What can we do?

What would we
eat if the barges
You and your family can
prepare yourselves in a stopped coming?
number of ways:
Hawaiis location in the
Grow a garden. middle of the ocean makes
Buy directly from local it necessary for us to be
farmers and get to know
food self-sufficient.
them.
Learn to grow and use
Polynesian staple crops such Contact Us:
as taro, breadfruit, banana, Email: casar@hawaii.edu
and sweet potato. These
crops are less susceptible to
pests and much easier to
grow than many of the
vegetables we commonly
eat.
Trade extra produce with
neighbors.
If you live in an urban area,
consider starting a

community garden plot.
Plant fruit trees. HAWAII
Support and buy local foods
FOOD
SECURITY
whenever possible.

Every action you take makes

a difference over time. PROJECT
And remember,

Its wise to have

Working to Decrease
both a pantry full of
Costco food
Our Dependence on
HAWAII FOOD Imported Foods
SECURITY PROJECT
And a garden Honokaa, HI
full of taro!

Hokulea sailing in Honolulu Harbor
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mau_Piailug
Hawaiis first settlers
brought all their staple crops with
them. They knew that when you
live on an island in the middle of
the ocean, you cannot depend on
receiving food resources from
elsewhere.
He waa he moku, he moku
he waa.
The canoe is an island, the island a
canoe.
Our modern society seems to have
forgotten this basic wisdom, as we
have become so intertwined with
global commerce that we now
expect food to arrive daily on a
barge. But there are many things
which can disrupt this supply chain,
and we should not be caught
unprepared if one of those events
should take place.
HURRICANES Shipping
Did you know?
Now, imagine a different
85% of Hawaiis food is
scenario. The disaster affects
imported to our islands.
rice, toilet paper, and bottled
In the 1970s, Hawaii was self-
water, sure, but the grocery
sufficient in eggs and milk, with
stores, farmers markets,
240 egg farms and 120 dairies.
Today, there are 100 egg farms home and community
and only two dairies. (Source: gardens can still provide
Increased Food Security and Food Self- enough staple crops such as
Sufficiency Strategy, Hawaii State
Department of Agriculture)
taro, breadfruit, bananas, and
fish to feed a city.
Is it possible? Isnt it
Weve all had the necessary?
experience of
stockpiling rice, toilet
paper, and bottled
water when hurricanes
are approaching, and
we know how quickly
the stores can sell out
of food when people
panic.
OUR GOAL:
Increase local food
Imagine arriving at
production to at least
your local grocery 50% state-wide, enough
store, too late to get to survive on in case of