Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 12, Number 9, 1 September 1995 — CBED group sows the seeds of a sugar-free Kaʻū future [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

CBED group sows the seeds of a sugar-free Kaʻū future

hy Patrick Johnston Things are looking up in Ka'ū. In anticipation of Ka'ū Agribusiness' planned closure next year, a vibrant eom-munity-based eeonomie development (CBED) group is working at developing altemate ways of revitalizing the remote region's economy. Huliau O Ka'ū, a CBED group based in Pahala, has spent the past two years working with private groups and government agencies in an effort to build an eeonomie t uture in the area without sugar. Tbeir efforts paid off this summer with its Summer Demonstration Project, a eollahorative eflf(Mt between Huliau O Ka'ū, Alu Like, the state, and the University of Hawai'i. The project - called an "eco-agri-cultur-al experience" — focused on creating eeonomie opportunity for young people, displaced sugar workers and the economically disadvantaged by providing hands-on agrieuhuial training, and integrating Hawaiian culture, language, values and lifestyle into this training. Coodinator Jessie Marques called the project a "eulminaūon of ideas, hopes and dreams of tbe many grassroots people who envisioned alternate eeonomie opportunities for the community." Nine students took part in the project, including six from Alu Like's Summer Youth Program and two displaced sugar workers. Students visited agricultural sites in Waipi'o and Hilo to study various cropgrowing techniques, and received technical instruction from the University of Hawai'i Cooperative Extension Services, federal Soil and Water Conservation consultants, and irrigation engineers.

Kumu Cathy Arnold, a summer volunteer from 'Olelo No'eau in Ka'ū, taught classes in Hawaiian language, art and eulture. The course began in June and ended July 28. The same day there was a groundbreaking for a three-acre parcel of plantation land donated by Ka'ū Agribusiness owners C. Brewer and Co. The site will be the location for an Agricultural Training Center and will eon-

tinue the work that began with the Summer Demonstration Project by offering hands-on instruction for growing a variety of different crops. To add to this training, Huliau's Resource Center - a loeaūon the group rents in Pāhala - will eventually be equipped with modern communications technology and used to provide classroom instruction. Assisting in this area, Hawai'i Intemet

service provider Interlink Hawai'i has offered its services, free of charge, to help connect the center to the Intemet. The center will be available for all Hawai'i residents, not just those living in Ka'ū. To help put together the center, OHA's eeonomie

development division has provided a $30,000 grant, the money go put toward producing a feasibility study, business plan, and to help with the development of a eunieulum for the new training center. Huliau O Ka'ū has also applied to the Administration for Native Americans for a $600,000 grant. Huliau president Janet Kaleohano says

the time has eome for Ka'ū residents to create alternate eeonomie opportunities to fill the void left by sugar's decline. She encourages the community to get involved with the planning and development of the community's future. For information about Huliau O Ka'ū eall their resource center Mon-Fri between 8 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. at 928-6429.

Students involved in Huliau O Ka'u Summer Demonstration Project plant taro huli at Huliau's resource center in Pāhala. Photos courtesy of Huliau O Ka'ū

Summer Demonstration Project students in their morning Hawaiian language class.