HIFA 3rd Annual School Garden Workday

The 3rd annual island-wide school garden workday took place on October 21, 2023. A collaboration with Hawaiʻi Island Food Alliance (HIFA), this event is part of the Hawaiʻi Island Community Food Summit. Thanks to a partnership with the County of Hawaiʻi and funding from the USDA’s SNAP-Ed Program through the Department of Health, four schools across Hawaiʻi Island were chosen to host a school garden workday, receiving a resource stipend, provided a community guest speaker and a catered lunch for the volunteers!

Hawaiʻi Academy of Arts & Sciences, Honokaʻa Elementary, Keonepoko Elementary, and Kona Pacific Public Charter School hosted a total of 65 volunteers who ranged from students to community members. Sweet Cane Cafe, Kaʻai & Soo Ling Delights, and Kool Runnings Catering provided ʻono provisions for the day. Guest speakers were informative and fun, including: Chris Holz, a cultural practitioner, who shared his ʻike on kalo; Uncle Ricky, an ʻulu ambassador and documentarian of Nā Pua Pasifika; Chef Justine Ma, personal chef who shared her manaʻo on Food Sustainability; Marielle Hampton, from CTAHR with an interactive session on garden herbs!

This year’s school garden workday was split into two days and part 2 will take place on February 10, 2024! We are still looking for another host school so email eleonor@malaai.org if your school’s garden could use some love and has an interest in hosting!