Community Supported Agriculture

Craving fresh, local produce without the farmers market hassle? Join a CSA on O‘ahu! Support local farmers, enjoy weekly shares of in-season crops, and help reduce mainland food imports—all while eating healthier and greener.

CSA on O‘ahu

Want to support local farmers and eat super fresh, in-season produce without trekking to the farmers market every week? And help the islands become less dependent on food from the mainland? Take part in “community supported agriculture” (CSA). Your support comes in the form of becoming a “subscriber” to a farm’s production, and then receiving a weekly “share” of the farm’s current crops. Healthy for you, good for local farmers and the local economy, and energy sparing for the planet.

Community supported agriculture is not a new idea. It’s an offspring of biodynamic farming, which was introduced to the U.S. in the 1980s by farmers from Europe. Consumer interest in health and the environment—and climate change mitigation—has supported CSA growth across the nation, although predominately in West Coast and Northeast areas. By one count, assembled from USDA data, there were over 7,300 farms running CSA programs in 2015.

And then, of course, you can just go buy what’s available at your local farmers market. Among the major weekly markets on O‘ahu: Kaka‘ako, Pearlridge, Kailua, and Hale‘iwa. For information on these: farmloversmarkets.com/our-markets

O‘ahu CSAs

We checked in with Go Farm Hawaii to compile a list of active CSAs on the island. Here they are in alphabetical order.

Kahumana organic farm produce in Wai‘anae

CSA · Wai‘anae and island-wide pickup

Kahumana

A service-focused organization with a large organic farm in Wai‘anae. Weekly delivery locations include Wai‘anae, Kapolei, Honolulu, Kailua, ʻEwa, Hale‘iwa, and Pearl City; $30/box.

Visit kahumana.org

Kahumana

Kahumana is a service-focused organization with a large organic farm in Wai‘anae. Its CSA program has weekly delivery locations in Wai‘anae, Kapolei, Honolulu, Kailua, ʻEwa, Hale‘iwa, and Pearl City, and offers home delivery in Wai‘anae and Kailua areas; $30/box. Kahumana Café makes farm-to-table meals for eating on site, takeout, or adding to your CSA order. Kahumana also runs programs and services for homeless families and individuals with learning disabilities.

Visit kahumana.org
Produce from Kolea Farm permaculture food forest

CSA · North Shore

Kolea Farm

A Pupukea Road “permaculture food forest” offering local produce for $25/share. Weekly pickup is Saturday at the farm.

Visit kolea-farm.com

Kolea Farm

This Pupukea Road farm calls itself a “permaculture food forest.” Its CSA program aims to serve North Shore folks with local produce for $25/share. Weekly pickup day is Saturday at the farm; you must reserve a share in advance but there is no ongoing commitment (there is a $50 savings if you sign up for an 8-week subscription).

Visit kolea-farm.com
Weekly local produce bag from Let’s Grow Farms

CSA · Delivery or pickup

Let’s Grow Farms

Weekly bags of local produce, with home delivery or pickup in Punalu‘u or Waialua. Bags cost $20–$25, with kalo, honey, and eggs available as add-ons.

Visit letsgrowfarmshawaii.com

Let’s Grow Farms

This farm offers CSA members a weekly bag of local produce for home delivery or pick up in Punalu‘u or Waialua (also available are add-ons such as kalo, honey, eggs). Cost is $20–$25/bag of assorted produce. Six-month subscription prepaid; some sliding scale options. Let’s Grow Farms also offers services related to growing food, from land preparation to harvesting, if you’re interested in farming yourself.

Visit letsgrowfarmshawaii.com
Ma‘o Organic Farms CSA produce

CSA · 13 pickup locations

Ma‘o Organic Farms

“Growing food, growing leaders.” A long-established Wai‘anae-rooted organization with an 8-week CSA commitment at $32/box, weekly or bi-weekly.

Visit maoorganicfarms.org

Ma‘o Organic Farms

Ma‘o Farm’s motto is “Growing food, growing leaders.” This long-established Wai‘anae-rooted organization provides local youth hands-in-the-dirt internships and support through college into careers. Its CSA requires an 8-week commitment ($32/box, weekly or bi-weekly) with 13 pickup locations including Wai‘anae, Kahala, Kaka‘ako, Kailua, Hale‘iwa, Mānoa, Pearlridge, and Kaneohe.

Visit maoorganicfarms.org
Organic produce baskets from Mohala Farms

CSA · Waialua and Mo‘ili‘ili

Mohala Farms

Organic produce baskets on Thursdays, with pickup at the farm or in Mo‘ili‘ili. Small baskets are $20; large baskets are $30.

Visit mohalafarms.org

Mohala Farms

This is a community initiated and operated farm in Waialua. It offers its CSA’s organic produce baskets on Thursdays, with pick up at the farm or a location in Mo‘ili‘ili. There is an annual fee of $25, and subscriptions run for three months. Baskets are either small ($20) or large ($30) and can be customized.

Visit mohalafarms.org
Organic produce from Thrive Family Farm in Hale‘iwa

CSA · Hale‘iwa

Thrive Family Farm

A small family enterprise with successive eight-week subscriptions. Organic produce is $40/week.

Visit thriveohana.org

Thrive Family Farm

In Hale‘iwa, this small family enterprise (Jennifer and Jason) has a CSA component that operates through successive eight-week subscriptions. The farm’s organic produce is available for $40/week. Contact Jennifer for more information and to sign up: Jennifer@thriveohana.com or (808) 489-8305.

Visit thriveohana.org

Aggregators

Another option for buying local fruits and vegetables and other locally produced foods without grocery store markup is to utilize an aggregator—a business that sells goods sourced from multiple providers across the island(s). Some have a CSA function.

Produce and flowers from Ahiki Acres in Waimānalo

Aggregator · Waimānalo

Ahiki Acres

A diversified organic farm and local marketplace offering produce, flowers, honey, eggs, and more. Marketplace announcements arrive Thursdays.

Visit ahikiacres.com

Ahiki Acres

Ahiki Acres is a diversified organic farm in Waimānalo that sells its fruits, vegetables, and flowers as well as produce, honey, eggs, and more from several other local farms. The farm puts out a “marketplace” announcement every Thursday. Orders are placed and paid online for pickup Sundays at Kailua Farmers Market or at ‘Ai Love Nalo in Waimānalo.

Visit ahikiacres.com
Local food box from Farmlink Hawaii

Aggregator · Island-wide delivery

Farmlink Hawaii

Local produce, dairy, meat, bread, pantry goods, and snacks delivered island-wide, or available for pickup in Kalihi.

Visit farmlinkhawaii.com

Farmlink Hawaii

Farmlink offers everything local, from produce to dairy, meat, breads, pantry goods, and snacks. You place your order online, and they deliver the next day, island-wide, seven days a week. There is a $30 minimum on orders; orders under $80 pay $6.99 for delivery. Households paying through SNAP-EBT pay no delivery fee. There is no fee if you pick up your order at Farm Link in Kalihi (daily, 10 AM to 2 PM).

Visit farmlinkhawaii.com
CSA bag from Oahu Fresh

Aggregator · Delivery or pickup

Oahu Fresh

Shop from local producers online, choose a weekly or bi-weekly CSA bag, and arrange delivery or pickup around the island.

Visit shop.oahufresh.com

Oahu Fresh

Oahu Fresh works with local producers and requires membership ($15). You can shop online and/or take part in the CSA program (weekly or bi-weekly). The basic “farmers’ market bag” ($25) is a mix of fruits and vegetables; what’s in the week’s bag is announced each Monday. Or choose six items to make your own bag ($30). They deliver to many parts of the island for a fee, and have pickup locations in Wahiawā, Kapolei, Kalihi, Kailua, and downtown Honolulu.

Visit shop.oahufresh.com
Local sustainably raised meats from Forage Hawaii

Aggregator · Local protein

Forage Hawaii

Locally and sustainably raised beef, pork, chicken, lamb, goat, venison, and fish, depending on availability.

Visit foragehawaii.com

Forage Hawaii

This provider sells “locally and sustainably raised” protein—beef, pork, chicken, lamb, goat, venison, and fish—depending on availability. Shop online for pickup Fridays at their Honolulu warehouse, Saturdays at Kaka‘ako Farmer’s Market, or Sundays at Kailua Farmer’s Market.

Visit foragehawaii.com
Fresh local seafood from Local I‘a

Aggregator · Community supported fishery

Local I‘a

Fresh, in-season seafood bought directly from qualified fishers, with a four-week CSF subscription and several pickup locations.

Visit localiahawaii.com

Local I‘a

Local I‘a buys directly from fishers it has qualified as using sustainable practices. It sells only fresh, in-season seafood. Purchases can be made at its storefront in Kaimukī on Fridays and Saturdays, or the Mililani farmers market on Sundays. It also operates a CSF, community supported fishery. Choose a share size (1 lb., 1-1/2 lb., 3 lb.), a pickup location, and subscribe for four weeks.

Visit localiahawaii.com