If your star fruit, ulu, lemon, avocado—or whatever--crop is too abundant, turn to gleaners who will come and pick it, no charge, and deliver it to those in need.

Kōkua Tree is a student run organization on O’ahu that was established in early 2021 by four high school students at Punahou School. They did research on the issues of food waste and food insecurity affecting their community, and the pay gap/affordability of healthy food, and were motivated to start a gleaning program. Kōkua Tree has since grown to be a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with three operating branches: Sacred Hearts Academy, Island Pacific Academy, and Punahou School.

Kōkua Tree volunteers work in backyards and farms to harvest fresh fruits and vegetables that are then donated to food pantries on the island. Kokua Tree trains its volunteers, provides all supplies and gear, and carries insurance that covers everyone.

For help, send a note to kokuatree@gmail.com A Kōkua Tree leader will meet/speak with you about the property and harvest logistics to determine date/time and how many volunteers to bring. The group sends a donation receipt after each glean that contains all the necessary information for tax purposes.

Aloha Harvest started in 1999 and is the largest food rescue and redistribution organization in Hawaiʻi. This 501(c)3 organization picks up quality excess food from donors such as wholesale distributors, grocery stores, restaurants, and hotels for same-day redistribution. It delivers to agencies feeding the hungry, such as homeless shelters, social service agencies, and food pantries.

It also has a Community Harvest program to rescue excess produce growing on Oʻahu, gleaning crops from yards, gardens, and farms all over the island. The goal is to increase the amount of fresh produce getting to Aloha Harvest recipient agencies and the community. To request a harvest or to volunteer starts with filling out an online form (see link). This organization also provides all tools and supplies, and sends a donation receipt for tax filing.

Happily, Kōkua Tree and Aloha Harvest collaborate. Last year, they combined their volunteer and equipment forces to achieve a large-scale harvest. As one Kōkua Tree leader puts it, “While we operate as separate entities, our goals remain the same: to provide a free source of fresh produce to those who need it most in our community.”

Let nothing go to waste!