Nā Māla Kaiāulu project seeks to revolutionize sustainable urban agriculture on Maui

A new project looks to transform barren land in Kahului into an educational farm.

This initiative, called Nā Māla Kaiāulu, was spearheaded by the nonprofit, Grow Some Good. It partners with Maui Family YMCA to provide access to nutritious food, educate about environmental stewardship and address food security in vulnerable communities.

Farm Manager Will Sands said on Monday the area of focus involves three fire-prone acres between Kahului and Wailuku.

“What was once a thick stand of kiawe and haole koa will soon be a forest made up of an overstory of ʻulu, mango, citrus, and native hardwoods and an understory of edible canoe plants,” said Sands. “What was once an abandoned vacant lot will soon be a community hub and resource.”

The project also offers educational opportunities through Camp Māla, an intersession learning experience for keiki, in addition to apprenticeship programs, and community events fostering local engagement and environmental stewardship. Benefits include sustainable food production, climate resilience, equitable harvest distribution, and community development.

Nā Māla Kaiāulu has garnered support from the County of Maui, Maui Nui Botanical Gardens, University of Hawaiʻi Maui College Kauluwehi Biocultural Restoration Project, the Mayor’s Office of Innovation & Sustainability, Kōkua Hawaiʻi Foundation and Hui O Waʻa Kaulua.

“Every community deserves access to fresh, healthy food, and at Nā Māla Kaiāulu, we’re working toward making that a reality,” said Scott Lacasse, executive director of Grow Some Good. “Through our farm, we’re not just growing food; we’re growing resilience. We’re fostering connections with nature that strengthen families, empower communities and promote environmental sustainability.”

Those interested in volunteering on Tuesdays or Wednesday mornings at the farm may email volunteer@growsomegood.org for more details.