Center announces farming programs
Two programs aimed at training and supporting the next generation of farmers in Hawaii are seeking applicants for sessions being offered this fall.
The Kohala Center’s Beginning Farmer-Rancher Development Program is accepting applications from prospective students for its sixth cohort. The 14-session course begins Nov. 7 in Honokaa. The course meets from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. every other Saturday. University of Hawaii researchers, extension agents and other agricultural experts will cover subjects such as production planning, farm design, soil management, composting and vermicomposting, cover cropping, business planning, and marketing and sales. More information and application materials are available at kohalacenter.org/farmertraining or by calling 887-6411. The deadline to apply is Oct. 30.
Although no previous farming experience is required, preference is given to applicants who have taken steps to become agricultural producers but would benefit from a comprehensive curriculum.
For high school students and recent graduates interested in sustainable agriculture, the eighth cohort of the center’s weeklong High School Agriculture Internship Program will run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily from Oct. 5 through 9 in Honokaa. With the aina serving as their classroom, interns are introduced to various aspects of agriculture in Hawaii — from learning about pre-contact indigenous farming systems to modern local, sustainable and organic agriculture. Interns gain hands-on farm experience from “seed-to-sale” and visit successful agricultural businesses. Upon completion of the program, students receive a $125 stipend. More information and application materials are available at kohalacenter.org/farmertraining/internships or by calling the center. The deadline to apply is Oct. 1.
Networkers meeting at different site
The Wednesday and Oct. 7 meetings of the Alii Networkers Chapter of Business Networking International will be relocated to the Kohala Suite at the Sheraton Kona Resort &Spa at Keauhou Bay because of Ironman events at King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel. The meetings are from 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and are free for visitors who want to actively network with other local businesses. There is free parking.
The featured presentations onWednesday will be by Donnie Perry of Kona Car Pros and Robert Whitmyer of 808 Computers. On Oct. 7, the presentations will by Summer Eggleston, therapist, and Jimmy Kayihura of Hawaii Island Recovery.
Lai Opua update set at hui meeting
West Hawaii Hui Laulima meets from 10:30 a.m. to noon Friday at the West Hawaii Community Health Center Community meeting room (ground floor) located at the corner of Kuakini Highway and Hualalai Road.
The hui welcomes Bo Kahui, executive director of Lai Opua 2020 Community Development who will provide an update. Lai Opua is a Kona-based, not-for-profit organization whose purpose is to “ensure the existence of adequate social infrastructure to complement and support the greater ‘laio’ community.”
For more information, contact Linda Jeffrey at 989.4241 or khparentcenter@yahoo.com.