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Hawaii Grown: Story

Hawaii Will Receive Another $3.5 Million For Food Security Microgrants Ronen Zilberman/Civil Beat

Hawaii Will Receive Another $3.5 Million For Food Security Microgrants

The money will be distributed across Hawaii to bolster community-level food security.

Fast-Growing And Fire-Resistant Grasses Are Flourishing In Hawaii Thomas Heaton/Civil Beat/2023

Fast-Growing And Fire-Resistant Grasses Are Flourishing In Hawaii

Grass from East Indian sugarcane to African Guinea grass have been introduced to Hawaii for centuries, predating the state's increased risk of wildfire.

Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle Found On Maui David Croxford/Civil Beat/2023

Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle Found On Maui

The beetle was found dead in a bag of compost at a Maui big box store during routine survey work.

Hawaii Needs To Build Hundreds More Miles Of Firebreaks To Protect Against Wildfire Nathan Eagle/Civil Beat/2023

Hawaii Needs To Build Hundreds More Miles Of Firebreaks To Protect Against Wildfire

Fire officials and landowners have known for years about gaps in Hawaii's firebreaks and fuelbreaks. The problem boils down to money and cooperation.

Maui’s Fire And Winds Also Took A Toll On Farmers And Ranchers David Croxford/Civil Beat/2023

Maui’s Fire And Winds Also Took A Toll On Farmers And Ranchers

The state's ag industry mobilized to provide aid and the state bought feed, but ranchers need rain to grow grass soon.

Big Island Farmers Held Back A Fire Until Help Arrived: ‘It Could Have Been Another Lahaina’ Thomas Heaton/Civil Beat/2023

Big Island Farmers Held Back A Fire Until Help Arrived: ‘It Could Have Been Another Lahaina’

That same fateful day, a couple of farmers, a troop of cowboys and fire crews were all that stood between a Waimea wildfire and potential catastrophe.

State Ag Corporation Hires New Leader Courtesy: Peter Savio Realty

State Ag Corporation Hires New Leader

.The new director has a vision for community-focused innovative farming.

Invasive Species Are Rampant On Oahu And Stakeholders Are Calling Out DOA David Croxford/Civil Beat/2023

Invasive Species Are Rampant On Oahu And Stakeholders Are Calling Out DOA

The department said it is taking an 'all-hands-on-deck approach' to the issue.

Maui’s Food Waste Is Causing A Big Problem. Now, Some Residents Are Tackling It Themselves Marina Riker/Civil Beat/2023

Maui’s Food Waste Is Causing A Big Problem. Now, Some Residents Are Tackling It Themselves

Food accounts for roughly 19% of all the trash thrown out in the county, which lacks a municipal composting facility.

A Maui Rancher Prepares To Lose 3,400 Acres To Conservation Marina Riker/Civil Beat/2023

A Maui Rancher Prepares To Lose 3,400 Acres To Conservation

For the state, the purchase was a "huge victory" for the environment. For Brendan Balthazar, it was a devastating loss of agricultural land.