Farm planned for community and ex-inmates in Waimanalo

Two nonprofit organizations hope to provide farm-fresh produce and job training opportunities for the needy through a planned community farm on 14 acres of vacant state land in Waimanalo.

The Pu‘a Foundation, which helps women released from prison, is partnering with a nonprofit connected with St. George Church in Waimanalo to develop the project.

The two organizations produced a draft environmental assessment with the state Office of Environmental Quality Control that was published Thursday and lays out the initiative.

An initial phase to prepare the land for farming is projected to cost $60,000 and start in mid-2017.

Over five years, envisioned parts of the endeavor would include two produce gardens, a greenhouse nursery, a crop washing and storage facility, equipment storage sheds, a traditional Hawaiian hale (structure) for cultural practices, office space and a learning center that could include include a charter school.

“The proposed uses represent the beginning of a collective commitment that models innovative and collaborative support for Waimanalo families and children,” the assessment said.

The organizations said in the report that they are applying for a lease from the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, which oversees the property, which is zoned for agriculture and was once used as pastureland.

Prior leases for portions of the site expired in 1986 and 1994, according to DLNR.

A well on the property would be used for irrigation in conjunction with a storage tank that would have to be constructed. The report also said the property could be serviced by the Waimanalo Irrigation System operated by the state Department of Agriculture and that a connection is being explored.

DLNR spokeswoman Deborah Ward said the agency hasn’t received a lease application yet and that the environmental review process needs to be completed before a lease application is considered by the agency’s board.

Heading up the community farm plan is Blanche McMillan, who lives next to the vacant site and wants to use it to teach children about farming and to supplement existing charitable food distribution efforts in the community.

“I’m doing this for the community,” said McMillan, who is outreach coordinator for St. George and formed the nonprofit Hui Mahi‘ai last year to develop the community farm with the Pu‘a Foundation. “If you take care of the land, it will take care of you.”

The Pu‘a Foundation is led by Toni Bissen and helps families affected by trauma and incarceration with a special emphasis on women, girls and Native Hawaiian females. Services the organization helps provide include transportation, food, housing, clothing and employment for women exiting prison.

McMillan said some of these women will be able to receive training through the farm project. Others will be able to grow food for their own families in community gardens. And some food will be grown for distribution to the hungry through social service programs in the community.

The report said St. George operates the largest food distribution network in Waimanalo, providing roughly 4,750 pounds of food to 700 adults, children or families monthly.

“For a community to grow and thrive, the basic necessities (food, shelter, clothing) need to be met,” the report said. “The proposed project seeks to support food growth and learning opportunities to support human well-being.”

DLNR is accepting comments on the plan through Jan. 9. Comments can be sent to Barry Cheung at the agency via email: barry.w.cheung@hawaii.gov.