COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS
The Touching The Earth Farm family grows as part of a larger community. Our partnerships strengthen local food solidarity and promote physical and mental wellness.
Feed Hawaii
Feed Hawaii is a community based nonprofit working to enrich the lives and well being of North Kohala residents.
Kanaka O Puna
Kanaka O Puna’s (KOP) mission is to empower and enable kanaka maoli, particularly native Hawaiian men who seek restoration and reconciliation with their ‘ohana (family and community) through its core intervention program, Men of PA’A.
KOP strives to be of service in its community with intent and purpose while fostering partnerships and collaborations with other organizations. They are “People helping people helping people” and are focused on “Aina-based recovery”. Our partnership with them began in late 2020 with volunteer days on the farm. Dragon Heart Farm’s hosts the KOP N. Kohala office on its farm site. Together the organizations are working to develop Men of PA’A programming in N. Kohala to address recovery needs through service and peer-based recovery focused on the farm and with other local organizations needing a workforce.
Kahua Pa’a Mua
David Fuertes is executive director for Kahua Pa’a Mua. Kahua Pa’a Mua is a North Kohala based 501 (c)(3) with a mission to: enhance communities through economic, conservation/preservation, social and educational programs for youth and adults.
KOHALA Food HUB
Dragon Heart Farm regularly provides fruit and produce to the North Kohala Food Hub program. Kohala Food Hub is an aggregator, distributor, and online marketplace of tasty locally grown and produced food. Our farmers are working together to meet the growing demand for local, sustainable food in the Kohala area of the Big Island of Hawaii and beyond. Our market also serves the Kohala Farm to School program, where our local cafeterias are able to buy local fresh fruits and veggies from local folks.
HIP Agriculture
Hawaii Institute of Pacific Agriculture (HIP Agriculture) is an educational institute and permaculture farm located in North Kohala, on the Big Island of Hawaii. HIP Agriculture is a non-profit organization located in North Kohala focused on teaching and living a model of sustainability through direct engagement with land stewardship and service to youth and communities. The mission of their organization is to practice and teach regenerative agriculture through field trips, workshops, and mentorship.
Partners In Development Foundation
Partners in Development Foundation (PIDF) provides over 10 free programs in the areas of social service, education, environmental sustainability, and Hawaiian language and culture. PIDF empowers families to navigate social challenges and to grow self-resiliency, vibrancy, and healthy, secure communities in Hawaiʻi. We partnered with PID in 2020, offering an art program within their local keiki distance learning program.
Vibrant Hawaii
Vibrant Hawai’i Island seeks to promote a thriving community by organizing a collective movement to create a better life for all.
North Kohala Community Resource Center
Providing local support, bridges to funding and education for projects that benefit the community of North Kohala, Hawaii.
