Hawai‘i Farmers Union to Hold State Convention on Maui

Hawai‘i Farmers Union United President Vincent Mina, US Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and state Sen. Mike Gabbard. Photo courtesy Hawai‘i Farmers Union United.

The Hawai‘i Farmers Union United will hold its fifth annual statewide convention Friday through Sunday, Nov. 13 to 15, at Maui Tropical Plantation.

(See “EVENT HIGHLIGHTS” and “SCHEDULE OF EVENTS” below.)

During the convention, HFUU will hold a ceremony for the first graduates of the Farm Apprentice Mentoring Program. In this program, students shadowed farmers and attended business classes at the University of Hawai‘i Maui College.

These young farmers will receive ongoing support from HFUU chapters as they seek to establish their own commercial farm operations.

Cost for the three-day event is $95  for Maui residents) and $70 for Neighbor Island residents.

Those interested in attending specific events throughout the weekend may purchase individual tickets online.

Maui Tropical Plantation is located at 1670 Honoapi‘ilani Highway in Waikapū.

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

• Keynote address by state Sen. Mike Gabbard and US Rep. Tulsi Gabbard
• Locavore dinner by award-winning Chef Jeff Scheer of The Mill House
• Poi pounding demonstration
• Keiki Microbe Costume Contest
• Compost contest with prizes
• Seed and plant exchange
• Presentations by chapter presidents
• Entertainment by Marty Dread and friends

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Friday, Nov. 13 · HFUU Dinner Reception

• 4 p.m.: Open for registration
• 4:30 p.m.: Dignitaries meet with Boys & Girls Club members
• 5 p.m.: HFUU dinner reception, Millhouse and outside on front lawn
  Opening pule by Kumu Hula Maka‘ala Palmore
  Ku‘i poi pounding, a multiple participant poi pounding event
  Halau Hula Wehena o ke Ao
• 6 p.m.: “March of the Microbes,”  Honoring the International Year of the Soils
• 6:30 p.m.: Locavore Dinner, “all local all good”
  Maui Tropical Plantation Executive Chef Jeff Scheer, Maui Nō Ka ‘Oi magazine’s ‘Aipono Restaurant Awards 2015 Chef of the Year. Cost is $50.
• 7:30 p.m.: Keynotes and desserts
  Hawaii State Sen. Mike Gabbard and US Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard
  Pono Pies and locally frown organic coffee and tea
• 8:30 p.m.: Annual Meritorious Award within HFUU community
• 9 to 10 p.m.: Networking

Saturday, Nov. 14 · HFUU Official Business Meeting

• 8 a.m.: Breakfast (free to members)
• 9 a.m.: Election HFUU VP and policy (additions, modifications and deletions) convened by NFU Parliamentarian David Velde
• noon: Lunch and un-raffle (fine prizes from local businesses)
• 1 to 5 p.m.: Finish HFUU policy and bylaw business
• 5 p.m.: HFUU state BOD meeting

Sunday, Nov. 15 · Break-Out Session and Presentations

• 9 a.m.: Brunch and concurrent session.  Brunch tickets are $30; The brunch and concert are the only paid activities. Everything else on this day is complimentary and open to the public.
• 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.: Inside Mill House and outside on the lawn
• 10 a.m. to noon: Special surprise “to be announced”
• 10 a.m.: Chapter presidents’ presentations
• 10:45 a.m.: IUCN World Conservation Congress 2016 and Maui County’s First Indigenous Crop Biodiversity Festival 2016 and how HFUU and its members can participate.
• 11 to 11:15 a.m.: Eva Lee, Hawai‘i Tea, TOTUS Awards Report
• 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.: 2nd Annual Fall Seed and Plant Exchange
  Join Maui Seed Savers for a celebration of our plant heritage
  Bring seeds, plant cuttings, root divisions
  Go home with lots of great new items for gardens and landscapes!
• noon to 2 p.m.: Farm Apprentice Mentor (FAM) Program graduation ceremony
• 2 to 5 p.m.: Live dance Music on the front lawn with Marty Dread & Friends. Tickets are $15.

ABOUT HFUU

HFUU, affiliated with the National Farmers Union, is recognized as a voice for our local farmers, ranchers and fishermen.

Comprised of several community chapters throughout the state, the organization empowers its members to earn a prosperous living through regenerative stewardship practices.

HFUU members believe that a multitude of smallholder diversified family farms that implement regenerative food production techniques will create a resilient, vital and productive agricultural system to better feed Hawai‘i’s people.

Farmers, backyard gardeners, curious community members and anyone concerned about where our food comes from are welcome to join HFUU and commune with others who are working to improve the state’s food sustainability, and become part of the movement to grow more food locally.