Hoʻōla Farms was founded to create a space where Veterans can learn, connect, and heal through meaningful agricultural experiences. This month, we proudly honor one of our AgVets, Leslie Lockhart, who continues to inspire us all. Leslie is a military Veteran who served in the Navy as a Master at Arms working as a dog trainer/handler. After the military Leslie went back to school where she received her BS in Agriculture from UH at Hilo. Over the past few years, Leslie has completed three courses with us, each supported by a scholarship, including: Growing Veterans: GoFarm Hawaiʻi program where ..read more

Veterans Day 2023 Message from Executive Director, Emily Emmons On this Veterans Day, I want to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude to all the brave men and women who have served and continue to serve our country. Your selfless dedication, sacrifice, and courage do not go unnoticed. Today, we honor not just a date on the calendar, but the individuals behind the uniforms, each with a unique story of service and commitment. Your strength, resilience, and unwavering patriotism inspire us all. To the veterans among us, thank you for your service, your sacrifice, and the example you set f ..read more

Today marks the 22nd year since the United States was attacked by terrorists in a coordinated effort to weaken our people, our country and the very democracy in which we exist as free humans. Please take a moment today and remember those who were lost in the attacks. Take the time to find a name and their story to learn about the beauty of the life they lived as they breathed the free air here in the United States of America. Living as a free people is something less than 60% of the world has the benefit of…my hope is that anyone reading this will find a great sense of gratitude for the opport ..read more

Green Beef Curry using fresh Hawaiʻi Farm-to-Car Ingredients This recipe is a twist on a favorite – Green Beef Curry. We made this using an instant pot so we could get tender beef chunks in a short amount of time. What makes this dish extra special? It’s all about those homegrown, local ingredients that infuse a burst of freshness. Plus, this homemade curry paste uses aromatic ingredients like curry leaves, lemongrass, and ginger that will have your home smelling a-maz-ing. Ingredients  -1 Pound Boneless Stew Beef by Hamakua Meat Processors -2 Cups spinach (we used Amaranth spinach f ..read more

Mashed Sage Butter Sweet Potatoes using local ingredients from farmers here on our island! This dish is simple yet full of flavor. Whether you’re planning a cozy dinner for two, a family get-together, or a potluck party with friends, these mashed potatoes are a winner. Ingredients  6 medium Purple Sweet Potatoes from Hawaiʻi Farm-to-Car 1 cup butter 1/4 cup heavy cream 10-12 fresh Sage leaves from Triple Plaid Farms 4-5 fresh Garlic Chives – Oliana Products Salt Pepper Instructions: -Wash and peel sweet potatoes. Dice into a uniform size. -Add the sweet potatoes to a pot with boiling wate ..read more

We’ve Added a New Pick-Up Option! We are excited to share that we have partnered with Onomea Farm Hub to offer an additional pick-up location in Pepeekeo. Pick-up will still be on Wednesdays between 3 pm-6 pm. All you have to do is edit your location pick-up at checkout.         Please reach out if you have any questions! *Producer drop-off is still in Keaau About Onomea Farm Hub: The Onomea Farm Hub is a space to shop for locally grown products or a farm-to-table meal. It offers the public an educational garden and space for pop-ups and events. It also supports Hawai ..read more

We are delighted to announce the appointment of our new Board President, Jamie Muskopf, DSW, and extend a warm welcome as she steps into this important leadership role within Hoʻōla Veteran Services 501(c)(3), d.b.a. Hoʻōla Farms! Jamie Muskopf was born in Honolulu and raised in Kāne’ohe, Hawai’i and Burbank, California. She is the proud mother of 3 children and wife of Commander Brad Muskopf, USN, who recently took command of the ballistic missile submarine USS NEBRASKA (Gold) in Bangor, Washington. Dr. Muskopf is the Director for Programs and Projects in Technical Assistance, Learning, and ..read more

This weeks Hawaiʻi Farm-to-Car harvest highlight is the Heart of Palm! The PalmHeart of palm is a vegetable harvested from the inner core and growing bud of certain palm trees. These palms are the peach palm, Bactris gasipaes, a species of palm tree native to the tropical regions of South and Central America. While it is not originally from Hawaii, it has been introduced to the islands and cultivated here for its edible heart of palm. The peach palm tree itself is a medium-sized palm that can reach heights of up to 20 meters (65 feet). It has a single, slender trunk covered in thorny stems. Th ..read more

Meet our Hawaiʻi Farm-to-Car producer, Kokoleka Puna LLC! Hawaiʻi Farm-to-Car is an online farmer’s market with weekly curbside pickup where customers can purchase local produce, meats, eggs, cheeses, baked goods, and value-added products. Learn More. About:  Aloha, we are Sonja & Alex, the owners and chocolate makers of Kokoleka Puna LLC. We handcraft Hawaiian Chocolates from Hawaiian Big Island grown Cacao. Alex is working on the field, harvesting the pods and taking care of the beloved cacao trees at our supplier farm Hilo Sharks. Sonja is the creative part. Designing our own cust ..read more

We’re so excited to share that Hoʻōla Farms was awarded a USDA grant to support Veteran farmers and producers on Hawai’i Island in developing agribusiness! The Hilo Food Hub currently serves over 25 farmers and small business owners who utilize the commercial kitchen to make a wide range of products, from cured meats to wontons to baked goods. There are also several small businesses that rent office space at the Hilo Food Hub, including Compost Hawai’i, Big Island Box, and Volcano Precious Plastics. We also have several new businesses currently in the onboarding process. This involves navigati ..read more