Kanalani ʻOhana Farm
About the Farm
Located in Hōnaunau, South Kona, Kanalani ʻOhana Farm is a family-operated farm run by Melanie and Colehour Bondera. For more than two decades, they have grown food using certified organic practices and Korean Natural Farming methods, caring for the ʻāina while providing fresh, nutritious food to their community. The farm grows a diverse selection of fruits, vegetables, and staple crops and has been a familiar presence at the Keauhou Farmers Market for approximately 20 years.
The Challenge
Wild pigs have increasingly damaged the farm's gardens and fruit trees, making it difficult to expand food production. At the same time, maintaining an established organic farm, harvesting crops, and developing value-added products require considerable time and labor. Melanie and Colehour wanted to make better use of their existing farmland, protect their crops, and bring more locally grown food to market.
How Mālama Da Farmer Grant Helped
Through the Mālama Da Farmer Grant, Kanalani ʻOhana Farm invested in garden beds, string trimmers, and ladders to support crop production, orchard maintenance, and harvesting. A pressure cooker was also purchased to support the farm's efforts to develop processed food products.
Grant funding additionally supported personnel expenses, providing dedicated time for farm production and processing activities.
Impact
These investments are helping Melanie and Colehour strengthen their existing farm operations, improve access to their crops, and dedicate more time to growing and processing food. By building on decades of organic farming experience, Kanalani ʻOhana Farm is working toward increasing the availability of locally grown fruits, vegetables, and staple foods for the South Kona community.
Hear Their Story
Meet Melanie and Colehour Bondera of Kanalani ʻOhana Farm in South Kona. Learn about their dedication to organic farming, the challenges of protecting crops from wild pigs, and how investments in farm infrastructure and equipment are helping them expand local food production.
Video by Nixon Jack
