Maui’s history with sugar dates back centuries as one of Hawai‘i's leading agricultural crops until its last sugar plantation shutdown in 2016. In 2018, Mahi Pono purchased approximately 41,000 acres of agricultural land from Alexander & Baldwin, which was formerly Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Company Lands. Mahi Pono was a joint venture created with a commitment to sustainable agriculture, growing food for local consumption and providing agricultural employment in the community; between Pomona Farming LLC, a California-based agricultural group, and the Public Sector Pension Investment Board (PSP Investments), one of Canada’s largest pension investment managers.

In the past three years, Mahi Pono has focused on producing food with export potential for local consumption, creating jobs for local residents, and supporting local farmers in its agricultural park by providing farmable land, water and resources such as farming expertise, infrastructure, equipment, and development and farming capital.

EAT THINK DRINK 17: Ag Redux — From Plantation to Diversification is presented by Central Pacific Bank and Alaska Airlines—and will explore how Maui County is moving from its plantation past to diversified agriculture. Keynote speaker Darren Strand, Mahi Pono’s Vice President of Agricultural Operations & Business Development, will share the progress Mahi Pono has made to take former sugar cane lands to new crops for local consumption, as well as plans to develop produce for export in the future. The presentation will be followed by a panel moderated by Meredith Ching, Senior Vice President at Alexander & Baldwin, Inc. The panel will feature:

• Senator Lynn DeCoite, Hawai‘i State Senate District 7

• Alan Gottlieb, Ag Park Manager, HAF Ag Park in Kunia

• Warren Watanabe, Executive Director, Maui Farm Bureau

GENERAL ADMISSION TICKET RATE: $85 to join the live in-person event at Tidepools at Central Pacific Bank OR via Zoom (with dinner pickup option).

In-person tickets include a dinner inspired by Hawai‘i's historical plantation days and two (2) drinks from Kona Brewing Company or wine selection from Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits.

Zoom tickets include one (1) bento available for pickup in Honolulu prior to the event (email with more information TBD).

GET A DOZEN LOCAL EGGS – FOR FREE!

All registered attendees on O‘ahu will be eligible to receive a dozen eggs from Hawaiian Maid or Ka Lei Eggs. No purchase necessary.

#EATTHINKDRINK Join the #OnoRevolution, was developed by HAF in response to the need to provide better information to the community on important food issues. The quarterly event series aims to build and engage a larger network of younger generation consumers and create new opportunities to learn about the food we eat and the people that grow it. The goal of ETD is to find and develop areas of common ground, such as increasing awareness and support for local farmers and developing better infrastructure and consumer demand for value-added products to empower Hawaiʻi’s next generation of community and industry leaders.

ETD17 is presented by Central Pacific Bank and Alaska Airlines. The event is also supported by Alexander & Baldwin, Kona Brewing Company, Mahi Pono, Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, State of Hawai‘i, and Ulupono Initiative.

For more information, visit OnoRevolution.com.

MUST BE 21+ YEARS OF AGE TO ATTEND IN-PERSON