HILO, HAWAI‘I —Ho‘ōla Farms is proud to participate in the USDA’s Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) Cooperative Agreement Program, administered by the State of Hawai‘i Department of Education (DOE) in partnership with the Hawai‘i Good Food Alliance (HGFA).  This statewide effort is coordinated by HGFA with members of the Hawai‘i Food Hub Hui (HFHH), a network of 14 regional food hubs—including Ho‘ōla Farms.

Referred to as the ‘Umeke ‘Ai Pono Program, this initiative runs from February 3 to July 5, 2025, and is designed to strengthen Hawai‘i’s local food systems by sourcing fresh produce and proteins from small to medium-sized local farmers, ranchers, and food businesses—particularly those who are socially disadvantaged. The program also aims to enhance food security and provide consistent access to nutritious, locally grown food for underserved communities across the state.

Supporting Hawai‘i Farmers and Families
This program provides fresh, locally grown food to families in 45 communities across Hawai‘i. As a member of the Hawai‘i Food Hub Hui, Ho‘ōla Farms is supporting the distribution of 58,565 food boxes—each worth about $50 and filled with 9-11 pounds of vegetables, cultural starches, fruits, and protein from local farmers.

We manage distribution from our food hub in Hilo, where we operate the Hawai‘i Farm-to-Car online farmers market. By sourcing directly from our network of farmers and producers, we are able to create reliable markets for local growers and expand access to healthy, Hawai‘i-grown food in our community.

East Hawai‘i Distribution Locations
Ho‘ōla Farms is responsible for food distribution in East Hawai‘i, specifically serving the communities of Volcano (96785), Mountain View (96771), Pahoa (96778), and Keaau (96749). To effectively reach families in these limited-access areas, we partnered with two local elementary schools—Kua O Ka Lā and Mountain View Elementary.

These schools were selected not only for their central locations, but also for their strong community ties, cultural values, and supportive learning environments. By distributing food directly through schools, we’re able to meet families where they are, provide nutritious, locally grown food to keiki and their ‘ohana, and strengthen the connection between local agriculture and education.

Food Box Content
Each food box provides a balanced mix of fresh produce and protein, including:

• 4-5 pounds of fresh vegetables and herbs (e.g., bok choi, cucumber, carrots, sweet potatoes)
• 3-4 pounds of seasonal fruits (e.g., papaya, avocados, bananas, citrus)
• 1-2 pounds of protein  (locally sourced eggs, meat, or tofu)

Program Impact at a Glance
Ho‘ōla Farms is proud to be part of a larger effort to distribute:

• 325 weekly food boxes (distributed bi-weekly between Kua O Ka Lā Public Charter School and Mountain View Elementary School)
• 450 unique families served
• 1,825 individuals reached
• 5,204 boxes of food distributed
• Approximately 52,040 pounds of fresh, local food provided
• 19 small farmers and producers supported

“Your folks’ help through this program for my family is just that little extra push we need as locals to keep up the fight and not have to give up living on our beautiful island. Also, please send our thanks to any and all farmers that are participating in this program. Supporting local businesses isn’t always the easiest — not everyone knows about them or can afford it — but with your help, the families in the community as well as our local farmers are benefiting!” — Felisha G., Program Participant

Acknowledgements
Ho‘ōla Farms extends deep gratitude to our fellow Hawai‘i Food Hub Hui members whose hard work and collaboration make food distribution across the islands possible. Together, the Hui plays a critical role in strengthening our local food system by connecting small farmers to markets and ensuring fresh, Hawai‘i-grown food reaches communities statewide. 

We would also like to recognize Tara Waller, our Food is Medicine Program Manager, whose incredible dedication and coordination have been instrumental in making this program a success. A heartfelt mahalo to all the Hawai’i farmers and producers who stepped up to provide the food that made this scale of distribution possible. And a special thank you to the Kua O Ka Lā and Mountain View Elementary staff and volunteers for their hands-on support with community outreach and distribution days. 

Looking ahead, we welcome schools or community organizations interested in future local food and feeding programs to reach out to us at grow@hoolafarms.org or visit our program page to learn more about how we can work together to nourish communities, support local farmers, and shape the future of food in Hawai‘i.