacher
David Fuertes is the “grandfather” of agriculture in North Kohala. David served 30+ years in the Hawaii State Department of Education teaching Agriculture, Career Technical Education, was the West Hawaii District Resource Teacher, and State FFA Executive Secretary. Mr. Fuertes has also served as Chairperson for the State’s Department of Business Economic Development and Tourisms’ (DBEDT) Community Based Economic Development Board. He has served on numerous County, State, and Federal boards and commissions including 8 years with the State Board of Agriculture. Mr. Fuertes is a former Hawaii County Deputy Managing Director, and has served as the Hilo/Hamakua Community Liaison for the revitalization of plantation communities for State’s DBEDT. His Agriculture experiences are extensive and has gone through Korean Natural Farming Certification with Master Cho of Korea and taken 3 follow up training including a site visit to South Korea.
Mr. Fuertes is a part-time rancher, Hawaiian saddle-maker, and advocate for increased food self-sufficiency statewide. Mr. Fuertes has successfully executed numerous programs, events and educational activities in his 40+ years of community service in North Kohala. His particular passion is working with families and youth in entrepreneurial development programs.
He is currently the Program Director of Ho’okahua ‘Ai Youth Mentorship with grant funding from Hau’oli Mau Loa Foundation, an innovative youth mentoring program that melds traditional knowledge with contemporary methodologies.
Carol Fuertes, Program Manager
Carol is the driver behind Kahua Pa’a Mua, keeping all aspects of the organization on track.
Retired, Mrs. Fuertes was employed at the Kohala Dental Center for 32 years as Business Manager where she was responsible for all aspects of office management, accounts receivables, accounts payables, payroll, business taxes and general office duties. She is proficient in QuickBooks Business and QuickBooks Payroll systems.
Currently she is a Grants financial administrator – administering funding from KPM’s many projects and coordination of budgets. She is a grant writer, reporting logistics and human resource coordinator for Kahua Pa’a Mua.
Mrs. Fuertes served as Project Assistant and Bookkeeper for the Community Harvest Hawaii project, funded by the Island Innovation Fund of the Hawaii Community Foundation. She was also responsible for bookkeeping and reporting for the Natural Farming Educational Training grant through the Hawaii Community College at Hilo and the Hawaii State Department of Labor. Earlier in grant funding, she served as fiscal management and reporting of the Noho Lio program, an educational program brought into Laupahoehoe, Konawaena & Kohala High Schools and funded by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.
Leslie Nugent, Korean Natural Farming
Instructor
Currently the Associate Director at North Kohala Community Resource Center where she supports successful project development for the community. As a Mentor she has applied her training of Korean Natural Farming to the OAR and Ho’okahua ‘Ai Mentorship Program.
She plans and implements farm-based curriculum focused on the practical use of Korean Natural Farming methods to raise healthy animals and crops. Leslie’s extensive training also includes understanding microbes in the soil which she brings to our youth in a way that they can apply to their agricultural skills. Leslie has also worked closely with North Kohala Eat Locally Grown who is an advocate for our community goal of being self sufficient.
Erika Cedillos, Program Assistant
Erika works with the OAR and HA programs as the a Program Assistant, responsible for communicating with all of the families and tracking logistics.
Dave B. Fuertes, Animal Husbandry Mentor
David B. Fuertes, is Chief Engineer at the Paniolo Greens Resort, a Wyndham Property in Waikoloa, a position he has held for 18 years. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science with a minor in Crop Production from the University of Hawaii at Hilo. David has taught Animal Husbandry at Paauilo Intermediate School, Honokaa High School, and Kohala High School with various nonprofit projects. He has been the Animal Husbandry mentor for the Ho’okahua Ai program for the past 5 years. Students are taught fencing techniques for intensive grazing of low-stress, grass-grazed cattle, care and maintenance of a herd including branding. He teaches AI (artificial insemination) of pigs, care of piglet litter, and marketing weaned or raised hogs. His program also gives students hands-on experience in building corrals, paddocks, and pens for the various animals - cows, pigs, chickens, and goats.
Board of Directors
Kahua Paa Mua is managed by a highly qualified Board of Directors from diverse backgrounds:
John Hirota, President
Retired Land Manager & Public Relations Director Wailua Sugar Company
Alexa Tim, Vice President
Operations Manager, Island Pacific Distributors
Robert Lindsey, Director
Trustee, Office of Hawaiian Affairs
David Shiigi, Board Member
Owner, Bromeliads Hawaii, LLC
Kealoha Sugiyama, Board Member
Kahu, Hawaii Weddings and Blessings/ Retired Hawaiian Airlines Public Relations Trainer
Carol Fuertes, David Fuertes, Leslie Nugent & Andrea Dean in a strategic planning session with facilitator Leanne Okamoto.