Ancient Leaf Tea
About the Farm
Located near Onomea Bay, just north of Hilo, Ancient Leaf Tea is a family farm practicing regenerative agriculture and growing tea, tropical fruits, and other crops. The farm sells much of its produce through its farmstand and farmers markets around Hawaiʻi Island, while also welcoming visitors through agritourism experiences.
With a commitment to caring for the ʻāina and producing nutritious, locally grown food, Ancient Leaf Tea is working to expand its agricultural production through regenerative agroforestry and culturally significant Hawaiian crops.
The Challenge
While Ancient Leaf Tea has an experienced farming team and a strong network of agricultural specialists, the high upfront costs of expanding production have been a significant barrier. Developing an agroforestry system on a hillside overgrown with invasive trees requires extensive site preparation, skilled labor, and ongoing maintenance.
The farm is also committed to paying fair wages, making it difficult to take on additional workers while covering everyday operating expenses. Without additional financial support, the farm struggled to move forward with plans to transform underutilized land into a productive food-growing area.
How Mālama Da Farmer Grant Helped
The Mālama Da Farmer Grant provided support for personnel expenses, helping Ancient Leaf Tea invest in the skilled agricultural labor needed to strengthen its farming operations and advance its regenerative agroforestry goals.
The farm's broader vision includes developing a diversified food forest featuring ʻulu, maiʻa, kalo, medicinal plants, and other food-producing crops. By supporting agricultural workers, the grant helped address one of the farm's greatest challenges: the labor costs associated with maintaining production while working toward long-term expansion.
Impact
By investing in its agricultural workforce, Ancient Leaf Tea is strengthening the foundation for a more productive and resilient farming operation. The farm's long-term vision is to transform underutilized land into a regenerative agroforestry system capable of producing nutritious food for the community for decades to come.
Expanding production of culturally significant crops such as ʻulu, maiʻa, and kalo would also allow the farm to serve more local residents, complementing its existing agritourism activities and supporting Hawaiʻi Island's food security and agricultural self-sufficiency.
Hear Their Story
Hear from Susan Schultz about Ancient Leaf Tea's commitment to regenerative agriculture, the challenges of expanding food production, and how the Mālama Da Farmer Grant is supporting the farm's growth.
Video by Nixon Jack
