As the state works to strengthen local food systems, Leeward Community College is helping transform ±á²¹·É²¹¾±ʻ¾±¡¯²õ agricultural landscape by connecting classrooms to the field and preparing students and educators with modern farming, entrepreneurship and sustainability skills.
Teaching teachers
In March, Leeward CC hosted a workshop to help K–12 educators bring real-world agriculture and entrepreneurship into their classrooms. Eight teachers from Mililani High, Mililani Middle and Daniel K. Inouye Elementary schools visited Â鶹´«Ã½ Farming and O.K. Farms on Â鶹´«Ã½ Island to explore agricultural technologies, such as drone and app-based crop monitoring.
“These local examples will help my students explore a range of careers connected to agriculture,” said Christopher Justo, agriculture teacher at Mililani Middle School.
“Partnering with Leeward CC has created opportunities I never thought possible,” added Grant Toyooka, district resource teacher in workforce readiness for the Leilehua-Mililani-Waialua Complex Area. “From meeting entrepreneurs to getting behind-the-scenes access, I¡¯ve gained insights far beyond what you can find online.”
Growing sustainability
Leeward CC also offers sustainable agriculture courses, such as a commercial aquaponics class, held at Nalo Farms last spring.
Students studied how hydroponics and aquaculture can work together to create a closed-loop system using minimal water.
“Having a location to apply the theories taught in school reinforces best practices,” said Jason Brand of Nalo Farms.
For student Joy Kono, the former USDA Farm Service Agency state executive director, returning to the classroom reignited her passion.
“Leeward CC¡¯s hands-on classes can help drive the transformation needed to increase local food production,” Kono said.
Exciting time for agriculture
Recently, Leeward CC hired a new agriculture and technology workforce development coordinator, Vincent Kimura, who has decades of experience, including work with the Â鶹´«Ã½Community Colleges¡¯ Good Jobs Â鶹´«Ã½ initiative.
Will Castillo, senior workforce coordinator at Leeward CC¡¯s Office of Workforce Development, said, “This is an exciting time for agriculture at Leeward CC. We¡¯re building programs that connect students to real careers, support local food production, and highlight agriculture as a place of innovation and impact.”
—By Devon Bedoya
