Kaʻū farm among 162 awarded in first round of flood response grants

After the Kona Low storms threatened farming operations across Hawaiʻi, the Hawaiʻi Farmers Union Foundation raised more than $1 million in grants that have reached 162 farmers, ranchers, and fishers across all six islands.

Launched in response to the March 2026 flooding and extreme weather, the Hawaiʻi Flood Response Fund was built on a simple belief: the people closest to the damage know best what they need to recover.

“Farming in Hawaiʻi is a tough endeavor to undertake, and when we have natural disasters that disrupt it, they can bring farmers to the breaking point,” said Christian Zuckerman, farmer; vice president and CFO of the Hawaiʻi Farmers Union Foundation. “The Kona Lows were especially devastating because of the multiple storms in a row.”

The fund supports both immediate relief and longer-term recovery, from replacing lost crops and equipment to restoring the farms that feed local communities. By providing unrestricted grants, the fund gives farmers, ranchers, and fishers the flexibility to rebuild, replant, and return to production as quickly as possible.

One of the recipients includes Ancient Valley Growers in Kaʻū, which was threatened by the Kona Low storms and suffered a devastating blow during Hurricane Lala last week.

Matt and Amy of Ancient Valley Growers produce fruit, vegetables, eggs, milk, and meat, and they are using their grant for a backup diesel generator and a new solar system so the walk-in cooler stays powered during the next storm. In their words, it “will guarantee the farm keeps working.”

With Lala hitting communities still recovering from March, the fund is now raising for a second round.

“As an organization, we understand that farmers have many challenges in these situations and wanted to provide funding to get them back on their feet as soon as possible. Even though we know we won’t be able to make everyone whole again, it will at least begin the road to recovery,” Zuckerman said. “The outpouring of support has truly given me hope for the ongoing support of our local food system.”

Made possible by the generosity of private donors, foundations, and community partners, more than $700,000 has already been distributed in unrestricted grants tiered from $1,000 to $10,000, reaching local farmers, ranchers, and fishers as they work to recover.

The Hawaiʻi Farmers Union is ready to mobilize to provide emergency relief, restore farms and food access, and support the long-term recovery of Hawaiʻi’s local food systems.

Community members and businesses who wish to support continued farmer disaster relief recovery efforts led by the Hawaiʻi Farmers Union and Foundation can donate through the Hawaiʻi Farmers Union website.