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FOOD SOVEREIGNTY

MAHIʻAI MOA

Mahiʻai Moa Project


Our Mahiʻai Moa Projectʻs mission is to increase food production by our island residents through poultry farming and feed workshops as well as training our local community slaughterhouse in order to increase our community access to fresh, nutritious food and make our community more resilient.

For more info, contact:

Lori Pastrana

Manager - Farmer Training

Email: Lori@sustainablemolokai.org

Ph: (808) 658-0515


We're looking for 15 Native beginning farmers and ranchers on Molokai to participate in Mahiʻai Moa Project!

A Beginning Farmer: Defined as someone who has not operated a farm or ranch for more than 10 years (USDA Definition)

A Native Farmer: Native Hawaiian, American Indian/Native American, or Native Alaskan). If you are indigenous to another country other than the United States, you may still be eligible (Priority given due to funding restrictions)

THE APPLICATION DEADLINE HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO MAY 7, 2023 (SUNDAY)

Apply to be on the Mahiʻai Moa cohort here

Mahiʻai Moa is a 5-month educational program on commercial chicken production, utilizing a blend of Zoom & in-person workshops and field trips, including:

  • 6 Zoom workshops with Julius Ludovico of J. Ludovico Farm
  • 3 additional workshops: follow-up check-in sessions with the Mahiʻai Moa support team
  • 2 Chicken Foraging & Feed workshops with CTAHR
  • 2 field trips to J. Ludovico Farm (Oʻahu)
  • Farm Business Support: G.E license, business plan, and 1-on-1 consultations with a Farm Business Specialist
  • A built-in market for broiler bird sales while you stabilize and grow your business
  • A cohort-style model that encourages farmer-to-farmer support and collaborative sales methods
  • $4,000 worth of supplies to get your chicken business up and running!

And... a built-in market that supports business growth!

2023 Mahiʻai Moa Project Timeline

Program Applications Open

April 3th - April 14

Program Interviews

Week of April 17th

Selections Made

April 24th

Program Begins

April 29th (8am-12pm)

Mahiʻai Moa Workshop dates

4/29, 5/20, 6/3, 6/24, 7/8, 7/22, 8/26, 9/6, 9/23

(9am-11am via zoom)

Additional Cohort Meetings

8/19, 9/2, 9/16

Field Trip dates

5/13, 8/5

Program Graduation

September 30th, 2023