Cohort 2 of the Kahua Paʻa Mua Agriculture Intelligence Pre-Apprenticeship Program is now underway in North Kohala. Seven new interns, ages 18 to 23, are working each week alongside our founder, Mentor and Agriculture Leader David Fuertes.

They begin as Cohort 1 concludes its internship, carrying the program forward with a new group of young people learning on the land.

What Cohort 2 Will Learn

Over the course of the program, Cohort 2 interns are scheduled to build skills both on the farm and in the classroom:

• Korean Natural Farming: a certification course

• Animal and crop production: hands-on training in both

• Technical coursework: Hawaiʻi Community College courses in December 2026 covering diesel engine safety, repair, and maintenance, along with carpentry and welding safety

Building a Pathway to Apprenticeship

What these interns experience will help shape something bigger: an apprenticeship pathway that combines practical agricultural experience with formal education and technical training.

Vibrant Hawaiʻi is drawing on the decades of experience David brings as our founder and a former agriculture teacher to develop a Registered Apprenticeship Program in agriculture. Together with Vibrant Hawaiʻi and Hawaiʻi Community College, we aim to connect hands-on farm training with college coursework, dual-credit opportunities, and industry-recognized skills.

Investing in Local Talent

Technical skills are only part of the goal. As David notes, we want interns to come away with a strong work ethic and a willingness to learn.

By developing these pathways, Kahua Paʻa Mua and Vibrant Hawaiʻi are investing in local talent to help strengthen Hawaiʻi’s agricultural workforce for the future.

Interested in joining? Contact David directly (808) 896-0566 or email us through our contact page.