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The first installment in our series features Kevin Chang of Kua ʻĀina Ulu ʻAuamo (KUA) & Albie Miles of Transforming Hawaiʻi's Food System Together (THFST).

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is a community-driven initiative focused on safeguarding and revitalizing Hawaiʻi's natural environment. By promoting community-based management of natural resources, KUA collaborates with both government agencies and local communities to restore the traditional role of Hawaiʻi’s people as stewards of their lands and waters.

is a collaborative and multi-sectoral food system change initiative that seeks to convene key stakeholders, conduct applied research, articulate policy and planning recommendations and build statewide capacity to achieve a more economically robust, sustainable, equitable and resilient food system for Hawaiʻi.

The second installment in our series features Aaron Ellis of Feed the Hunger Fund, Amanda Shaw of the Oʻahu Agriculture and Conservation Association (OACA), and Keoni Lee of Hawaiʻi Investment Ready.

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works hand-in-hand with food entrepreneurs, cooks, and chefs to provide critical loan capital to start, grow and sustain their businesses.

mission is to mobilize resources for Hawaiʻi’s producers and agricultural ecosystem, contributing to collective efforts to address agriculture’s economic, social and environmental challenges.

 supports the people and organizations addressing Hawaiʻi’s social and environmental opportunities by accelerating social enterprise impact and access to investment.

The third installment in our series features Kaipo Kekona of Hawaiʻi Farmer's Union United (HFUU) & Heather McMillen of Kaulunani Urban & Community Forestry Program.

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 works to advocate for agricultural communities for the people of Hawaiʻi Nei, asserting that a multitude of smallholder, diversified family farms that implement regenerative techniques in growing and raising food will create a productive agricultural system to better feed Hawai‘i’s people.

focuses on improving the health and viability of trees in Hawaiʻi's communities through the implementation of educational programs; supporting Tree City USA communities across the state; providing technical training; administering financial support in the form of cost-share grants; supporting Arbor Day Hawaiʻi; and maintaining public/private partnerships.

Our fourth installment features Kelsey Amos of Hawaiʻi Food+ Policy, Daniela Spoto of Hawaiʻi Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice, and Anne Frederick of Hawaiʻi Alliance for Progressive Action (HAPA)

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 is an internship program that gives Hawaiʻi college students and young farmers experience in civic engagement, a professional work environment, and problem solving through the lens of food systems advocacy.

is committed to a more socially and economically just Hawaiʻi, changing systems to address income inequality, educating policymakers and the public, engaging in collaborative problem solving and coalition building, and advocating for policy and systems change.

is committed to championing social, economic, and environmental justice throughout Hawaiʻi, highlighting that the challenges plaguing these systems are not isolated from broader social, economic, and environmental concerns.

Our fifth installment features Dr. Katherine Pirkle of Pirkle Epidemiology and Evaluation Consulting, Amy Miller of the Hawaiʻi Foodbank, Jason Shon, Food Security & Sustainability Manager at the City & County of Honolulu's Resilience Office, and Alex Narrajos-Corby, Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems Manager at the City & County of Honolulu's Resilience Office.

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Pirkle Epidemiology and Evaluation Consulting facilitated the most recent study conducted, The State of Food Insecurity in Hawaiʻi, 2023.

, Hawai‘i’s largest hunger relief organization, works with a network of more than 225 agency partners on O‘ahu and Kaua‘i, along with affiliate food banks on Maui and Hawai‘i Island, to provide food assistance to the State of Hawai‘i.

The at the City & County of Honolulu is tasked with tracking climate change science and potential impacts on City facilities, coordinating actions and policies of departments within the City to increase community preparedness, developing resilient infrastructure in response to the effects from climate change, and integrating sustainable and environmental values into City plans, programs, and policies.

Our sixth installment features Lydi Bernal, Junior Extension Agent - Oʻahu Farm to School Coordinator at ������Ƶ Mānoa, CTAHR, Lara Ediger, Associate Director, GoFarm, and Jeannette Soon-Ludes, Executive Director at Māla ʻAi, Hawaiʻi Island School Garden Network.

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The Oʻahu Farm to School Coordinator Junior Extension agent works to improve nutrition, food acces, and total well-being by addressing community-level needs for implementing farm to school activities, including education, school gardens/farms, and local school food.

's mission is to enhance Hawaiʻi’s food security and economy by increasing the number of sustainable, local agricultural producers. They do this by offering those with an interest in agriculture a combination of knowledge, experience, and support to reach their full potential.

provides a network of support to teachers, educators, administrators, and more, offering professional development, advocacy, mentorship and technical assistance, to expand the use of ʻāina (land) based initiatives in schools across the state.

Our seventh installment features some of the various organizations working together as "The Hawaiʻi Climate-Smart Partnership," consisting of Kyle Jackson (Hawaiʻi ʻUlu Cooperative), Kaliko High and Miguel Castrence (Oʻahu Resource Conservation and Development Council), Angel Melone (Hawaiʻi Cattlemen's Council), Irene Sprecher (Forest Solutions), Mitchell Kenji Loo (Hawaiʻi Farmer's Union United) and Lala Nuss (Conscious Concepts).

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The works to accelerate the implementation of climate-smart practices centered on Hawaiʻi-based producers and ancestral practitioners who are supported by advocacy, incentives, technical assistance, and market development.

The  (HUC) is a farmer-owned business working to revitalize ‘ulu (breadfruit) as a viable crop and dietary staple by empowering farmers as change-makers in Hawaiʻi’s food system.

Council (Oʻahu RC&D) is an independent, 501(c)(3) non-profit entity that has been serving Hawaiʻi’s rural communities, farms, and ranches since 1997 to improve stewardship of natural resources.

The  (HCC) is the Statewide umbrella organization comprised of the four county level Cattlemen’s Associations, with 150+ member ranchers representing over 60,000 head of beef cows; more than 75% of all the beef cows in the State.

 provides cutting edge and innovative land management and forestry expertise across a broad spectrum of tropical forest management needs to large and small landowners, non-profit organizations, public and private forest managers, and government agencies.

(HFUU) works to advocate for agricultural communities for the people of Hawaiʻi Nei, asserting that a multitude of smallholder, diversified family farms that implement regenerative techniques in growing and raising food will create a productive agricultural system to better feed Hawai‘i’s people.

 provides consulting and project management for private, non-profit, philanthropic, and public sector organizations, partnering with movers and shakers seeking to disrupt systemic inequity, improve community well-being, and improve climate resiliency.

Our eigth installment features Amanda Shaw, Ph.D. (Statewide Food Systems Coordinator, Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture (HDOA)) and Amy Perruso, Ph.D. (Hawaiʻi State House Representative, District 46).

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The (HDOA) 268 employees statewide work to support, enhance, promote, and protect Hawai‘i’s agriculture and aquaculture industries. The Statewide Food Systems Coordinator focuses on increasing federal funding, institutional purchasing and addressing key infrastructural barriers to local food production and access.

Representative Amy Perruso, veteran DOE social studies teacher, was the first woman elected to represent Hawai'i State House District 46 in 2018. While her education took her around the world, from California to Shanghai to Finland and finally ������Ƶ Mānoa, where she completed her doctorate in political science, she began her teaching career at Leilehua High School and taught APUSH, APGOV and a new course, Pre-AP Participation in Democracy and Modern History of Hawai'i as a National Board Certified teacher in DOE schools for almost twenty years.

 

Our ninth installment features Kaʻiulani Odom, RD, MPH (Executive Director, Hawaiʻi Good Food Alliaance (HGFA)), Jordan Smith, MPH (ʻAiaola, Food Is Medicine Program Manager, HGFA), and Jesse Lipman (Roots Program Director, Kōkua Kalihi Valley (KKV), CFS).

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The  is a diverse hui of individuals and organizations who share in the production, aggregation, and distribution of food, and share in the practice of mālama ʻāina to re-build thriving community food systems. We join together—with a sense of urgency—to raise community voice and support one another in the belief that each and every person in Hawai’i can share in healthy, locally produced food.

The of , brings together community wellbeing and wholeness through the growing, preparing and sharing of culturally grounded food, stories and traditions. Through preparing and sharing food, they strengthen the roots that connect us to the land, the sea, our cultures, our community, our family, and to each other. The Roots Project strives to improve the social, physical, and mental health of the people of Kalihi Valley.

Our tenth installment features Albie Miles, Ph.D. (SCFS, ������Ƶ-West Oʻahu), Noa Lincoln, Ph.D. (CTAHR, ������Ƶ Mānoa), Daniela Elliott, Ph.D. (Sustainable Agriculture Program, LCC), Dr. Matthew Lau, Ph.D. (SCFS, ������Ƶ-West Oʻahu), and Subhashni Raj, Ph.D. (DURP, ������Ƶ Mānoa).

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The program at LCC offers education and training for you to be part of Hawaii’s diversified agriculture and conservation fields. Their classes are dynamic and applied to current issues related to tropical agriculture and island sustainability. They focus on sustainable agriculture practices that are science-based, environmentally sound, and benefit our island community.

The program prepares students for jobs in the sustainable food and agriculture sector in Hawai‘i and beyond. The BAS-SCFS is a multi-disciplinary, experiential and applied education program about key ecological and social issues in food and agricultural systems. It incorporates problem-based and hands-on learning to develop food system professionals capable of solving real-world problems and transitioning Hawai‘i agriculture toward greater ecological sustainability and social equity.

The  is a leading academic institution in tropical agriculture, biological engineering, food science and human nutrition, fashion design and merchandising, biotechnology, natural resources and environmental management, and family resources. Hawai‘i’s unique geographic location, ecological diversity, and multicultural population provide students with a living laboratory.

The  is a professional program, fostering a multidisciplinary set of intellectual and practical tools, and enabling practitioners to chart the future in an age of uncertainty. We strive to improve the quality of life for both present and future generations – locally and globally – through planning, public policy, and social collaboration. Our academic program emphasizes theory, methodology, and practice.

Our eleventh installment features Christen Oliveira (Community Food Systems Program Manager, Hawai'i Good Food Alliance), Kauʻi Onekea (Roots Program Operations Manager, Kōkua Kalihi Valley), and Dean Hanhano-Pastushin (Director of Social Ventures, Kahumana Farm and Food Hub).

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The  (HGFA) is a diverse hui of individuals and organizations who share in the production, aggregation, and distribution of food, and share in the practice of mālama ʻāina to re-build thriving community food systems. The (HFHH) is a dynamic network committed to revolutionizing access to locally grown food in Hawaiʻi. Through strategic partnerships, funding, and support, HFHH empowers farmers, connects communities, and champions a sustainable future for Hawaiʻi's agricultural landscape.

 The of , brings together community wellbeing and wholeness through the growing, preparing and sharing of culturally grounded food, stories and traditions. Through preparing and sharing food, they strengthen the roots that connect us to the land, the sea, our cultures, our community, our family, and to each other. The Roots Project strives to improve the social, physical, and mental health of the people of Kalihi Valley.

Our twelfth installment—marking a full year of our Brown Bag Speaker Series—features Kelly Teamey (Cooperative Development, Co-Founder, Enlivened Cooperative), Brandon Makaʻawaʻawa (Vice President, Nation of Hawaiʻi), Rhiannon Tereariʻi Chandler-ʻĪao (President, Hilo Aquaculture Cooperative), Dr. Maria Haws (Professor of Aquaculture, University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo), Kyle Jackson (Membership Lead, Hawaiʻi ʻUlu Cooperative), and Keoni DeFranco (Managing Director, ʻĀina Foundry, Venture Development, Purple Maiʻa Foundation).

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Enlivened Cooperative, co-founded by Kelly Teamey, advances cooperative development across Hawaiʻi and the Pacific through technical assistance and organizational support rooted in aloha ʻāina, food sovereignty, and regenerative economics.

The Nation of Hawaiʻi, represented by Brandon Makaʻawaʻawa, fosters food system sovereignty and economic resilience through cooperative agriculture and regenerative land use guided by Indigenous governance at Puʻuhonua o Waimānalo.

The Hilo Aquaculture Cooperative, led by Rhiannon Chandler-ʻĪao, strengthens small-scale aquaculture through shared infrastructure, policy advocacy, and collective marketing, blending traditional practices with modern innovation.

Dr. Maria Haws, of ������Ƶ Hilo’s Pacific Aquaculture and Coastal Resources Center, bridges research and community to promote equitable and sustainable aquaculture systems across Hawaiʻi.

The Hawaiʻi ʻUlu Cooperative, represented by Kyle Jackson, connects over 100 farmers to revitalize ʻulu and other canoe crops through aggregation, processing, and shared infrastructure that supports local food security.

Keoni DeFranco, Managing Director at ʻĀina Foundry and leader at Purple Maiʻa Foundation, cultivates Indigenous-led innovation by supporting tech and cooperative ventures grounded in cultural and ʻāina-based values.

Our thirteenth installment of the Brown Bag Speaker Series takes on one of the most pressing and persistent challenges within Hawaiʻi’s food system: access to secure, long-term, and affordable agricultural land. This session features Laura Ediger (Director, GoFarm Hawaiʻi), Lyle Roe (Asset Manager, Agribusiness Development Corporation), Kevin Moore (Agricultural Land Program Manager, Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture), and Brandi Ah Yo (Property Manager, Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture – Hawaiʻi County).

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GoFarm Hawaiʻi, represented by Laura Ediger, is a statewide program that equips beginning farmers with the skills, experience, and networks needed to launch successful agricultural careers. Their work includes hands-on training and wraparound support, but also addresses the critical issue of post-graduation land access for new producers.

The Agribusiness Development Corporation (ADC), represented by Lyle Roe, manages state agricultural lands and infrastructure to support commercial agriculture. ADC plays a central role in connecting producers to land, though it faces competing demands, high costs, and structural constraints in its operations.

The Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture (HDOA), represented by Kevin Moore and Brandi Ah Yo, oversees one of the largest public agricultural land portfolios in the state. Together, they bring insight into how the state allocates land, the policies shaping access and affordability, and how the agency is working to address longstanding barriers to entry.

This session unpacks the intersecting policy, logistical, and economic challenges facing agricultural leasing in Hawaiʻi—while spotlighting ongoing efforts to create more equitable pathways for farmers, especially those transitioning into diversified, sustainable, and community-rooted production.

Our fourteenth installment of the Brown Bag Speaker Series continues a vital conversation about Hawaiʻi’s food infrastructure—this time focusing on the critical role of food hubs in building both the physical and social systems needed for a resilient local food economy.

This session features Maureen Datta (Co-owner, Adaptations Inc. – Hawaiʻi Island), Steve Phillips (Owner, Local Harvest, LLC – Maui), and Jane Adams (Sales Director, Farm Link Hawaiʻi – Oʻahu), each representing a different island and stage in Hawaiʻi’s food hub evolution.

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Adaptations Inc., represented by Maureen Datta, has been a pioneer of community-supported agriculture (CSA) in Hawaiʻi for over two decades. Based on Hawaiʻi Island, Adaptations is known for its integrated logistics system that supports dozens of small farms, helping them reach larger markets through aggregated distribution. Maureen’s reflections in the session speak to the long road toward collaboration, infrastructure, and financial sustainability in the food hub movement.

Local Harvest, represented by Steve Phillips, brings a Maui-based perspective on designing food systems that are both mission-driven and rooted in community values. As a farmer and entrepreneur, Steve shares how Local Harvest is navigating federal regulations, scaling up aggregation infrastructure, and balancing efficiency with deep relationships among local growers.

Farm Link Hawaiʻi, represented by Jane Adams, is a leading food hub on Oʻahu using digital tools and logistics to connect consumers with local producers. Jane shares insights into how Farm Link leverages online marketplaces, refrigerated distribution, and data analytics to support farmers while making local food more accessible to households, institutions, and restaurants.

Together, these presenters explore the policy, capital, and community investments required to build out the backbone of Hawaiʻi’s food system—one that supports small and mid-sized farms, nurtures local economies, and builds resilience in the face of climate disruption and supply chain shocks. This discussion illuminates the on-the-ground efforts to connect farms to markets, address fragmentation in local agriculture, and develop collaborative models that serve both producers and communities across the islands.

Our fifteenth installment of the Brown Bag Speaker Series spotlights the often-invisible labor that sustains Hawaiʻi’s food system—examining how immigration policy, federal labor programs, and community well-being are deeply interconnected.

This session features SongYi Paik (Assistant Extension Agent in Agricultural Finance, CTAHR, University of Hawaiʻi) and Troy Keolanui (Co-founder, O.K. Farms – Hawaiʻi Island), who together offer both policy analysis and lived experience from the field.

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SongYi Paik provides a critical overview of how agricultural finance and policy frameworks—particularly immigration and labor regulations—directly shape farm operations, workforce stability, and the economic viability of Hawaiʻi’s agriculture. Her insights underscore the ways financial structures and legal requirements can both enable and constrain farm labor systems, influencing the long-term sustainability of farming communities.

Representing O.K. Farms on Hawaiʻi Island, Troy Keolanui brings forward the perspective of a diversified farm operator managing coffee, cacao, and specialty crops. His reflections highlight the practical realities of engaging with programs like H-2A, from recruiting and training workers to navigating federal compliance requirements. Troy emphasizes the importance of balancing productivity and farm viability with the ethical responsibilities of providing fair working conditions and building a stable, skilled workforce.

Together, these voices paint a nuanced picture of Hawaiʻi’s farm labor landscape. The discussion illuminates how immigration policy ripples through farms and communities, influencing food access, economic resilience, and social equity. It also points toward the urgent need for systems-level strategies that integrate finance, policy, and community action to create a more just and sustainable future for Hawaiʻi’s agricultural workforce.

Our sixteenth installment of the Brown Bag Speaker Series examines the links between climate change, food systems, and health—highlighting how environmental stressors intensify vulnerabilities while also creating opportunities for resilience and equity in Hawaiʻi.

This session features Elizabeth Kiefer, MD, MPH (Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa), who brings a public health perspective to the discussion of climate impacts on our local food system.

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Dr. Kiefer provides a critical overview of how climate-driven challenges—such as rising heat, shifting rainfall, and extreme weather events—directly influence food production and access. She underscores that these disruptions ripple outward, shaping community health outcomes and disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations.

Drawing on her work at the intersections of medicine and community resilience, Dr. Kiefer emphasizes pathways for equitable adaptation. These include strengthening local food systems, advancing culturally grounded health strategies, and developing policies that integrate climate preparedness with food security and public health planning.

Together, this discussion makes clear that climate change is not only an environmental crisis, but a public health and social equity challenge. By aligning food systems, community action, and health initiatives, Hawaiʻi can chart a course toward resilience and well-being in the face of a changing climate.

Our seventeenth installment of the Brown Bag Speaker Series examines the future of Hawaiʻi’s meat processing system—where food security, economic resilience, and ecological stewardship converge. Despite strong demand for island-raised protein, Hawaiʻi continues to export the majority of its calves to the mainland and import nearly all the beef consumed locally. This session explores how to “break the bottleneck” by reimagining the infrastructure, policy, and partnerships needed to sustain a thriving, locally rooted meat sector.

The discussion features Bryan Mayer (Educational Specialist/Instructor, Culinary Institute of the Pacific), Raia Olsen (Co-Founder, Oʻahu Grazers Cooperative), and Micah Richards (Meat Négociant & Owner, Mauka Meats, LLC). Together, they bring deep expertise spanning humane slaughter and butchery education, cooperative grazing models, and hands-on processing operations.

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 Panelists provide a multifaceted view of the challenges and opportunities facing Hawaiʻi’s livestock industry—from limited slaughterhouse access and regulatory complexity to innovative cooperative and mobile processing models. They also highlight how strategic grazing and diversified protein sources, including goats, pigs, and invasive deer, can play dual roles in strengthening local food supply while managing wildfire risk and restoring ecosystems.

Drawing on their respective experiences, Mayer, Olsen, and Richards illuminate how revitalizing Hawaiʻi’s meat processing infrastructure is not only an economic necessity but also an ecological and cultural opportunity. By aligning ranchers, processors, educators, and land stewards, this conversation envisions a future where local meat production supports both community well-being and the health of Hawaiʻi’s landscapes.

Our eighteenth installment of the Brown Bag Speaker Series explores the intersection of food system resilience and disaster preparedness in Hawaiʻi—an increasingly critical focus in the face of climate change and systemic disruption. As extreme weather events, supply chain vulnerabilities, and infrastructure challenges intensify across the islands, this session highlights how Hawaiʻi is building stronger coordination between emergency management, food systems planning, and community-based resilience.

The discussion features Dr. Albie Miles (Associate Professor of Sustainable Community Food Systems, University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu) and David Lopez (State Disaster Recovery Coordinator, Governor’s Office of Recovery and Resiliency). Together, they examine how integrating disaster preparedness, policy innovation, and community leadership can strengthen Hawaiʻi’s capacity to adapt and recover.

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Drawing from their respective expertise in sustainable food systems and statewide recovery planning, Miles and Lopez discuss lessons learned from recent disasters, the vulnerabilities revealed in Hawaiʻi’s food supply chains, and the policy and infrastructure strategies needed to safeguard both communities and ʻāina. They also highlight how the annual Hawaiʻi Food System Summit serves as a unifying platform for coordination—aligning government agencies, researchers, and ʻāina-based practitioners toward a shared vision of a just, regenerative, and disaster-ready Hawaiʻi.

By bridging food security and emergency management, this conversation underscores that resilience in Hawaiʻi requires more than preparedness—it calls for collaboration, systems thinking, and a deep grounding in place-based values that guide how communities care for one another and the land.

Our nineteenth installment of the Brown Bag Speaker Series examines the current state of school food systems in Hawaiʻi, offering a grounded look at how school meals are delivered statewide and the opportunities emerging to strengthen procurement, local sourcing, and student nutrition. As Hawaiʻi works toward more resilient, ʻāina-based food systems, this session centers school food as a critical nexus of health, education, agriculture, and equity.

The discussion features Lydi Morgan Bernal (Program Specialist, Farm to School / SFSP), Natalie McKinney (Chief Operating Officer, Kōkua Hawaiʻi Foundation), and Anneliese Tanner (School Food Program Administrator, Hawaiʻi Department of Education). Together, they explore the statewide landscape of school meals, the evolution of farm-to-school policy and programming, and the operational realities shaping food service delivery across Hawaiʻi’s public schools.

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Drawing from decades of collective experience, the presenters unpack procurement challenges, legislative mandates, budgeting and staffing constraints, and the systems that govern how food moves from producers to cafeterias. The conversation also highlights the growing role of regional kitchens—examining infrastructure needs, processing capacity, menu development, and institutional purchasing strategies that can support the integration of fresh, locally grown foods at scale.

By connecting policy, practice, and place-based values, this session underscores the potential of school food systems to nourish keiki, support local farmers, and strengthen community food pathways. Part One sets the foundation for deeper exploration in Part Two, framing school food not only as a service, but as a powerful lever for long-term food system transformation in Hawaiʻi.

Our twentieth installment of the Brown Bag Speaker Series builds on the foundation established in Part One, shifting from the “current state” of school food systems toward the procurement, production, and ʻāina-based pathways needed to scale local food integration across Hawaiʻi’s schools. This session focuses on how data, supply chains, and institutional decision-making intersect to shape what is possible for school food systems statewide.

The discussion features Hunter Heaivilin (Food Systems Planner, Supersistence), Dana Shapiro (CEO, Hawaiʻi ʻUlu Cooperative), and Leanne Kami (Sr. Project Manager, Sustainable Industry Development, Kamehameha Schools). Together, they bring complementary perspectives spanning food systems data and planning, on-the-ground production and aggregation, and large-institution procurement and strategy.

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Grounded in their distinct perspectives, the presenters unpack local food purchasing patterns in schools, regional production constraints, and the policy frameworks that shape procurement decisions. The conversation surfaces on-the-ground producer realities—including challenges related to aggregation, processing, and distribution—and considers cooperative and collaborative approaches that can strengthen farmers’ ability to serve institutional markets. It also highlights the role of large educational institutions as anchor partners, showing how procurement strategies, workforce development, and ʻāina-based values can be aligned to support local producers at scale.

By weaving together data-informed analysis, production experience, and institutional practice, Part Two emphasizes that meaningful school food system transformation depends on coordination across the full value chain. Collectively, these insights point to practical pathways for bolstering local food economies, nourishing keiki, and advancing a more resilient, equitable, and ʻāina-rooted school food system in Hawaiʻi.

Our twenty-first installment of the Brown Bag Speaker Series turns attention to the policy landscape shaping Hawaiʻi’s food future, focusing on what is currently moving through the 2026 legislative session and how community members can meaningfully engage in the process. This session centers on the relationship between agri-food policy and public participation, highlighting how decisions made at the Capitol influence farm viability, food access, procurement, land use, disaster resilience, and long-term food system transformation.

The discussion features Hunter Heaivilin (Advocacy Director, Hawaiʻi Farmer’s Union United (HFUU)), Dr. Kelsey Amos (Program Director, Hawaiʻi Food + Policy), and Anne Frederick (Executive Director, Hawaiʻi Alliance for Progressive Action). Together, they bring complementary perspectives spanning food systems planning and legislative analysis, public education and policy engagement, and grassroots advocacy grounded in community organizing.

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Drawing from their respective roles and experiences, the presenters unpack key agri-food bills moving through the Legislature and explore how organizations across Hawaiʻi track legislation, identify priorities, and respond in real time. The conversation surfaces issue areas ranging from healthy soils, agricultural workforce housing, and cooperative development to procurement, pesticide protections, land use, and food security. It also highlights the practical tools that support participation, including bill trackers, alerts, testimony templates, coalition-based advocacy, and opportunities for in-person or remote engagement.

By weaving together policy analysis, engagement strategies, and on-the-ground advocacy experience, this session emphasizes that meaningful food system change depends not only on what legislation advances, but also on who is able to participate in shaping it. Collectively, these insights point to practical pathways for strengthening civic engagement, supporting community leadership, and advancing a more just, resilient, and ʻāina-rooted food system in Hawaiʻi.

Our twenty-second installment of the Brown Bag Speaker Series launches a new biocultural restoration mini-series, beginning with a focus on agroforestry in Hawaiʻi. This session centers on how agroforestry systems can serve as a foundation for restoring relationships between people and ʻāina, while also contributing to food production, ecological resilience, and community well-being across the islands.

The discussion features Noa Lincoln (Associate Professor, Indigenous Crops and Cropping Systems, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR)) and Mark Hamamoto (Founder/Executive Director of Mohala Farms). Together, they bring complementary perspectives spanning research and education in Indigenous cropping systems, and on-the-ground implementation of agroforestry through community-based farming and education.

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Drawing from their respective roles and experiences, the presenters explore agroforestry as both a cultural practice and a contemporary strategy for land stewardship. The conversation examines how diverse planting systems can restore soil health, improve water management, and increase food production while strengthening cultural connections to place. It also highlights the importance of long-term thinking, community engagement, and education in building agroforestry systems that are both productive and regenerative.

By weaving together ʻike, practice, and applied research, this session emphasizes that agroforestry is not only a method of cultivation, but a pathway toward biocultural restoration. Collectively, these insights point to opportunities for restoring ʻāina, supporting local food systems, and advancing more resilient, community-centered approaches to land stewardship in Hawaiʻi.

Our twenty-third installment of the Brown Bag Speaker Series focuses on lessons from the recent Kona Low storms in Hawaiʻi and what they reveal about the vulnerability, strength, and resilience of local farms, food systems, infrastructure, and community response networks. This session centers on how Hawaiʻi can move beyond short-term disaster reaction toward more coordinated, place-based, and long-term approaches to recovery and resilience.

The discussion features Amanda Shaw (Statewide Food Systems Coordinator, Agriculture Stewardship Hawaiʻi), David Lopez (State Disaster Recovery Coordinator, Governor’s Office of Recovery and Resilience), and Hunter Heaivilin (Advocacy Director, Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United). Together, they bring complementary perspectives spanning food systems coordination, farmer advocacy, agricultural planning, disaster recovery, and emergency management.

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Speaking from their respective roles and experiences, the panelists examine the impacts of the Kona Low storms on farms, ranches, households, infrastructure, and food system workers across the islands. The conversation highlights reported agricultural losses, challenges facing smaller and underinsured producers, gaps in assistance programs, the importance of trusted community relationships, and the need for stronger information-sharing systems between government agencies, community organizations, and farm networks.

By connecting immediate storm impacts to broader questions of planning, policy, and preparedness, this session emphasizes that recovery is not only about repairing damage, but about strengthening the systems that support food producers and communities before the next disruption occurs. Collectively, these insights point to the need for culturally grounded, community-driven, and government-supported approaches that build long-term resilience across Hawaiʻi’s food and agriculture systems.