Mauna Kea Trading Company
About the Farm
Mauna Kea Trading Company is a 20-acre, off-grid organic farm in Kaʻū, Hawaiʻi Island, where Gloria Ilagan and her team are dedicated to sustainable agriculture, land stewardship, and community education. Located on land once associated with Kahuku Ranch, the property has a rich agricultural history and served as a food production hub for local paniolos during the 1930s through the 1950s.
Today, the farm grows a diverse range of fruits, vegetables, and culturally significant crops, including ʻulu, kalo, ʻuala, māmaki, citrus, avocados, and bananas. Guided by the principle of mālama ʻāina, the farm emphasizes soil health, organic growing practices, and the preservation of agricultural traditions. Gloria also envisions the farm as a gathering place where students, farmers, and community members can share knowledge and gain hands-on agricultural experience.
The Challenge
Farming in the remote Kaʻū region presents unique challenges. Located far from major markets in Hilo and Kona, Mauna Kea Trading Company faces significant transportation and logistical costs that make it difficult to bring locally grown products to customers.
The farm also contends with dry conditions, strong trade winds, invasive vegetation, and feral pigs that damage crops and threaten livestock. Aging fences, damaged hoop houses, and overgrown pastureland have created additional barriers to expanding production. Maintaining an off-grid agricultural operation requires ongoing investments in equipment, infrastructure, and labor, making it difficult to balance daily farm needs with long-term improvements.
How Mālama Da Farmer Grant Helped
Through the Mālama Da Farmer Grant, Mauna Kea Trading Company received support to strengthen its farm infrastructure, improve growing conditions, and make daily operations more efficient. Funding helped with fencing repairs, hoop-house improvements, land maintenance equipment, planting supplies, and essential repairs to the farm's water system.
The grant also supported the installation of a storage container, organic certification, and improvements to growing and post-harvest operations. Together, these investments helped Gloria and her team address longstanding infrastructure challenges, better protect their crops and livestock, and create a stronger foundation for sustainable food production.
Impact
The Mālama Da Farmer Grant helped Mauna Kea Trading Company make important improvements to its agricultural infrastructure and strengthen the farm's long-term resilience. Improved fencing, growing facilities, and land maintenance equipment support healthier crops, better pasture management, and greater protection against environmental challenges.
These investments also support Gloria's broader vision of creating a productive, welcoming farm where agriculture, education, and community come together. By improving growing conditions and strengthening its organic farming operation, Mauna Kea Trading Company is better positioned to expand local food production, share agricultural knowledge, and help preserve the farming traditions of Kaʻū for future generations.
Hear Their Story
Hear from Gloria Ilagan about the rich agricultural history of her Kaʻū farm, the challenges of farming off-grid, and how the Mālama Da Farmer Grant helped strengthen the farm's infrastructure while supporting her vision for sustainable agriculture and community education.
Video by Nixon Jack
