Moloa‘a ‘AINA Center over halfway home in funding

MOLOA‘A — Kaua‘i nonprofit Malama Kaua‘i, the island’s first and longest-running, community-based organization focused on increasing local food production and access, has surpassed the halfway point in funding and building the island’s first food hub, the Moloa‘a ‘AINA Center, according to a press release from the nonprofit.

The $3.2-million project includes a two-story facility that will house a technical-assistance hub, post-harvest processing facility with walk-in cold storage and a commercial kitchen.

Moloa‘a ‘AINA Center is under construction in partnership with Moloa‘a Irrigation Cooperative. The food hub will act as the facilitator between farmers and buyers by offering production, distribution and marketing guidance and services. MIC is the largest cluster of small food producers on Kaua‘i, with approximately 70 members across more than 600 acres of agricultural lots.

The new facility will also help Malama Kaua‘i scale its food aggregation and distribution efforts. In the past few years, the nonprofit has purchased more than $1.5 million in food from more than 100 local farmers and food producers, distributing it to tens of thousands of residents across Kaua‘i.

Aside from free food distributions, Malama Kaua‘i has focused on increasing food access by offering $5 islandwide delivery of local groceries with online purchases at KauaiLocalFood.com. Fifty percent of its consumers use SNAP/EBT (formerly Food Stamps) to pay for their groceries, appreciating the DA BUX program’s 50-percent discount on produce and food plants.

The nonprofit also launched a commercial-distribution model last year to supply larger accounts, including preschools, hospitals, restaurants and food pantries.

“When you see how helpful our services are to kupuna who have a hard time going shopping, or a one-car household that has difficulty getting to a farmers’ market, that’s where the magic is,” said Megan Fox, executive director of Malama Kaua‘i. “(We are) bridging the gap of affordability and convenience of local food for people who need it the most, so that we can all support our local food system.”

With the planning and permitting phase of the project complete, construction has begun, and is slated to continue through June 2023. Following the building’s construction will be outfitting the facility with solar power and processing equipment.

“It is exciting to see how far we’ve come and take a moment to celebrate. However, we still have a way to go to get this off the ground,” said Rose Hayes, project manager of the Moloa‘a ‘AINA Center.

“This is our first big capital campaign as a small nonprofit, and securing funding for construction has been difficult, especially with the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. We feel really honored to have so many people share our vision for a sustainable Kaua‘i that supports its farmers and feeds itself.”

The Moloa‘a ‘AINA Center is currently 68 percent funded, with financial support that has included the state Department of Agriculture; state Office of Community Services, Capital Improvement Project grant; Chan Zuckerberg Kaua‘i Community Fund of the Hawai‘i Community Foundation; The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation; Stupski Foundation; Ceres Trust; Freeman Family Foundation; Atherton Family Foundation; and hundreds of individual and business donors.

“The Department of Agriculture is pleased to be able to provide support for the establishment of this food hub facility on Kaua‘i through funding from the state Legislature for the Grow Hawai‘i Agriculture Initiative in 2021,” said Phyllis Shimabukuro-Geiser, chairperson of the state Board of Agriculture.

“We look forward to the completion of the facility, which will help farmers increase marketing opportunities for their crops and thereby increase food security on the island,” she said.

Individuals and businesses interested in supporting the effort can donate via online, phone or mail at: MalamaKauai.org, 808-828-0685, ext. 13 and Malama Kauai, P.O. Box 1414, Kilauea, HI 96754; or by purchasing locally sourced groceries at KauaiLocalFood.com.