Twenty U.S. Army soldiers took to a North Kohala farm Tuesday to lend a hand while getting a lesson in Native Hawaiian agricultural practices.
“Uncle” Dave Fuertes, executive director of the Kahua Pa’a Mua farm, provided the soldiers with a brief history of Hawaii’s biggest island, and King Kamehameha I, before teaching the soldiers the meaning behind words like “aloha” and “ohana.”
He also explained the significance of Hawaii’s ability to self-sustain food sources through agriculture, citing the rise in food consumed from the mainland at an all-time high of 85%.
“This is part of a ‘backyard revolution’ to be more food sustainable,” said Fuertes. “We are trying to teach students and families how to be more food resilient. We teach them how to farm organically, so they can take what they learn home and grow their own vegetables.”
The soldiers, hailing from the 25th Infantry Division’s 2-11 Field Artillery Battalion and 2-14 Cavalry Squadron at Schofield Barracks, Oahu, broke away for the day from a tactical training exercise on Pohakuloa Training Area. Instead, the soldiers tilled fields, pulled weeds, carried cinder blocks, and harvested sunflowers using sickles.
“We’re lucky to have the ability to come here and train and give back where we can,” said Lindsay Bowen, executive officer for Alpha Battery, 2-11 FA.
“We get to come out here and live in paradise,” said Specialist Jacob Kelske, mortarman for Ace Troop, 2-14 CAV. “Giving back to the community is the least we can do. I enjoy it.”
Fuertes, a U.S. Army veteran deployed to Vietnam in 1970-72, regularly invites soldiers training on PTA to his farm for volunteer events. On June 2, the 225 Brigade Support Battalion sent 25 soldiers for a similar event.
From traveling to building character, Fuertes said the Army was good to him. He said he’s a strong supporter of the Army training on PTA.
“I really appreciate when they want to come down to our farm and connect with the community and learn the culture,” said Fuertes. “Hopefully, we can continue this win-win situation. Where, we can preserve our culture and help prepare our soldiers defend our country.”
The soldiers are scheduled to complete training exercise and redeploy from PTA by the end this month.