Mahiʻai Match-Up
Mana ‘Ōlena is the winner of the 2020 Mahi‘ai Match-Up agricultural business plan competition and won a $10,000 cash prize donated by Ulupono Initiative, waived rent for five years on KS land in Hilo, and wrap-around business support services from the Kohala Center. Mana ‘Ōlena is a family-owned farm business operated by East Hawai‘i farmer Richard Kodani and his son and daughter-in-law, Nicholas Kodani and Chie Homma. The operation will specialize in growing two original “canoe plants” – plants that traveled with ancient Polynesians across the Pacific to the Hawaiian islands – including certified organic orange and black ‘ōlena and conventional ‘ulu.
Mahiʻai Match-Up is an agricultural business plan contest dedicated to increasing food production for the local market to create a sustainable Hawaiʻi. The contest is for farmers and other agricultural producers including ranching, fishery, nursery proprietors, and educational collaborators interested in growing food for Hawaiʻi.
Key dates
Stay tuned for key dates for the 2021-2022 Mahi ‘ai Match-Up
- TBD: Registration opens
- TBD: Registration and business plan summary deadline
- TBD: First round semi-finalists notified
- TBD: Final Business Plan deadline
- TBD: Presentation to Judges
- TBD: Finalists notified
- TBD: Mahi‘ai A ‘Ola Farm to Table Event - Winners announcement
