The Hawai'i Institute of Pacific Agriculture - HIP Agriculture

Home
United States
Kapaau, HI
The Hawai'i Institute of Pacific Agriculture - HIP Agriculture

HIP Agriculture is an educational farm hub located in North Kohala We have been offering educational programs at Halawa Farm since late 2011.

The Hawaii Institute of Pacific Agriculture (HIP Agriculture) is a non-profit organization located in North Kohala focused on teaching and living a model of sustainability through direct engagement with land stewardship and service to youth and communities. The mission of their organization is to practice and teach regenerative agriculture through field trips, workshops, and mentorship. At our mai

n campus, Halawa Farm, we cultivate a diverse collection of native Hawai'ian and Polynesian plants, tropical fruit orchards, perennial vegetable and medicine crops, and a market garden where we grow food for our CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program and local farmers market. We practice permaculture and regenerative agriculture farming techniques, and raise small scale poultry, livestock and bees. The farm is the base of operations for our nonprofit educational organization which is the home of our K-20 youth programs, residential farmer trainings, and community events and workshops. Our programs include: farm field trips, in-school workshops, High School Mentorship & Internship, Post-secondary Apprenticeship, Farm to School and Garden to Cafeteria Initiatives plus a food aggregation center called, the Kohala Food Hub. We are active members of our island community, and provide on-going consultation and mentorship for a number of local food, education and permaculture projects.

06/25/2026

Hawaiʻi is producing 44% less vegetables + melons than it did 20 years ago.

According to USDA NASS crop reports, statewide production fell from 87.2 million pounds in 2004 to 48.5 million pounds in 2025, nearly 39 million fewer pounds of food grown here.

And from 2024 to 2025 alone, production dropped 7%, while harvested acreage dropped 9%.

Growing vegetables in Hawaiʻi is skilled work. Farmers are navigating pest pressure, disease, soil fertility, rainfall, heat, timing, labor, markets, and input costs, all while working to feed our communities.

This Saturday, we’re gathering to learn more about what it takes to grow vegetables well in Hawaiʻi with Dr. Ted Radovich of UH Mānoa, professor and Extension Specialist in Sustainable and Organic Farming Systems.

Join us at Kohala Village HUB Barn, same place and morning as the Hawi Farmers Market.

Vegetable Production for Hawaiʻi Growers
Saturday, June 27
10 AM–12 PM
Kohala Village HUB Barn

Free / registration encouraged
Register at the link in bio

Source: USDA NASS Hawaiʻi Vegetable & Melon Crop Reports, 2004 + 2025.

06/15/2026

🌳 What if our farms functioned more like forests?

Join us this Saturday for an Agroforestry Field Day at HIP Agriculture Farm as we explore how diverse, layered growing systems can build healthier soils, support biodiversity, and strengthen local food production in Hawaiʻi.

Together we’ll tour the farm and dive into hands-on practices including:
🌿 Chop-and-drop fertility management
🌱 Plant propagation
🌳 Outplanting techniques
🚜 Agroforestry system design and discussion

Agroforestry draws from both traditional knowledge and modern ecological practices to create resilient landscapes that nourish communities for generations to come.

📍 HIP Agriculture Farm
🗓 Saturday, June 20
⏰ 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
✨ Free and open to all experience levels

Come learn, connect, and grow alongside fellow farmers, gardeners, and community members working toward a more abundant future.

06/10/2026

Every thriving local food system starts with growers who have access to the right knowledge, tools, and support. 🥬

Join us on Saturday, June 27 for the final workshop in our Growing Resilience Series: Vegetable Production for Hawaiʻi Growers with Dr. Ted Radovich 🥕

Drawing from decades of research and experience in tropical agriculture, Ted will share practical strategies for successful vegetable production in Hawaiʻi, including seed selection, crop rotation, fertility management, irrigation, and other production best practices.

Whether you’re a farmer, gardener, homesteader, or just getting started, this workshop offers valuable, place-based knowledge to help you grow healthy crops and build resilient food systems.

📍 Kohala Village Hub Barn
🗓 Saturday, June 27
⏰ 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
✨ Free and open to all experience levels

Mahalo to our partners and collaborators helping support agricultural education in our community! 🤝

06/09/2026

June has already been full of learning opportunities and time spent growing alongside our community! 🪏

This month kicked off with the start of our summer farm internship, where 8 local high school students joined us for hands-on learning in the field.

From harvesting in the rain and caring for Hawaiian maiʻa to building mulch systems and working in the greenhouse, students have been getting a firsthand look at what it takes to grow food and steward the ʻāina. 🌱

We also hosted our Soil Health Field Day, welcoming 33 farmers, gardeners, and community members to HIP Agriculture Farm for hands-on demonstrations in biochar making, compost building, and cover crop seeding. It was a beautiful morning of shared knowledge, connection, and practical tools for building healthier soils.

Mahalo to everyone who has joined us so far this month. We’re grateful to learn, grow, and get our hands dirty together. 🤙

06/03/2026

Healthy soil is where resilient farms begin. 🌱🪱

Join us this Saturday at HIP Agriculture Farm for a hands-on morning exploring simple, practical ways to build soil health and strengthen your growing systems. Whether you’re a farmer, gardener, homesteader, or simply curious about how healthy soil supports healthy communities, this field day is for you. 🪏

Together we’ll dive into: 🌿 Multi-species cover cropping 🔥 Biochar production and application ♻️ Compost building and soil fertility 🤝 Talk story, questions, and shared learning

Healthy soil does more than grow food. It stores water, supports biodiversity, builds resilience, and helps create thriving local food systems from the ground up.

Saturday, June 6 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM HIP Agriculture Farm📍

Come get your hands dirty and learn alongside fellow growers and community members.

🔗 Register at the link in our bio.

05/31/2026

Healthy soil. Strong communities. Resilient food systems. 🪏

This June, we’re bringing together farmers, educators, seed stewards, and community members for a free hands-on workshop series exploring practical approaches to growing food in Hawaiʻi.

From compost and biochar to agroforestry, seed saving, and vegetable production, each field day is designed to share accessible, place-based knowledge rooted in mālama ʻāina and long-term resilience.

Whether you’re actively farming, dreaming about starting, or simply wanting to deepen your connection to local food systems, all experience levels are welcome. 🤝

🌿 Soil Health Field Day
🌴 South Kona Agroforestry + Seed Stewardship Field Trip
🌳 Agroforestry Field Day
🥬 Vegetable Production for Hawaiʻi Growers

Mahalo to everyone helping make this series possible. We look forward to learning and growing together.

📍 Hawaiʻi Island
🗓 Saturdays throughout June
✨ Free to attend

05/27/2026

Growing Resilience 🌱

Join us this June for a hands-on learning series rooted in soil health, agroforestry, seed stewardship, and local food production in Hawaiʻi. 🪏 Through field days, demonstrations, farm visits, and talk story sessions, we’ll explore practical ways to build resilient farms and stronger local food systems together.

From compost building and biochar demonstrations to agroforestry techniques, seed saving, and vegetable production strategies, each workshop is designed to share real-world knowledge that supports both small farms and community-based agriculture. 🌿

We’re honored to learn alongside local farmers, educators, and community leaders including Anissa Lucero, Nancy Redfeather, and Ted Radovich throughout this series.

Whether you’re an aspiring grower, experienced farmer, homesteader, or simply curious about regenerative agriculture, we welcome you to join us. 🤝

📍 Locations include HIP Agriculture Farm, South Kona, and Kohala Village Hub Barn
 📅 Saturdays throughout June 🔗 Registration + full schedule available at the link in bio

05/12/2026

Throwback to some of the HIP ʻohana, plus friends and family, when we spent the day at the 10th annual Lā Kalo at Nāmoku, hosted by The Kohala Center 🌿

A beautiful day rooted in community, ʻike, and ʻike ʻāina - huki kalo, kanu huli, live music, and so much gratitude for the people who keep these traditions alive.

Honored to learn, work, and celebrate alongside our community. 🌱🤎

04/21/2026

Rooted in learning, growing in community 🌱

April was full of hands-on moments across the farm and beyond - from welcoming the incredible ag students of Kealakehe High School and longtime kumu Manuel Jadulang, to getting our hands in the soil with internships, field trips, and after-school sessions.

We harvested, made smoothies, cooked farm-to-fork meals (ʻulu tortillas + quesadillas from their own school harvest 🫶), and tackled everything from thriving sweet potatoes, kalo, kale, and chard to pulling stubborn spiny amaranth and solarizing weeds. Real work, real learning.

Out in the community, our apprentices showed up at the Waimea farmers market, and our keiki activities at Touching the Earth Farm for Lift Up Farmers brought creativity and curiosity to the next generation - complete with blue butterfly pea tea for the day 💙

So much of this work is about showing what’s possible when education, ʻāina, and community come together. Grateful for the students, teachers, and partners who keep showing up with curiosity and care.

More to grow 🌿

04/20/2026

Growing more food here at home starts with growing more farmers 🌱🥑

Hawaiʻi currently imports the vast majority of what we eat - with only about 15.7% of our food grown locally. That leaves our islands vulnerable to supply disruptions, rising costs, and increasing climate impacts.

At the same time, farmers are facing real challenges - from high input costs to limited access to training, land, and support systems. And for those just getting started, clear pathways into farming can be hard to find. 🪏

That’s why we created LIFT - a community-centered farmer training series designed to support both new and experienced growers with the skills, knowledge, and connections needed to thrive. 🌀

This FREE training series brings together farmers, educators, and practitioners for hands-on learning, real-world application, and shared ʻike - from soil to market. 🤝

Through on-farm field days, workshops, guest speakers, webinars, and field trips, LIFT is here to strengthen Hawaiʻi’s local food systems - one farmer at a time.

This is an ongoing series running May through October 2026.

We hope you’ll join us! 🌿

🔗 Sign up via link in bio or scan the QR code.

Address

52-4700 Akoni Pule Highway
Kapaau, HI
96755

Website

http://www.hipagriculture.org/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Hawai'i Institute of Pacific Agriculture - HIP Agriculture posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to The Hawai'i Institute of Pacific Agriculture - HIP Agriculture:

Shortcuts

Want your organization to be the top-listed Non Profit Organization in Kapaau?