Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 30, Number 9, 1 September 2013 — Mobile poi mill earns USDA grant [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Mobile poi mill earns USDA grant

By Lisa Asato OHA's nonprofit subsidiary Hi'ilei Aloha LLC has received a federal grant to develop a mobile poi mill that will enable small taro farmers to process taro and sell their products directly to stores. The $57,887 grant, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Business Enterprise Grant program, promotes development of small and emerging businesses in rural areas. Taro farmers suggested the need for a mobile poi mill because accessing commercial poi mills had become increasingly difficult, either because of dwindling numbers of mills or farmers' crops were too small, said Gigi Cairel, Hi'ilei Aloha capacity-building manager. Four taro farmers in North and Windward O'ahu will participate in the one-year grant:

Waihe'e Farms, Lehua Poi Farmand Wong's Taro Leaf Farms, all in Kahalu'u; and Punalu'u Green Valley Farm in Punalu'u. By June 2014, six jobs are expected to be created, and four more taro farmers will be added to the program, Cairel said, adding that job creation or retention is integral to the grant. The iniīial group of four farmers will create five new positions and Hi'ilei will increase a part-time position to full-time. "The idea is, by providing the poi mobile, the farmers will be able to sustain a (higher) level of production so they'll need to add more employees," Cairel said. "That's the effect of this: This is not only Hi'ilei creating a job, but it's the businesses we're helping - they're going to create jobs."

Under the grant, Hi'ilei Aloha will renovate a used food truck, and purchase and install equipment, including steamers, grinders, sinks and supplies. The grant also will pay for a part-time staff to run the mill. The mill is expected to be operational in December and will be based at a certified kitchen at Waimea Valley, Cairel said. Matching funds are coming from Hi'ilei Aloha, including a $10,000 prize it won in 2012 for its mobile poi mill plan in the Hogan/American Savings Bank Nonprofit Business Plan Competition through Chaminade University. The USDA grants were announced July 31 by Lillian Salerno, administrator of Rural BusinessCooperative Service. Hi'ilei Aloha LLC was one of two Hawai'i recipients and among 131 nationwide and in Puerto Rico receiving more than $6.5 million. Moloka'i Community Service Council Ine. received $41,113 to buy a truck and dump trailer to help farmers transport organic waste material. "The Obama administration has been working to create eeonomie opportunities in rural communities and bring well-paying jobs to the people who live there," Salerno said. "Strategic investments in rural businesses like the ones we are highlighting ... not only help to deliver more products and services to loeal customers, they also contribute to rural revitalization and eeonomie development in the small towns where these businesses are located." ■

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Hi'ilei Aloha LLC capacity building manager Gigi Cairel says the mohile poi I mill is expected to be operational in December. - Photo: Usa Asato