Holoholo’s Network Of Produce Vendors Helps Win A Farm Lease

As the first-place winner of Kamehameha Schools’ Mahi’ai Match-Up Agricultural Business Plan competition, the Haleiwa-based Holoholo Store will use its $25,000 prize to expand its community-supported agriculture service on a six-acre parcel in Paalaa (rent-free for five years). Owners include (from left) Jill Nordby, twin sisters Emily and Elisabeth Beagle and business partner Jamie Sexton. The virtual store has built a network of farmers and customers on the North Shore and in Windward Oahu. Photo from Kamehameha Schools.

By PAIGE TAKEYA

Picking up a bag of groceries from the market is an everyday activity. But collected produce from Holoholo General Store in Haleiwa is a little bit different.

The Community Supported Agriculture business works with local farms and businesses to provide a range of fresh local produce to customers – and now it’s being honored for the effort.

Holoholo General Store won the Mahi’ai Match-Up Agricultural Business Plan contest sponsored by Kamehameha Schools and Ka Ali’i Pauahi Foundation. The competition strives to reward business plans that address the need to increase local food production for the Islands.

It will get an agricultural lease from Kamehameha Schools, which comes with five years of waived rent, as well as $25,000 cash.

Other finalists (from an initial entry pool of 148) were Kaunamano Farms on Hawaii island and Mapulehu Farms on Molokai. Holoholo’s win was announced Feb. 22 during a gala at Dole Cannery.

Not an ordinary market, Holoholo is unique in that it doesn’t have a static physical location. Customers instead preorder weekly or biweekly Holoholo Bags (which contain anywhere from five to 12 items, depending on size ordered)

and are given a variety of vegetables and fruit, along with recipes and tips for healthy eating and living. Patrons can add cheese, pasta and other locally sourced food items to their order. Prices range from $25 to $53 per bag, not including any add-ons or fees.

Holoholo works with area farmers, such as Ho Farms, Kahuku Farms, Twin Bridge Farms and Poamoho Organics, and it plans to expand services by adding Da Truck, a mobile marketplace, to its lineup.

Pick-up sites are at Windward and East Oahu locations. For details, visit holoholostore.com or call 281-6141.