Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 11, Number 6, 1 June 1994 — Keʻanae farmers make living from the land [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Keʻanae farmers make living from the land

by Patrick Johnston The Ke'anae peninsula is one of Hawai'i's natural gems. Despite being eentrally located on the popular "road to Hāna," it has remained virtually untouched by the development that has affected other areas. Farmers Isaac and Gladys Kanoa are working to keep it that way.

Isaac Kanoa, one of the first applicants to receive a loan from OHA's Native Hawaiian Revolving Loan Fund, is the third generation of his family to farm the land around Ke'anae. For 15 years Kanoa and his wife have been running a successful 12-acre operation on the peninsula, growing a range of products that includes lūa'u leaf. pohole (Maui name for hō'i'o, edible fern shoots), kalo, noni, bananas and kl. They started the farm with a loan from the Farmers Home Administration (FHA) in the mid-Seventies. Looking to expand, they eame to OHA four years ago. Initially rejected on account of a weak business plan and uncertainty about the farm's cash flow, they enrolled in Alu Like's entrepreneurship training course, studying the specifics of running a business and learning how to sat-

isfy the requirements — such as making a business plan - of the revolving loan fund. After finishing the course they applied for, and received, a loan from OHA. "It is important not to give up," says Gladys Kanoa of their experience in trying to get a loan. "A lot of Hawaiians have their loan fund applications rejected and they don't keep on trying." Despite working in a business that is notoriously unstable and a lot of hard work, the Kanoas have been able to make a living from their farm and, in the three and a half years since getting their loan, have never missed a payment. One key factor has been a diversified line of crops. Their biggest bread-winner is the lū'au leaf - whieh attracts a large loeal market - followed by pohole whieh is popular with loeal retailers and hotels. Taro, while having sentimental appeal, is susceptible to disease

and pests and is a less reliable source of ineome. "Diversifying is the only way," Isaae Kanoa believes. "Sometimes taro is good, sometimes it rots or gets disease." But even with all the diversity in the world, if you don't have good produce and reliable delivery nobody will buy. The Kanoas have built themselves a reputation throughout Maui county and the state by sticking to certain environmental principles - they use no pesticides or herbicides - and by making sure a quality product gets to customers on time. Isaac Kanoa explains, "Being trustworthy and ontime has been important for us ... and because we don't use chemicals, we ean label our product chemical-free. This is becoming important for retailers and hotels." In 19 months the Kanoas will have paid back all

. their loans, an important milestone for I the family of four. "Our goal was to get out of debt," 1 says Gladys Kanoa, adding, "We're 1 more successful now. Our lū'au sales are strong and the business grows by about a third every year." The Kanoas have had their share of |bad times as well as good. In 1992, an infestation of golden apple snails virtually wiped out their crops. To deal with the problem, the Kanoas, with support from Maui county, shipped in a flock of ducks whieh quickly, and more effectively than chemicals, got rid of the snails. They are now cooperating in an continued on page 1 1

lsaac Kanoa inspects taro in Ke'anae lo'i.

Gladys Kanoa harvests a crop of lū'au leaf.

Ke'anae farmers from page 10 I

| effbrt, funded by an OHA grant, to stock the penin- | sula with enough ducks to eradicate the problem I on all the farms. Their taro, making a recoveiy aiter the snail infestation, recently found a weleome market at the ceremonies | retuming Kaho'olawe to the state.

The Kanoas divide their time between their farmhouse in Ke'anae and a residence in Ha'ikū. Gladys Kanoa says they have a surplus of lū'au leaf. Interested parties should eall 248-8449. For information about the Native Hawaiian Revolving Loan Fund contact OH A at 594- 1888.