Issue #2: September 2026

Community Story: ALA'AMOE KEOLANUI of OK Farms

Interview Conducted by: Caleb Busque

Story Written by: Lee Mori and Caleb Busque

Cover Shot by: Kristen Colada Adams

OK Farms: Growing Food Independence & Mālama ʻĀina

Located near Rainbow Falls in Hilo, OK Farms is a diverse tropical fruit farm deeply committed to Hawaiʻi Island and its communities.

Co-founded by Troy Keolanui and the late Ed Olson, OK Farms is more than a working farm. Through agriculture, community partnerships, farm tours, and its CSA farm box program, the Keolanui ʻohana supports local food production and greater food independence in Hawaiʻi.

For this month’s newsletter, we spoke with Alaʻamoe Keolanui, wife of co-founder Troy Keolanui, about food independence, mālama ʻāina, local partnerships, and the farm’s vision for the future.

Local Partnerships

OK Farms is part of a network of local agricultural businesses connected through the Olson Trust, including Hamakua Macadamia Nut Co. and Kaʻū Coffee Mill.

“The relationship, you know, it’s like our ʻohana, you know, with those two other entities.”

Hamakua Macadamia Nut Co. purchases macadamia nuts from OK Farms, while Kaʻū Coffee Mill roasts its coffee beans. These partnerships show how local businesses can support one another while keeping Hawaiʻi-grown products within our island community.

Looking Ahead

OK Farms is looking to the future with plans to expand its agricultural and educational offerings. Goals include developing native forest and agroforestry areas, creating trails and educational spaces, establishing a certified kitchen, and working toward accepting EBT at the farm store.

The vision goes beyond growing food—it’s about growing a stronger, more connected, and more sustainable Hawaiʻi.

Aloha Grown is proud to support local businesses like OK Farms that share our commitment to Support Local. Sustain the ʻĀina. Share the Aloha.

To order CSA farm boxes, apply for a tour, or to learn more about OK Farms, their website is https://www.okfarmshawaii.com/.

Issue #1: August 2026

Community Story: DAVID and CAROL FUERTES of Kahua Pa'a Mua

Featured Product: COLLEGIATE PUFF T-Shirts

Story Written by: Caleb Busque

Cover Shot and Edited by: Caleb Busque

Building a Strong Foundation for the Future: David and Carol Fuertes

For the inaugural issue of the Aloha Grown monthly newsletter, we wanted to highlight individuals who are creating a lasting impact in Hawaiʻi Island’s communities. David and Carol Fuertes, founders of Kahua Paʻa Mua, are a true example of that mission in action. Based in Kohala, Kahua Paʻa Mua is a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening Hawaiʻi’s future through agriculture, education, and food sustainability. Born and raised on Kauaʻi during the era of the Olokele Sugar Company, David Fuertes has spent his life committed to teaching and serving others. After serving during the Vietnam Era, he earned his teaching degree from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and began a career in agricultural education. He taught agriculture and natural resources at Kohala High School before serving nearly 30 years with the Hawaiʻi Department of Education’s West Hawaiʻi Division.

The Importance of Experience

Carol believes the most powerful lessons come through experience. “When they come to our farm, they work with the animals, learn how to maintain the farm, plant, grow, harvest, and ultimately put food on their own tables.” Caring for the land also means being responsible stewards of what it provides. “When we mālama the ʻāina, we’re aware of what we can grow, when we can grow it, and how much we’ll produce so there’s no waste,” Carol shares. “We consider our community our ʻohana. If we have an abundance, we share it with the food hub.”