Our Mahiʻai Moa Project's mission is to increase local poultry production, boost our island's economy, and support our participants in their business goals.

Mahiʻai Moa is a 5-month educational program on commercial broiler chicken production, utilizing a blend of in-person & Zoom classes, including:

6 Zoom workshops with Korey Harris of Simple Roots
3 additional workshops: follow-up check-in sessions with the Mahiʻai Moa support team
2 Chicken Foraging & Feed workshops with CTAHR
2 field trips to Simple Roots Farm (Maui)
Farm Business Support: G.E license, business plan, and 1-on-1 consultations with a Farm Business Specialist
A built-in market for broiler bird sales while you stabilize and grow your business
A cohort-style model that encourages farmer-to-farmer support and collaborative sales methods
Supplies to get your chicken business up and running!

TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE MAHIʻAI MOA PROJECT

Participants must be:

A Beginning Farmer/Rancher: USDA defines beginning farmers and ranchers as those who have operated a farm or ranch for 10 years or less
A Native Farmer/Rancher: Native Hawaiian, American Indian/Native American, or Native Alaskan. You may still be eligible if you are indigenous to a country other than the United States.
Committed: Be able to attend all meetings and workshops
Collaborative: Can learn and work in a cohort model
Willing to sign an MOU with Sustʻāinable Molokai, track broiler bird production & sell back 50% of the broiler birds back to Sustʻāinable Molokai for 2 years

Participants must have the following:

A location/site suitable for farming. Must show proof of land ownership or long-term lease.
Access to reliable internet to be able to attend Zoom workshops
The ability/tools to build a chicken coop (building materials supplied)
The ability to invest in the program by continuing to purchase birds & feed for 2025.
The ability to participate in all workshop dates (see timeline below)

2024 MAHI'AI MOA PROJECT TIMELINE

Program Interviews: Week of June 25, via Zoom in the evenings.
Selections Made: June 28, 2024
Cohort Welcome Meeting & Workshop: Tuesday, July 2 (5:30 pm-7:30 pm via zoom)
Mahiʻai Moa Workshops: Tuesday's (5:30 pm -7:30 pm via zoom)
CTAHR Foraging & Feed Workshops: TBD
Hand On-Slaughter/Processing Training: September 22, October 5, October 19
Field Trips to Maui: August 10, August 31 or September 14
Program Graduation: TBD