Ho’okahua Ai “HA” Mentorship Program

Ho’okahua Ai means: to build a foundation of nutrition, sustenance, communication and sharing.

The “HA” Mentorship Program works with students ages 13-18 providing hands-on learning and individualized instruction that encourages careers in agriculture and agricultural entrepreneurship.

Mentors work with youth in the areas of: Crop Production, Animal Husbandry, and Korean Natural Farming Methodologies.  The basis of the agricultural philosophy is Natural Farming, which uses beneficial microbial action in the soil to create inputs to be used to supplement soil and feed amendments.

Students learn to increase crop production and to raise pigs and chickens in a “no fly, no smell” environment. Organic crops are raised, harvested and processed for the students ‘ohana or shared with the community. Any scraps or plant based leaves and roots not for the table are cooked for animal (pigs & chickens) feed, teaching students to efficiently utilize farm resources.

Kahua Pa’a Mua believes: if you want food for a year, plan kalo or ‘uala. If you want food for more than a year, plant a tree. But if you want to feed the community for a lifetime, invest in our children.

HA is supported by the Hau’oli Mau Loa Foundation and is a part of the OAR (‘Ohana Agricultural Resilience) project funded by USDA NIFA Community Food Projects Competitive Grant Program.

Header photo by Malia Welch.