The Pacific Gateway Center
Ever wonder who is behind some of the amazing super fresh Southeast Asian fruits, vegetables, and herbs available in local markets? One answer is family farmers on Oʻahu nurtured by Pacific Gateway Center (PGC).
The Center is a multifaceted Honolulu nonprofit that was established in 1973, at the end of the Vietnam War, to support Southeast Asian refugees. Today it serves numerous immigrant populations, Native Hawaiians, and other underserved communities on the island through two main endeavors: immigration services and economic development. Its immigration services include legal counsel, housing, translation services in 35 languages, a kūpuna activities center, and services for victims of human trafficking.
Food and agriculture is the focus of PGC’s economic development branch, with an overarching goal of supporting local sustainability. Currently, PGC is running four economic development projects aimed to “empower vulnerable populations to achieve self-sufficiency while maintaining their cultural heritage.”
Culinary Business Incubator. For culinary entrepreneurs, PGC offers a 12-kitchen, Dept. of Health certified facility in Kalihi for starting, operating, or expanding a food-service business, complete with dry and cold storage and meeting rooms. Kitchen space is rented by the hour and on-site help is available for permit applications and learning how to use equipment.
Farms in Kunia. Many immigrants come from countries where raising food crops is part of self-sufficiency. Since 2012, PGC has leased 176 acres of Kunia ag land to family farmers. They are growing all kinds of produce, including varieties specific to Vietnamese, Cambodian, Laotian, Filipino, and Burmese native diets. The produce is sold to distributors, restaurants, and at farmers markets. Some PGC farmers have stores in at the Chinatown Marketplace. (For some personal stories, check out the “Farmer In the Kitchen” series, written by Sarah Burchard and produced in partnership with Chef Hui. https://www.pacificgatewaycenter.org/pgc-farms-in-kunia)
Social Enterprise Program. The motto of PGC-SEP is “growing pono entrepreneurship from the ground up.” This program is intended to provide “wrap around services” for entrepreneurs on Oʻahu. The idea is to support small businesses in the agriculture, culinary, or ancillary sectors who have a long-term commitment to Hawaiʻi. The enterprise program includes microloans, business guidance, and one-on-one coaching, as well as access to transportation and childcare, if needed.
Ka Mea Kanu. Started in 2023, this five-year project has $6 million in funding from the USDA to “empower Hawai‘i’s underserved agricultural producers.” In partnership with GoFarm Hawaii, Hawai‘i Good Food Alliance, and two other organizations, it is providing immigrant and Native Hawaiian small-scale farmers access to land, training in land management, financial support through microloans, shared facilities for handling produce, guidance for business operations and marketing, and farmer networking opportunities.
Pacific Gateway Center represents another nonprofit doing pono work in the community that inspires and supports vulnerable individuals while simultaneously strengthening the island community toward greater food security for all.