'Aina Ho'okupu o Kilauea

What 'Aina Ho'okupu o Kilauea does

Aina Ho'okupu o Kilauea (AHK) is a Hawaii-based nonprofit founded in 2019 that operates the Kilauea Community Agricultural Center (KCAC) on Kauai's north shore, addressing local economic, social, and food security challenges through a portfolio of integrated agriculture and stewardship programs. The organization runs Johnny's Market, a retail store and deli at 4045 Kilauea Road selling locally grown produce and proteins; a subsidized Produce Box program that has distributed over 60,000 boxes to economically impacted Kauai households since 2020; the Kauai Heritage Pigs venture using an Inoculated Deep Litter System and a 100-year on-island breeding lineage; and a paid Agricultural Internship Program with two 25-week annual sessions covering FSMA, GAP, crop management, and farm business operations. Additional programs include the Kia'i Kāhili coastal stewardship initiative, the CRB Neighborhood Watch pest response program, and the Wai water management platform anchoring the 2025-2028 Namahana WaterSmart Strategy.

The business model is a community-led hybrid of donations, foundation grants, corporate sponsorships ($250-$10K tiers), CSA memberships (Meat Club and Kilauea CluB via Kauai Food Hub), retail sales, and direct heritage pig sales. Footprint is intentionally local: a single physical HQ and farm at 4045 Kilauea Road, a volunteer-driven farm stand, and a mailing PO Box in Kilauea, with five independent plot-license farmers operating on-site and current production averaging 1,500 lbs of produce per week. The organization has no proprietary technology systems, no disclosed AI capabilities, no parent company, and no outside equity, with revenue and grants flowing into program operations under a 1-10 employee structure.

Name

'Aina Ho'okupu o Kilauea

Legal name

Aina Ho'okupu o Kilauea

Website

https://ainahookupuokilauea.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Aina Ho'okupu o Kilauea is a Hawaii nonprofit operating the Kilauea Community Agricultural Center on Kauai's north shore, running community agriculture, food security, agricultural internship, heritage pig, and water stewardship programs for local households, independent farmers, and civic partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Agriculture and Food Security Services

NAICS

Vegetable and Melon Farming (1112), Community Food Services (62421), Fruit and Tree Nut Farming (1113)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700), Agricultural Production-Crops (100), Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (BPAGAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Food Co-ops with In-Store Prepared Foods & Deli (CRAHALAF), Campus / Institutional Food Co-ops (University, Hospital, etc.) (CRAHALAI)

Keywords

• Community agriculture
• Food security programs
• Heritage pig farming
• Agricultural education
• Volunteer farming programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Kilauea

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Retail Sales - Johnny's Market: Retail market selling locally-grown and locally-produced products. Operates as the retail/deli component of the Kilauea Community Agricultural Center (KCAC). Products include fresh produce and proteins.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Annual sponsorship program with multiple tiers (Niu/Coconut at $10K/yr, Ulu/Breadfruit at $5K/yr, Manako/Mango at $1K/yr, Pea/Avocado at $500/yr, Mai'a/Banana at $250/yr). Sponsors receive logo placement, VIP event tickets, social media presence, and community partner branding.
3. Donations and Philanthropy: Tax-deductible donations from individuals and foundations supporting food security programs. Biannual giving campaigns. Donations fund produce box distribution to community members in need.
4. Membership Programs: Community-supported agriculture membership options including Meat Club for locally raised meat and Kilauea CluB for discounts. Managed through Kauai Food Hub platform.
5. Grants and Foundation Support: Funding from foundations, grants, and contracts to support farm production, produce box programs, and infrastructure development.
6. Heritage Pig Sales: Sale of live heritage pigs raised on-island, with basic primal processing available for additional fee. Delivery service offered for additional charge.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

ʻĀina Hoʻokupu o Kīlauea operates the Kīlauea Community Agricultural Center (KCAC), a community-owned agricultural platform that grows and distributes locally produced food, runs a retail market (Johnny's Market), a subsidized produce box program, and a heritage pig venture, and delivers hands-on agricultural internship and volunteer programs. The organization also stewards regional water resources, pest management, and coastal ecological initiatives in partnership with local, state, and federal entities on Kauai's north shore.

Product overview

'Aina Ho'okupu o Kilauea (AHK) operates the Kīlauea Community Agricultural Center (KCAC), a multi-faceted food security and agricultural development organization. The core offerings include Johnny's Market (retail market/deli), the Produce Boxes program (subsidized fresh produce distribution), and the Kauai Heritage Pigs venture. Supporting programs include an Agricultural Internship Program (paid training in tropical farming), a Volunteer Program, a Sponsorship Program with multiple tiers, and the Kilauea CluB membership. AHK also manages water resources through its Wai initiative and Kalihiwai Reservoir preservation project, pest management via the CRB Neighborhood Watch, and ecological stewardship through Kia'i Kāhili. The organization functions as a platform providing farming infrastructure, aggregation/distribution services, education, and community programs to strengthen Kauai's local food system.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Kīlauea Community Agricultural Center (KCAC) A community agricultural center that contributes to island food security and a healthy, stable, balanced local agricultural economy on Kauai's north shore, housing farm operations, Johnny's Market, and community programs.
• Johnny's Market

Quantifiable outcome

• 60,000+ produce boxes distributed to Kauai households since 2020
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• State CWRM (Commission on Water Resource Management)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025State agency partner for the Namahana WaterSmart Strategy (2025-2028), a comprehensive ahupua'a-style water planning project covering Kalihiwai and Kilauea watersheds. AHK is managing this multi-year initiative to understand all water sources and uses, align them, and develop locally-driven management strategies.
• Kauai Department of WatercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partner in the Namahana WaterSmart Strategy (2025-2028) for water resource planning in Kalihiwai and Kilauea watersheds. Collaborating on comprehensive water management and planning.
• University of HawaiicoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Academic partner in the Namahana WaterSmart Strategy (2025-2028), contributing research and expertise to water resource planning for Kalihiwai and Kilauea watersheds.
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Kilauea Point National Wildlife RefugecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of 5 organizations supporting the Kia'i Kahili initiative. USFWS owns the Kähili Quarry area on the western side of Kilauea River. Collaborates on ecological conservation, wildlife habitat protection (including 5 endangered indigenous waterbirds), and community stewardship activities.
• Hawaiian Islands Land Trust (HILT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of 5 organizations supporting the Kia'i Kahili initiative. HILT owns land on the Waiakalua/Wailapa side of Kilauea River and conducts beach patrol, community stewardship, educational events, and monthly restoration/clean-up activities at Kahili Beach Preserve.
• Kilauea Neighborhood Association (KNA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of 5 organizations supporting the Kia'i Kahili initiative focused on collaborative education and stewardship for ecological and cultural vitality in the Kähili area.
• Kilauea Point Natural History Association (KPNHA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of 5 organizations supporting the Kia'i Kahili initiative for protection and stewardship of Kähili area's natural and cultural resources.
• Kaneshiro FarmsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal farm that has selectively bred heritage pigs on-island for over 100 years. AHK continues this legacy through their Kauai Heritage Pigs program using Inoculated Deep Litter System started in early 2020.
• Porter IrrigationminorOthersAHK established an agreement with Porter Irrigation to use reservoir overflow (1.5 million gallons/day) for irrigation at KCAC when the Kalihiwai Reservoir was operational.
• North Shore PharmacyGTM or Marketing PartnerNiu (Coconut) sponsor level. Located at 2460 Oka Street, Suite 100, Kilauea, HI 96754. Local business sponsor supporting AHK and KCAC.
• Princeville PharmacyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNiu (Coconut) sponsor level. Located at 4488 Hanalei Plantation Rd, Suite 100, Princeville, HI 96722. Local business sponsor supporting AHK and KCAC.
• 'Auli'i Lū'auminorGTM or Marketing PartnerUlu (Breadfruit) sponsor level. Located at 2440 Hoonani Rd, Koloa, HI 96755. Local business sponsor supporting AHK and KCAC.
• Kauai Invasive Species Committee (KISC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in CRB (Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle) Neighborhood Watch initiative. AHK connects community members with KISC for pest tracking and response efforts. KISC provides live maps and tracking data for CRB spread on Kauai.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• MAʻO Organic Farms: A Waiʻanae-based Hawaii nonprofit running a community agriculture and youth leadership program with internships, CSA, and farm-to-table distribution. Highly comparable to AHK in its nonprofit model, internship pipeline, and island-wide food-security focus.
• Kōkua Kalihi Valley: Honolulu-based community health and agricultural nonprofit that combines farm production, food access programs, and community wellness on Oahu. Mirrors AHK's integrated approach of farm + community + education mission.
• Kupu: Hawaii-based nonprofit offering conservation, agriculture, and green workforce internships across the islands. Comparable to AHK's internship program model, volunteer engagement, and conservation/community stewardship initiatives.
• Sustainable Kohala: A Hawaiʻi Island-based nonprofit promoting sustainable agriculture, food security, and rural community resilience. Highly comparable to AHK in combining agricultural training, food access, and community-based nonprofit model in a rural Hawaiian setting.

Broad incumbents

• Maui Food Bank: Maui County's primary food assistance organization. Comparable to AHK's subsidized produce distribution mission, but at county scale and primarily focused on donated rather than locally-grown produce.
• Hawaiʻi Foodbank: Statewide food distribution and hunger-relief nonprofit serving all Hawaiian islands. Comparable to AHK's produce-box food-security mission but at much larger scale and broader geographic scope.
• The Food Basket (Hawaiʻi Island Food Basket): Hawaiʻi Island's primary food bank and food-security nonprofit. Comparable to AHK in mission (distributing fresh, locally-sourced food to households in need) but operates at island-county scale rather than community scale.

Others

• Hawaiian Islands Land Trust (HILT): Statewide land conservation nonprofit that is also one of AHK's named Kia'i Kāhili partners. Comparable as an ecosystem/partner organization rather than direct competitor — focused on land stewardship, conservation easements, and beach preserves in Hawaii.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aina-hookupu-o-kilauea

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 'Aina Ho'okupu o Kilauea