North Shore NewsFarmers Transition From Former Farm Stands
Turtle Bay Resort and land manager, Pono Pacific, recently opened the new Kuilima Farm Stand, located along Kamehameha Hwy in Kahuku. Kahu Kordell Kekoa conducted the blessing, and local keiki from Halau Papa Ohia shared a hula to mark the occasion before the new farm stand opened to the public.
Produce farmers from the former stands across from Kawela Bay are transitioning to the new stands to the new venue—which is just a few hundred feet down the road closer to Turtle Bay—and will sell their
farm-fresh goods alongside other locally made items like books, clothing and Kuilima Farm stuffed animals for keiki. The Kuilima Farm Stand will be open daily from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
“I’m so excited to be at the new stand,” says Chue O., who is known for her tropical fruits selection. “I like to give people what I would want, so that’s why I never sell a bad fruit. I love teaching people about what’s in season and helping them learn about anything they want to know about growing food.”
Turtle Bay Resort and Kuilima Farm strive to be the first “farm-to-hotel” operation, where all resort restaurants use fresh produce grown directly from the farm across the street.
“Kuilima Farm represents Turtle Bay Resort’s commitment to agriculture in Hawai‘i and diversifying our economy,” said Tom Donovan, Vice President and Managing Director, Turtle Bay Resort. “Our ability to offer fresh vegetables and fruits for the community as well as the resort and increase our sustainability is a very important initiative for Turtle Bay Resort.”
Kuilima means “holding hands with the land,” which is true for Turtle Bay Resort’s vision for the 468 acres of agricultural land on O‘ahu’s North Shore. To support the farmers of Kuilima Farm and the North Shore community, Turtle Bay Resort has invested millions of dollars in infrastructure improvements. The farm and community gardens are managed by Pono Pacific, on behalf of Turtle Bay. Farm plots of land are licensed to farmers who are expected to use high-efficiency natural farming techniques, obtain food safety certification, and deliver sustainable food production.
“The new roadside Farm Stand is important as it provides our farmers the ability to sell their farm-fresh goods, while providing access for North Shore residents and visitors to enjoy Kuilima Farm,” says Chris Lee, VP of Farm Development. “This modernized experience allows residents and guests to explore local agriculture, which will also grow into a model farm with educational experiences over the next few years.”
For more information on Kuilima Farm, visit kuilimafarm.com or follow them on Instagram @ KuilimaFarm