Information on Hawai‘i’s agritourism operations can now be accessed in the palm of your hand.
Hawaii Farm Trails (HFT) launched a new smartphone app that provides statewide information on not only agritourism but local farmer’s markets and ways to give back to the community through ‘āina-based activities.
“The Hawaii Farm Trails app release has been timed with Earth Day, April 22, to honor the environmental regenerative values of the social enterprise and to celebrate the start of a partnership with the Polynesian Voyaging Society on a statewide food tree planting project that will occur as Hokulea prepares for its upcoming Moananuiakea Voyage,” an HFT press release states.
Additionally, through this new platform, HFT states farms and numerous agricultural businesses are able to deliver more purposeful and relevant Hawai‘i experiences to visitors.
“The incorporation of agritourism provides a deeper understanding of the symbiotic relationship between increasing local agriculture and creating a more sustainable economy for Hawai‘i,” the release states.
HFT founders and farming sisters, Kālisi Mausio and Angela Fa’anunu, believe that “keeping farms in business is the key to improving our food security and is the basis for our resilience as an island community.”
Aiming to boost interest and create more accessibility to local agriculture for visitors as well as residents, Hawai‘i Tourism Authority (HTA) helped to support the expansion of the mobile app. Focused on agritourism opportunities as part of its 2020-25 Strategic Plan, HTA seeks to highlight farms, ranches, and apiaries who provide public engagements such as on-site farm tours, classes, or farm-to-table tastings.
HFT is also looking to partner with businesses offering services like farmers markets, agricultural events, community-supported agriculture (CSA) distribution, food hubs, and even third-party businesses in neighboring areas that may benefit the farms in their immediate communities.
This initiative seeks to perpetuate the message of Mālama Honua (care for our Island Earth) that Hawaii’s traditional voyaging canoe Hokulea continues to spread worldwide. Hawaii Farm Trails provides a way for the public and organizations to support the planting of carbon-sequestering food trees on farms that will nourish and regenerate our Island Home.
For more information and to download the free Hawai‘i Farm Trails app, visit your mobile device app store and search for “Hawaii Farm Trails.”
The HFT app was also created in partnership with Hawaii Agritourism Association, GoFarm Hawaii, and Kamehameha Schools (KS).
