A loan helped .


Kai's story

I grew up in Waimea On the Big island of Hawaii. It is a small ranching community on the northern part of the island at an elevation of about 2400 feet above sea level. The air is crisp and the hills are green. I have always been connected to the land from the time I was a small child. We lived off the land--my dad was a fisherman and we had a mini farm where he grew dry land kalo (taro) and raised pigs on our Hawaiian homestead lot.

As a kid I took for granted about the accessibility we had to good, clean-raised food. There were several family run slaughter houses within driving distance from one another. Today the accessibility is very limited and I realize there are easier options for someone to make money in today's modern world. Most people coming up that are my age and demographic see so many more profitable options that require less work and strain, so who will pick farming? It has become a passion of mine because of the need for it. I have realized that when you actually engage and put the work back into the Aina, it will reward you in so many more ways then one.

Farming can now be profitable and it can be a good career option for others. There is opportunity in farming with the internet and ability to reach customers around the world that even those who don't want to be the farmer, could be the person who helps build the network to connect the farmer to the consumer. There are many possibilities in this sector. My hope is for Kamanele Farm is to be a model and help encourage younger generations to produce food and provide clean products to their communities.


This loan is special because:

It supports a dedicated farmer purchase equipment to elevate the capacity of his poi processing facility



Loan details


About Kamanelefarm

Industry: Agriculture
Years in operation: New Business

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Loan details