A Native Hawaiian group is about to take the reins on nearly 400 acres of agricultural land mauka of The Ritz‑Carlton Oʻahu, Turtle Bay, with plans to turn resort‑adjacent fields into a hub for both culture and commerce. The new venture will blend native agroforestry with commercial farming and training programs, opening more doors for local kalo growers and other producers.
The initiative, called Ono Small Puaʻa and launched by native‑plant nursery Hui Kū Maoli Ola, will manage the mauka property while running on‑site farm stands, cultural education and regenerative agriculture projects, according to the Honolulu Star‑Advertiser. “Our vision is to help reconnect these lands to their cultural purpose,” co‑founder Matt Schirman said in the release.
The Land And Recent Managers
The mauka acreage is part of the resort’s Kuilima Farm, a roughly 468‑acre agricultural operation owned by the resort and protected under a conservation easement. Kuilima Farm notes that the property is permanently dedicated to agriculture and supports community plots alongside independent growers. In recent years, Pono Pacific Land Management has overseen the farm and built a commercial wash‑pack facility that helped the operation secure USDA food‑safety certification, according to Pono Pacific.
What Ono Small Puaʻa Will Do
Under the new arrangement, Ono Small Puaʻa will focus on diversified agriculture and orchard development, native Hawaiian plant restoration, educational programming and farm‑stand retail that highlights local producers. The idea is to make the land work for both the community and the market. Project leader Kerry Gaber said the aim is to “honor their history while creating meaningful opportunities,” according to the Honolulu Star‑Advertiser.
Partners And Training
To pull it off, Hui Kū Maoli Ola plans to partner with Kumano I Ke Ala and GoFarm Hawaiʻi, linking cultural practice with farmer training and jobs. Kumano I Ke Ala runs loʻi restoration and youth workforce programs, while GoFarm Hawaiʻi offers statewide beginning‑farmer training and business support. Together, they are expected to use the site as a living classroom for the next wave of growers.
How This Fits Local Debates
The move puts Native Hawaiian stewardship front and center on land long wrapped up with resort agriculture and conservation, and it lands amid ongoing disputes over development at Turtle Bay. A lawsuit challenging a proposed luxury resort in the area was set to go to court this spring, underscoring simmering tensions over land use and cultural protections, as reported by Hawai‘i Public Radio. The conservation easement on Kuilima Farm is a key safeguard that supporters say keeps the mauka lands in active agricultural production, according to Kuilima Farm.
Officials say Ono Small Puaʻa will roll out farmer training, farm‑stand operations and expanded native‑plant restoration over the coming months, with more details expected from Hui Kū Maoli Ola and the resort. For a deeper look at the group now stepping into this role, see the history of native‑plant propagation and restoration work from Hui Kū Maoli Ola.
