Jun. 26, 2018

Contributed by Crystal Kua

Nearly 40 community members from 10 organizations and families gathered recently at the new Kamehameha Schools Post-Harvest Facility just outside of Hilo for a three-day workshop on aquaponics systems.

Aquaponics is the combination of aquaculture (raising fish) and hydroponics (the soil-less growing of plants) that grows fish and plants together in a single integrated system. The “Aquaponics Pilot: Train the Trainer Workshop” was organized and funded by Kamehameha Schools' Hawai‘i island asset management and regional teams. Featured trainers included Waimānalo Learning Center Community Coordinator Ilima Ho-Lastimosa, and Dr. Jane Chung-Do, associate professor at the UH Office of Public Health Studies.

Participants received hands-on training on how to build their own “mini ahupua‘a” aquaponics systems and taught the benefits of growing vegetables, medicinal plants and fish in their backyards and in their communities.