In this episode, we sit down with David Fuertes, a farmer, educator and advocate for food sustainability, to explore his path of bringing aloha to agriculture. As a community leader and Executive Director of Kahua Paa Mua in North Kohala on Hawaii Island, David has spent the past 15 years cultivating a “backyard revolution” through aina-based education that blends traditional practices with Korean Natural Farming. He shares how the organization supports youth and families in learning to grow their own food, raise animals, and build agricultural businesses. David reflects on rebuilding Hawaii’s Future Farmers of America chapters, his roots in Kaumakani, Kauai, and the importance of pilina (relationships), a value deepened through his friendship with Pono Shim. Through stories of teaching, military service, and reflecting on E Ohana Hou (the eternal unleashing of grace), David reminds us that food and love can be the foundation of a thriving lahui (people). Episode Highlights 0:24 Introduction to David Fuertes 1:02 Kahua Paa Mua and the "backyard revolution" of learning to grow food 3:15 Rebuilding Future Farmers of America (FFA) Hawaii chapters 5:25 Pandemic pivots on the farm and Aloha Connects Innovation (ACI) 9:32 Roots in Kaumakani, Kauai, a sugar plantation town; learning about hard work 12:41 College, getting drafted into Vietnam War, giving back and lifelong friendships 15:51 Becoming an agriculture teacher 18:21 The best Filipino ringtone ever 20:18 Former students, then and now 22:44 Dream food sustainability scenario - ahupuaa model 26:05 How to make agriculture thrive in Hawaii: a farmer's perspective 27:28 Reading plants and organisms to help them grow and thrive 30:18 Taro: teaching young ones about life 32:15 E OHANA HOU 35:28 Pilina: Friendship with Pono Shim 39:47 Aloha and the lahui 43:05 The universal language of love: food 44:33 The 3 QP (Quality, People, Partnership) 47:21 Aloha + the concentric circle of influence and control 48:33 JFK Hawaii visit 49:23 Driving with aloha Learn more about Kahua Paa Mua at: https://www.kahuapaamua.org/about
In this episode, we sit down with David Fuertes, a farmer, educator and advocate for food sustainability, to explore his path of bringing aloha to agriculture. As a community leader and Executive Director of Kahua Paa Mua in North Kohala on Hawaii Island, David has spent the past 15 years cultivating a “backyard revolution” through aina-based education that blends traditional practices with Korean Natural Farming. He shares how the organization supports youth and families in learning to grow their own food, raise animals, and build agricultural businesses. David reflects on rebuilding Hawaii’s Future Farmers of America chapters, his roots in Kaumakani, Kauai, and the importance of pilina (relationships), a value deepened through his friendship with Pono Shim. Through stories of teaching, military service, and reflecting on E Ohana Hou (the eternal unleashing of grace), David reminds us that food and love can be the foundation of a thriving lahui (people).
Episode Highlights
0:24 Introduction to David Fuertes
1:02 Kahua Paa Mua and the "backyard revolution" of learning to grow food
3:15 Rebuilding Future Farmers of America (FFA) Hawaii chapters
5:25 Pandemic pivots on the farm and Aloha Connects Innovation (ACI)
9:32 Roots in Kaumakani, Kauai, a sugar plantation town; learning about hard work
12:41 College, getting drafted into Vietnam War, giving back and lifelong friendships
15:51 Becoming an agriculture teacher
18:21 The best Filipino ringtone ever
20:18 Former students, then and now
22:44 Dream food sustainability scenario - ahupuaa model
26:05 How to make agriculture thrive in Hawaii: a farmer's perspective
27:28 Reading plants and organisms to help them grow and thrive
30:18 Taro: teaching young ones about life
32:15 E OHANA HOU
35:28 Pilina: Friendship with Pono Shim
39:47 Aloha and the lahui
43:05 The universal language of love: food
44:33 The 3 QP (Quality, People, Partnership)
47:21 Aloha + the concentric circle of influence and control
48:33 JFK Hawaii visit
49:23 Driving with aloha
Learn more about Kahua Paa Mua at: https://www.kahuapaamua.org/about