Kaʻū News Briefs, Saturday, June 3, 2023

Kaukau 4 Keiki summer food distribution program begins on June 19 for Volcano, Pāhala Nā'ālehu, Ocean View and Miloli'i. Photo from Vibrant Hawai'i

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THE KOHALA CENTER, which has helped  Kaʻū Coffee farmers buy their lands and held retreats and numerous educational sessions in  Kaʻū, has posted the following opportunities in agriculture:
     Hawaiʻi ʻUlu Co-op is hiring an agricultural processor in Kona. The position is responsible for carrying out Hawaiʻi ʻUlu Co-op's Standard Operating Procedures, following co-op policies, and adhering to the instruction and guidance of processing supervisors and management in a food manufacturing environment. Please check out the HUC website for further information. Resumes can be sent to operations@eatbreadfruit.com. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis.
    Hawaiʻi Land Trust is hiring a director of land acquisition to lead related projects over lands with natural, cultural, agricultural, or other value to Hawaiʻi and its communities. HILT protects the lands that sustain Hawaiʻi, and teaches future generations to do the same. The position will be involved in all parts of acquisitions, including working with communities and landowners, identifying and scoping opportunities, fundraising, negotiating, due diligence, and completing legal processes to close transactions. If the candidate is an attorney licensed in Hawaiʻi, the position may be expanded to also serve as in-house counsel. Further information on the position and how to apply can be found here.
    Feed The Hunger Fund is hiring a lending officer/business development officer who will be responsible for generating a strong pipeline of prospective borrowers while maintaining an active presence in the communities served by FTHF, and collecting required loan documentation, extracting relevant information, analyzing financial and business documents. FTHF is a nonprofit, certified Community Development Financial Institution that aims to drive systemic change across the food system by providing loan funding and business technical assistance to farmers and food entrepreneurs, primarily among immigrants, women, and communities of color. Visit their website for further information about the position. For more, contactKelly Teamey at kteamey@kohalacenter.org, See https://www.feed-hunger.com/.

THE DEADLINE IS SOON TO APPLY FOR MICRO-GRANTS from Hawai'i Department of Agriculture. Micro-grants for up to $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for organizations will support small-scale gardening, herding, and livestock operations. This third year of the Micro-Grants for Food Security Program continues to focus on increasing the quantity and quality of local food in food-insecure communities. People who previously received this grant are not eligible. The deadline to apply is 12 noon on Thursday, June 15. Visit https://hdoa.hawaii.gov/blog/main/nr23-09mgfsp/ to apply.