January News: 2025 Initiatives and Highlights from the Holidays
Reflecting on 2024 and Looking Forward to 2025
As we welcome a new year, we know that 2025 will be a year filled with important work as Grove Farm continues its legacy of building and providing for the Kaua‘i community.
Development of Ahukini Business Park is underway and is stimulating our local economy not only on the construction front, but also by providing opportunities for many local businesses to own their own property. The Grove Farm Markethas become a cornerstone of our community where residents come every week for fresh local produce and Kaua‘i-made products.
Grove Farm staff continue to lead and oversee the stewardship of 37,000 acres in East and South Kaua‘i, including lands dedicated to agriculture and designated for conservation.
2024 brought many milestones as Grove Farm marked its 160th anniversary. Most notably, we were excited to complete the preparation of residential lots for the Puakea II and III subdivisions in Līhu‘e where 103 local families will build their homes. Through the Grove Farm Foundation Employee Volunteer Grant Program, our staff’s personal impact was amplified across a diverse array of Kaua‘i nonprofit organizations.
In 2024, we also bid aloha to Mr. David Pratt, who led Grove Farm for nearly 30 years and remained on the Board until his passing. Under Mr. Pratt’s leadership, Grove Farm transitioned from a sugar company to the diversified agriculture and community development company that we are today.
As 2025 begins, we are filled with excitement for the year ahead. We thank our many partners who share in the vision of building thriving communities and who have taken bold steps with us to make Kaua‘i a better place for all.
Grove Farm Teaches Wilcox Second Graders About Land Stewardship Careers
“BINGO! BINGO! . . . BINGO!” The exuberant shouts of students filled the second grade classroom at Wilcox Elementary School during Career Day on December 6 as our team led an activity about the broad array of local jobs across our lands — from farmers and ranchers to chefs and servers, and from engineers and heavy equipment operators to golf course maintenance staff. In addition to Grove Farm’s staff of 12, there are many contractors and tenants who are part of our daily land stewardship operations.
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Contractors Association of Kaua‘i Board
Grove Farm Vice President and Secretary Sharyl Lam Yuen was among the board members sworn in for 2025 at the Contractors Association of Kaua‘i’s (CAK) 67th annual meeting, held on December 5 on the Puakea Grill lawn. Sharyl will continue her role as the Board Secretary this year.
Grove Farm was also surprised and honored to receive the CAK Robert H. Rask Community Service Award for our company’s continuous support of non-profits, including CAK. Thank you, CAK and Karen Taketa!
Supporting the Kaua‘i Chamber of Commerce in Championing Economic Prosperity
Legislative leaders from Kaua‘i were honored on December 10 at a Business Pau Hana event hosted by the Kaua‘i Chamber of Commerce, the Kekaha Agriculture Association, Hawaiʻi Crop Improvement Association and Grove Farm at the Kaua‘i Philippine Cultural Center. Our island is proudly represented by Senate President Ron Kouchi, Speaker of the House Nadine Nakamura, Majority Floor Leader Dee Morikawa, and Housing Chair Luke Evslin.
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A few nights later at the Chamber’s annual membership event, our very own Senior Vice President Dave Hinazumi was sworn in as a member of the Kaua‘i Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors.
Connecting with Kaua‘i’s History Through the Kaua‘i Museum
As we focus on land stewardship and development for our community’s future, we believe it is vital that our work continue to be rooted in our island’s rich and unique history. In December, the Grove Farm staff met with the Executive Director of the Kaua‘i Museum, Chucky Boy Chock, who gave us a tour of the museum’s exhibits about the pre-contact period. This was just a glimpse of what the Kaua‘i Museum has to offer, and we look forward to continuing to return to the Kaua‘i Museum to learn from and appreciate our island’s rich history.
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Applications Now Available for 2025 Grove Farm Scholarships
2025 marks the 15th anniversary of the Grove Farm Foundation Scholarship. Since 2011, the Foundation has awarded 42 graduates of Kaua‘i’s three public high schools a total of $840,000 to support their continuing education at four-year colleges and universities.
Every year three scholarships are awarded, each valued at $20,000. Applications may be downloaded here, and must be turned in directly to your respective high school counseling office by February 21, 2025.
Temporary Modifications to Grove Farm Market Parking
Cesspool conversion is underway for the cottages behind the Grove Farm office and for the commercial property fronting Kaumuali‘i Highway. Our contractor is using a portion of the Grove Farm Market parking area (see map) for staging equipment. Work began in December and is estimated to be completed in April. During this time, there will be temporary modifications to the parking area for the Market. Please stay tuned to our email newsletters and social media for updates.
Wishing You and Yours a Very Happy New Year!
Last year, the Grove Farm team learned the art of kadomatsu making for the New Year. This year, we continued this new tradition using local bamboo and pine gathered by Braden Kobayashi, Beau Acoba, and Justin Uegawa from our lands.
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