OHA proposes $802,600 to boost Native Hawaiian food producers with scholarships and incubators

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs presented Kulana Aina, a food-systems strategy intended to increase Native Hawaiian participation in agriculture and food enterprises. Staff asked trustees to approve $802,600 across FY26 and FY27 to support scholarships, two incubator cohorts, producer services, marketing activations and professional development.

Staff said Native Hawaiians operate roughly 3% of Hawaii's farms and receive under 1% of small-business lending; Kulana Aina is designed to move resources into readiness by providing scholarships for over 52 students in culinary and ag innovation programs, two 12-person incubator cohorts (24 businesses total), technical assistance, procurement readiness, and market-access activations. The presentation listed partnerships with Leeward Community College, the Wahiawa value-added product development center, and Native Hawaiian–led incubators.

Budget line items mentioned included $175,000 for scholarships (lines 6308 and 6448 combined), two incubator cohorts under line 6301, $40,000 for producer services and market preparation (line 6447), $300,000 for activations and market access events (lines 6444 and 6466), and about $31,000 for professional development and operational delivery (lines 6440, 6442, 6466, and 6468). Staff said the program aims to increase producer capacity, procurement readiness, and long-term enterprise scale.

Trustees asked about partnerships, community events, signage and QR-code materials, and potential collaborations with organizations such as the Hawaii Agriculture Foundation and the Hawaii Food & Wine Festival; staff said those partnerships would be explored where appropriate. Staff also described plans to provide market opportunities (roadshows and vendor spaces) and data collection to measure outcomes such as producer readiness and business sustainability.