Tour
Farm Foundation Round Table tours are carefully curated to provide an intimate behind-the-scenes look at a variety of local producers and agri-food businesses. In true peer-to-peer fashion, tour attendees hear from farmers, ranchers, and operators for their perspective on the meeting topic through the lens of their operation.
Thanks to a mild, year-round climate, the Big Island of Hawai'i boasts a fertile landscape that sustains many different types of agriculture. Approximately 40 percent of land on Hawai'i is farmland and it is home to 8 of the earth's 13 microclimates. As an important crossroads for diversified agriculture, the Hawaiian islands present various unique opportunities to explore the business of farming and resilience in an array of everchanging conditions.
Please plan for a full and active day. The tour involves some amount of walking and periods of time riding on a charter bus. Headsets are provided to ensure everyone can easily hear the speakers. All transportation costs and lunch are included in the tour price.
Tour Option A
- 7:25 AM: Depart Hotel
- Greenwell Farms
- Symbrosia
- Kahua Ranch
- Starseed Ranch
- 5:45 PM: Return to Hotel
*stops subject to change
Tour Option B
- 8:00 AM: Depart Hotel
- Symbrosia
- The Vanillerie
- Kahua Ranch
- Ahualoa Farms Macadamia Nut Factory
- 5:35 PM: Return to Hotel
*stops subject to change
Tour Option C
- 7:30 AM: Depart Hotel
- Kona Sea Salt
- Greenwell Farms
- Kahua Ranch
- Ahualoa Farms Macadamia Nut Factory
- 5:35 PM: Return to Hotel
*stops subject to change
Kahua Ranch | Kamuela, Hawai'i
Kahua Ranch on Kohala Mountain is one of the most beautiful ranches on the Big Island with 2,100 acres covering 6 precipitation zones stretching from the rain forest at 4,500 feet to the ocean. Kahua Ranch was originally founded in the 1880's and has been owned and operated by the Richards family since 1928.
Raising livestock in multiple micro-climates presents its challenges but Kahua continues to pride itself on raising cattle and sheep naturally on open pastures and do not use added hormones. They are committed to caring for the aina (land) and providing high quality, flavorful beef and lamb products.
Greenwell Farms | Kealakekua, Hawai'i
In 1850, Henry Nicholas Greenwell left England to pursue a new life in Kealakekua, Hawai'i, which today is known as the Heart of Kona. Mr. Greenwell was later joined by his wife, Elizabeth Caroline, and the couple would spend the next 40 years farming, ranching and producing Kona Coffee. Eventually, the Greenwell’s one-of-a-kind coffee would catch
the attention of coffee lovers around the world, and, in 1873 the President of the Kaiser’s Exposition awarded them with a “Recognition Diploma” for their Kona Coffee at the World’s Fair in Vienna, Austria.
Henry Greenwell’s legacy continued decades later, when his grandson, Norman Greenwell, and his great grandson, Thomas Greenwell, developed coffee in the early 1980s on some of the same land. This new generation of the Greenwell family has marshaled in the modern era of specialty coffee in Kona and has played an important part in Hawaii’s coffee industry. Today, the company maintains coffee orchards on 85 acres, is developing new farms, and controls and manages another 60 acres of coffee for other land owners. As one of the largest and oldest coffee producers in Kona, Greenwell Farms is proud to celebrate its history and spread the spirit of aloha with every cup.
The Vanillerie | Kailua-Kona, Hawai'i
Guy & Jeannie Cellier cultivate the Vanillerie, a small vanilla farm on the west side of Hawaii's Big Island.
Born and raised in South Africa, Guy had the pleasure to call many places home before settling eventually on the Big Island. Passionate about all manner of flora, his thirty years of forestry and agricultural experience helped him grow and manage the Big Island's sustainable Eucalyptus forests of over 18 million trees. Guy now delights local, domestic, and international visitors to his vanilla farm with the beauty and history of this storied spice.
Kona Sea Salt | Kailua-Kona, Hawai'i
Kona Sea Salt is the only sea salt in the world made from pure, 900 year-old deep ocean water, rich in natural minerals and flavor. Most sea salts are created from surface waters which have significantly lower mineral content and can have higher amounts of microplastics and contaminants. Kona Sea Salt salt water is drawn from 2,200 feet below the ocean’s surface off Hawai‘i Island, making it one of the highest quality finishing salts in the world.
The Deep Ocean Water is pumped up from the depths, through a 1 micron filter, and into enclosed solar-evaporation beds. The salt is hand-cured and harvested during the 8-10 week salt-making process. Drying salt with Kona's year-round sunshine saves energy and preserves the natural minerals and unique taste.
Symbrosia | Kailua-Kona, Hawai'i
Symbrosia is a startup focused on producing the red macroalgae Asparagopsis Taxiformis. They turn this into a livestock feed additive, specifically aimed at reducing methane emissions in ruminant animals by more than 80%.
Starseed Ranch | North Kohala, Hawai'i
Starseed Ranch has a vibrant history of sustainability and community and they steward 26 acres of land filled with fruit trees, gardens, bamboo, timbers, medicine, and animals.
The Ranch is also home to a farm based nonprofit, the Hawai'i Institute of Pacific Agriculture. (HIP Agriculture)
They facilitate educational programs for students (grades K-20) and host retreats for all ages.
Their farm provides an abundant supply of fresh produce to the Hawi Farmers Market, Kohala Farm to School program, residential programs and beyond.
Ahualoa Family Farms | Honokaa, Hawai'i
This historic building was the reason Honoka’a used to be called "The Mac Nut Capital of the World.” It was shut down in the 90’s and has seen years of neglect. But when Ahualoa Family Farms first saw it, they went nuts! They knew they had to bring this beauty back to life.
They've been tirelessly restoring this magnificent piece of Hawaii’s agricultural history and installing new macadamia nut processing equipment. Now this gem is both the oldest and the newest macadamia nut factory in Hawai'i!
