Hawaii Grown: Story

Losing North Kohala’s Irrigation System Was ‘Catastrophic.’ Will It Ever Be Fixed? Courtesy: Kohala Ditch Co-Op/2006

Losing North Kohala’s Irrigation System Was ‘Catastrophic.’ Will It Ever Be Fixed?

The Kohala Ditch was built in the early 1900s to water sugarcane fields, then it fed ranches and small farmers’ operations. But it has languished since breaking in 2021.

Federal Farm Census Shows Hawaii’s Agriculture Is Still In Decline Kuʻu Kauanoe/Civil Beat/2020

Federal Farm Census Shows Hawaii’s Agriculture Is Still In Decline

The U.S. Department of Agriculture census paints a sorry picture for Hawaii’s goals of increasing food production.

Want To Boost Hawaii Aquaculture? Remove The Barriers Courtesy: Blue Ocean Mariculture

Want To Boost Hawaii Aquaculture? Remove The Barriers

The state has significant potential for tropical aquaculture production but the industry needs more investment and less bureaucratic red tape.

Oahu’s Construction Waste Could Become Food For Crops At A New Kapolei Facility Thomas Heaton/Civil Beat/2024

Oahu’s Construction Waste Could Become Food For Crops At A New Kapolei Facility

An innovative recycling plant also hopes to provide a process to turn invasive weeds and grasses into something more useful.

Taxpayers Are On The Hook For $1.25 Million After The State Failed To Provide Water To An Oahu Farmer Courtesy: Peter Savio Realty

Taxpayers Are On The Hook For $1.25 Million After The State Failed To Provide Water To An Oahu Farmer

The Legislature is poised to pay the settlement along with dozens of others totaling more than $13 million.

The Hawaii Department Of Education Is Nowhere Close To Meeting Its Mandate To Buy More Local Food Courtesy: Lt. Governor's Office/2017

The Hawaii Department Of Education Is Nowhere Close To Meeting Its Mandate To Buy More Local Food

The DOE has also failed to deliver a required annual update to state lawmakers on progress so far.

The Game Management Advisory Commission Was Created To Be The Voice Of Hawaii’s Hunters. Is Anyone Listening? Nathan Eagle/Civil Beat/2022

The Game Management Advisory Commission Was Created To Be The Voice Of Hawaii’s Hunters. Is Anyone Listening?

The state is developing new rules to address mounting problems with goats, pigs and deer but the group representing a crucial stakeholder has been floundering.

Ancient Polynesian Crop Now Deemed Safe To Consume By Hawaii Health Department Thomas Heaton/Civil Beat/2023

Ancient Polynesian Crop Now Deemed Safe To Consume By Hawaii Health Department

The traditional elixir is known as awa in Hawaii and was brought to the islands by the early Polynesian settlers.

Hawaii Ranchers Want More Land Transferred To The State Agriculture Department Courtesy: Lilia Kapuniai

Hawaii Ranchers Want More Land Transferred To The State Agriculture Department

Gov. Josh Green’s administration has moved quickly to shift thousands of acres out of DLNR’s control to boost ag production but more remains on the table.