Agricultural education program offers new training involving canoe crops in Hilo

GoFarm Hawaiʻi has opened applications for its new program that explores the cultivation, characteristics, and value chains of canoe crops.

“Cultivating Canoe Crops Course” is a hands-on learning opportunity involving crops such as kalo, ʻōlena, kō, maiʻa, lāʻī, and ʻulu. Participants will train in cultivation at the GoFarm ʻĀlae site in Hilo and will learn about production and processing through field visits.

The course will also provide exposure to business and market opportunities, including value-added processing.

Participants will gain training, mentorship, and buyer relationships needed to expand market presence and support long-term stability, contributing to a more resilient and locally rooted food system.

The new training is also open to neighbor island residents who can commit to classes this spring.

Interisland participants are responsible for their own travel costs, though potential stipends may be available for Native Hawaiian participants who have completed the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Hawaiian Registry Program.

The “Cultivating Canoe Crops Course” is sponsored by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Kūlana ʻĀina program, which is designed to strengthen Native Hawaiian economic resilience by expanding participation across Hawaiʻi’s evolving food economy.

The “Cultivating Canoe Crops Course” is open to all Hawaiʻi residents 18 years old and older. The schedule is as follows:

• 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursdays (online via Zoom)
  • April 9, April 23, April 30, May 14 and May 28
• 8:30 – 12:30 p.m. Saturdays (in-person on Hawaiʻi Island)
  • April 11, April 25, May 2, May 16 and May 30

Applications are due March 15, and applicants will be notified by March 20. The course is free, but applications are required.