CSA on Oʻahu

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.

Oʻahu 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 https://www.kahumana.org/ Kahumana is a service-focused organization with a large organic farm in Waiʻanae. Its CSA program has weekly delivery locations in Waiʻanae, Kapolei, Honolulu, Kailua, ʻEwa, Haleʻiwa, and Pearl City, and offers home delivery in Waiʻanae 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.

Kolea Farm https://www.kolea-farm.com/csa 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).

Let’s Grow Farms https://www.letsgrowfarmshawaii.com/ This farm offers CSA members a weekly bag of local produce for home delivery or pick up in Punaluʻu 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.

Maʻo Organic Farms https://www.maoorganicfarms.org/ Maʻo Farm’s motto is “Growing food, growing leaders.” This long-established Waiʻanae-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 Waiʻanae, Kahala, Kakaʻako, Kailua, Haleʻiwa, Mānoa, Pearlridge, and Kaneohe.

Mohala Farms https://mohalafarms.org/ 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 Moʻiliʻili. 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.

Thrive Family Farm https://thriveohana.org/ In Haleʻiwa, 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.

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.

Ahiki Acres https://www.ahikiacres.com/ Ahiki Acres is a diversified organic farm in Waimanalo that sells its fruits, veges, and flowers as well as produce, honey, eggs, etc., 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 Waimanalo.

Farmlink Hawaii https://farmlinkhawaii.com/ 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).

Oahu Fresh https://shop.oahufresh.com/ Oahu Fresh works with a number of local producers (farms, bakers, cheese makers, etc.) 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 fruits and vegetables; what’s in the week’s bag is announced each Monday. Or take your pick and “make your own bag” of six items ($30). They deliver to many parts of the island (for a fee), and have pickup locations in Wahiawā, Kapolei, Kalihi, Kailua, and downtown Honolulu.

Forage Hawaii https://foragehawaii.com/ 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 Kakaʻako Farmer’s Market, or Sundays at Kailua Farmer’s Market. (Or go to one of these sites and buy what’s available at that time.)

Local Iʻa http://localiahawaii.com/ Local Iʻa buys directly from fishers it has qualified as using sustainable practices. Its sell only fresh, in-season seafood. Purchases can be made at its storefront in Kaimuki on Fridays and Saturdays, or the Mililani farmers market on Sundays. It also operates a CSF, community supported fishery. To participate, choose a share size (1 lb., 1-1/2 lb., 3 lb.), choose a pickup location (Kailua, Hawaii Kai, Haleiwa, ʻEwa, Kaimuki) and subscribe for four weeks (not necessarily consecutive).

And then, of course, you can just go buy what’s available at your local farmers market. Among the major weekly markets on Oʻahu: Kakaʻako, Pearlridge, Kailua, and Haleʻiwa. For information on these: https://www.farmloversmarkets.com/our-markets