Farmers delight
Farms / In 2007, bumper stickers began appearing in east Oahu, stating “Keep the Valley Valley.” The “Valley” being referenced was Kamilonui Valley, the last remnant of agricultural activity in Hawaii Kai, and the bumper stickers, devised by Hawaii State Representative Gene Ward and his team, were a small way to spread a big message about the concrete infrastructures swamping an area once known for its lush greenery. In the words of Hawaii Kai Rep. Gene Ward, it’s become “overdeveloped.”
Things could get worse. In seven months, lease negotiations with Kamehameha Schools could very well result in a steep increase in rent prices in Kamilonui Valley, forcing what’s left of east Oahu’s farming industry out of business. Such a move, according to Ward, would pose “a clear and present danger to all of us who live in this community.”
This Saturday, learn about some of these dangers while having some serious fun at “A Day on the Farm,” an open house being held at R&S Nii Farms, which specializes in traditional Hawaiian farming methods. The event, sponsored by Ward and the Kamilonui Farmers’ Co-op, will feature games for kids, live entertainment, onolicous super fresh foods, door prizes, community booths and farm tours. However, the main objective is getting the community face to face with Kamilonui farmers–who Ward calls “one of the best kept secrets on this island”–in an attempt to educate residents about farm life, the importance of sustainable living and the plight facing modern day farmers.
“We say we want food sustainability yet we’re willing to eliminate the people who are going to get us there,” Ward said. “The event is a great chance for community members to get their hands dirty in 600 acres of farmland, to see what the farmers look like and what they do.”
Saving Kamilouni Valley
Kamilouni Valley farmer Tom Yamabe speaks with Representative Gene Ward.
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