The Kupuna Mahiʻai Apprenticeship Project, led by Kumano I Ke Ala, a 501(c)(3) organization based in the rural community of West Kauai, aims to empower Native Hawaiian youth by providing comprehensive training in traditional Hawaiian taro farming. This two-year program will equip participants with essential skills in indigenous farm production, farm equipment usage, chainsaw certification, Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), first aid, and food handler safety. In collaboration with Gay and Robinson, Inc., regional landowners who will provide plots of unused farmland, participants will engage in hands-on training that includes planning growth periods, projecting yields, soil remediation, crop cultivation, and harvest. This initiative also features a farm business incubator to help participants develop business acumen. Upon program completion, graduates will have the opportunity to continue farming on their designated plots and grow their businesses as local small-scale farmers. The project seeks to preserve and revitalize traditional Hawaiian taro farming, enhance economic opportunities, and promote sustainable agricultural practices in West Kauai. Funding from NAAF will support training materials, certification programs, land preparation, and operational costs for the incubator, fostering lasting positive impacts on the community, environment, and local economy.
© Native American Agriculture Fund 2018 
About Company
The Native American Agriculture Fund (NAAF) provides grants to eligible organizations for business assistance, agricultural education, technical support, and advocacy services to support Native farmers and ranchers.
The charitable trust was created by the settlement of the landmark Keepseagle v. Vilsack class-action lawsuit. NAAF is the largest philanthropic organization devoted solely to serving the Native American farming and ranching community.