Ho'ola Farms

What Ho'ola Farms does

Ho'ola Farms is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (legal name: Ho'ola Veteran Services 501(c)(3), EIN 47-2842514) founded in 2015 and headquartered at 923 Kukuau Street, Hilo, Hawaii. Its mission is to deliver therapeutic and vocational agricultural programs to military Veterans, first responders, caregivers, and community members on Hawaii Island, with explicit focus on those managing PTSD, TBI, and chronic health conditions. Core programs include the Hawai'i Farm-to-Car online farmers market (operating on a weekly cycle with pickup in Hilo, Kea'au, and Pepe'ekeo), free one-day Intro to Grow workshops, four-week Groundwork to Grow intermediate courses, the Victory Gardens for Veterans raised-bed initiative, and the Food is Medicine distribution programs in partnership with healthcare providers.

The organization operates an agribusiness incubator through the Hilo Food Hub, a commercial kitchen and cold/frozen/dry storage facility at 555 Kalanianaole Avenue acquired in May 2022, which it rents to local value-added producers on tiered monthly plans ($230–$720/mo kitchen time; $30–$37/mo storage). Its primary technology assets are the Hawai'i Farm-to-Car e-commerce storefront with SNAP/EBT and DA BUX (Double Up Food Bucks) payment integrations, and a WordPress-based content and registration system. No proprietary AI/ML systems are disclosed.

Funding is a mix of federal grants (a $750K USDA NIFA AGVETS grant awarded in November 2021 and subsequent USDA Local Food Purchase Assistance funding), recurring kitchen rental, modest training course fees ($50–$100 for Groundwork to Grow; Intro to Grow is free), donations, and Food is Medicine contracts with healthcare partners including Kaiser Permanente and the Hilo VA CBOC. Since 2021, Hawai'i Farm-to-Car has returned over $1.3 million directly to 130+ local farmers and producers, and the Food is Medicine program has distributed 59,498+ lbs of locally grown food to 450+ families weekly. The organization employs approximately 14 staff across program management, operations, finance, and outreach, supported by a three-person board and a broader partner network including GoFarm Hawaii, The Kohala Center, Vibrant Hawaii, and the Elizabeth Dole Foundation.

Name

Ho'ola Farms

Legal name

Ho'ōla Veteran Services 501(c)(3)

Website

https://hoolafarms.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Ho'ola Farms is a Hawaii Island 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers agricultural training, therapy, and food access programs to military Veterans, caregivers, and community members through an online farmers market, commercial kitchen incubator, and USDA- and Kaiser-funded Food is Medicine initiatives.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Agricultural Education and Veteran Support

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Horticulture, Nursery & Greenhouse Operations (EDAOAOAB)

Keywords

• Veteran agricultural training
• Beginning farmer education
• Online farmers market
• Commercial kitchen rental
• Community food access

Headquarters

HQ city

Hilo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Grants and Government Funding: Primary revenue from federal grants including USDA/NIFA AGVETS grant ($750K awarded in 2021), supporting veteran agricultural training programs. Also receives funding through USDA Local Food Purchase Assistance program.
2. Program Fees: Groundwork to Grow 4-week courses charge $50-$100 per participant; scholarship available for veterans and those with financial need. Intro to Grow workshops are free.
3. Hilo Food Hub Kitchen Rental: Commercial kitchen rental at $18-$23/hour depending on monthly plan commitment (10-40 hours/month). Additional revenue from cold, frozen, and dry storage rental.
4. Donations: 501(c)(3) nonprofit accepting tax-deductible donations via PayPal to support veteran programs and food access initiatives.
5. Food is Medicine Program Partnerships: Receives funding from healthcare providers and organizations (Kaiser Permanente) to distribute food to Veterans and families with chronic conditions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Ho'ola Farms is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization delivering therapeutic agricultural programs for military veterans, first responders, and their families on Hawai'i Island. It operates a multi-program ecosystem including the Hawai'i Farm-to-Car online farmers market, free and tuition-based farmer training courses, an agribusiness incubator kitchen (Hilo Food Hub), food access programs for seniors and low-income families, and direct food distribution partnerships with healthcare providers.

Product overview

Ho'ola Farms operates as a nonprofit organization (d.b.a. Ho'ola Veteran Services) providing a multi-faceted agricultural ecosystem centered around veteran and community support. The core offerings include Hawai'i Farm-to-Car (an online farmers market connecting local producers with consumers), combined with beginning farmer training programs (Intro to Grow free workshops and Groundwork to Grow 4-week courses), and food access initiatives (Food is Medicine, Kūpuna Market, and Victory Gardens). The Hilo Food Hub commercial kitchen supports value-added producers, while the Growing Veterans partnership with GoFarm Hawaii provides advanced training. These programs work together to strengthen the local food system by providing education, market access, and food distribution services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Hawai'i Farm-to-Car: Online farmers market operated by Ho'ōla Farms offering local produce, meats, eggs, cheeses, baked goods, and value-added products with weekly pickup in Hilo, Kea'au, and Pepe'ekeo.
• Hilo Food Hub
• Food is Medicine
• Intro to Grow Workshops
• Groundwork to Grow
• Victory Gardens for Veterans

Products and services

• Hawai'i Farm-to-Car An online farmers market platform operated by Ho'ola Farms where customers purchase local produce, meats, eggs, cheeses, baked goods, and value-added products from third-party Hawai'i farmers and producers with weekly pickup options in Hilo, Kea'au, or Pepe'ekeo.
• Intro to Grow Workshops FREE one-day beginner workshops at the Ho'ola Educational Ranch in Hilo covering organic gardening, beekeeping, food hub operations, and similar agricultural topics for Veterans and community members.
• Groundwork to Grow Courses 4-week intermediate training programs covering Agribusiness Development, Cacao Production, Sales & Marketing, Value-Added Production, and Greenhouse management for military veterans and community members interested in farming and ranching on Hawai'i Island. Tuition is $50-$100 with scholarships for veterans.
• Victory Gardens for Veterans A free hands-on program delivering raised garden beds, soil, amendments, and starter plants to Veterans' homes on Hawai'i Island.
• Hilo Food Hub An agribusiness incubator commercial kitchen at 555 Kalanianaole Ave, Hilo providing affordable kitchen space for rent to Hawai'i farmers and value-added producers, with cold, frozen, and dry storage options. Plans range from $230-$720/month depending on hours.
• Food is Medicine A program providing fresh, locally grown food to kūpuna, keiki, Veterans, caregivers, and families with limited access to nutritious meals through partnerships with healthcare providers, schools, and community organizations. Includes the Veggies for Veterans bi-weekly produce program with Kaiser Permanente serving 90 Veterans with chronic health conditions.
• Growing Veterans (GoFarm Hawaii) A scholarship program providing Veterans and Caregivers access to the 6-month GoFarm Hawaii AgXcel commercial agriculture training program, including classroom lectures, hands-on farm work, and field trips.
• Kūpuna Market A food access program providing vouchers and delivery services to help kūpuna (seniors) shop the online farmers market, accepting SFMNP coupons and offering weekly deliveries to senior residences.
• KauKau 4 Keiki A summer food service program distributing weekly bags containing USDA-approved shelf-stable foods and fresh produce to keiki (children), in partnership with the Department of Education's Hawai'i Child Nutrition Program.
• 'Ohana Day at Ho'ola Farms A free monthly morning on the farm for Veteran families including nature walks, animal feeding, and hands-on gardening activities for families with children ages 0-12.

Quantifiable outcome

• $1.3 million+ returned directly to local farmers and producers since 2021
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• The Kohala CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBeginning Farmer-Rancher Development Program host site for GoFarm Hawai'i on Hawai'i Island. Provides training for new farming families.
• GoFarm Hawai'icoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide beginning farmer training and agribusiness services. Ho'ola provides scholarships for Veterans to attend AgXcel 6-month program.
• Kaiser PermanenteflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood is Medicine Center of Excellence partnership supporting Veggies for Veterans program providing fresh produce to 90 Veterans with chronic health conditions.
• TBI Warrior FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports quality of life for veterans, civilians and children living with brain injury through community integration, education, and advancement programs.
• Tractor Supply CompanyminorOthersLargest operator of rural lifestyle retail stores supports mission through generous donations of supplies.
• Elizabeth Dole FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPreeminent organization empowering military caregivers. Emily Emmons is an Elizabeth Dole Foundation Fellow supporting rural Veteran advocacy.
• County of Hawai'iminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch and Development Department supports agriculture and economic development programs on Hawai'i Island.
• Hawai'i Department of AgricultureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports, enhances, and protects Hawaii's agriculture and aquaculture industries.
• Hawai'i Public Health Institute (HIPHI)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunds Kūpuna Resilience (Kūpuna Market) program providing food access for seniors.
• Vibrant Hawai'i IslandflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPromotes thriving community through collective movement. Partnership for Same Canoe food distribution and KauKau 4 Keiki summer food program.
• North Shore EVPminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEconomic Vitality Partnership supporting regional agriculture and tourism economic growth on Oahu's North Shore.
• Pacific BiodieselminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNation's longest operating biodiesel producer supporting sustainable agriculture in Hawaii.
• Bird and Bee Hawai'iminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBeekeeping education and equipment provider supporting healthy honeybees in Hawaii.
• DA BUXflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerDouble Up Food Bucks program providing 50% discount on local produce for SNAP customers at Hawai'i Farm-to-Car market.
• Hawaii Master Food PreserversminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTeaches processing and preserving of locally grown food; offers guidance on value-added products and cottage industry rules.
• Hawai'i Food BasketminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal food bank organization supporting food access programs.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Growing Veterans: Washington-state nonprofit operating a working farm that provides therapeutic agriculture for military veterans, including peer-support programming. Closely mirrors Ho'ola's therapeutic-farming-plus-veteran-wellness model with a similar produce-distribution element.
• The Kohala Center: Hawai'i Island-based food systems and beginning-farmer development nonprofit operating GoFarm Hawai'i and the Beginner Farmer-Rancher Development Program. Existing core partner with structurally similar mission of strengthening island food self-reliance.
• Farmer Veteran Coalition: National nonprofit supporting military veterans in agriculture through training, grants, and market access (Homegrown by Heroes label). Direct peer in mission combining veteran services with beginning-farmer education and farmer-to-consumer market access.
• Sierra Harvest: Nevada County, California nonprofit operating farmer education, a farm-to-school produce program, food-access initiatives, and farmer-support services. Structurally analogous multi-program food-system nonprofit serving a defined rural region.
• MA'O Organic Farms: Wai'anae Coast (O'ahu) nonprofit organic farm providing youth leadership and college-experience programs through agriculture plus a CSA and food-access distribution arm. Comparable model combining agricultural training with food-as-community-development outcomes in Hawai'i.
• GoFarm Hawai'i: Statewide Hawai'i beginning-farmer training program run by The Kohala Center. Direct peer and existing partner — Ho'ola provides scholarships for veterans into the AgXcel 6-month program — making it the closest comparable vocational agricultural training provider on Hawai'i Island.

Emerging players

• Kitchen Table Advisors: California-based nonprofit providing 1:1 business advising and peer-learning to small-scale sustainable farmers. Comparable in strengthening farm viability, but focuses narrowly on business support without Ho'ola's training, kitchen, or food-access scope.

Regional players

• Pacific Gateway Center: Honolulu-based nonprofit serving immigrants, refugees, and low-income communities across Hawai'i with food distribution, social services, and workforce programs. Regional peer sharing the Hawai'i community-services + food-access mission footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/hoolafarms
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hoola-farms
• Instagraminstagram.com/hoola_farms

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ho'ola Farms