Developing Agriculture: HCDA Helps Restore Kalo Fields in Windward Oahu
For a few acres on the windward side of Oahu, land stretches between the ocean and the mountains without a single home in view.
It鈥檚 a rare sight, points out Kanekoa Kukea-Schultz, executive director of the local nonprofit which is dedicated to perpetuating Native Hawaiian cultural and spiritual practices.
The organization is leasing 400 acres of loi (wetlands) from the Hawaii Community Development Authority in Heeia and is working to restore it by planting fields of kalo (taro).
Right now, the organization is growing kalo on just about two acres of land, which the group of eight staff members and numerous volunteers had to clear entirely by hand.
The organization eventually wants to restore 180 acres and actively farm 150 acres of kalo, which would more than double the amount of taro produced on Oahu. Right now, 90 percent of Hawaii鈥檚 kalo is produced on Kauai, Kukea-Schultz said.
HCDA hosted a media event at the loi on Wednesday to emphasize that its work includes more than just managing development in Kakaako. The agency鈥檚 recent approval of several high-rise condos have been met with vocal resistance from residents who are concerned about the future of the urban district.
HCDA spokeswoman Lindsey Doi said that the work in Heeia is part of HCDA鈥檚 vision of building vibrant communities in all of its districts. In addition to Kakaako and Heeia, HCDA also owns land in Kalaeloa in West Oahu.
鈥淚t鈥檚 so different [from Kakaako] but the goal is the same 鈥 to build community,鈥 Doi said of the agency’s Heeia land.
The land previously belonged to Kamehameha Schools and was slated for development until the state acquired it two decades ago in exchange for land in Kakaako. Kakoo Oiwi鈥檚 38-year lease started in 2010.
The organization invites the public once a month to help farm the land and also has volunteers from different community organizations help out twice a week.
Kukea-Schultz emphasized that the organization considers itself to be developers 鈥 just not of high rises.
鈥淲e are developing land back into agriculture,鈥 he said, adding that it鈥檚 important because the islands need to improve food sustainability.
Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui also joined the event on Wednesday, getting knee-deep in mud as he planted kalo alongside Kukea-Schultz.
鈥淚t鈥檚 good to see that HCDA is also focused on preserving some of the most precious land on Oahu,鈥 Tsutsui said.
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