About the Farm
Located on Hawaiian homestead land in Puʻukapu, Kohala, Whittle Farms is a family-operated farm run by William and Leilani Whittle. After receiving their Department of Hawaiian Home Lands pastoral lease in 2002, they began raising cattle and later expanded into crop production, starting with garlic and blueberries in 2009.
Over the years, their farming journey has grown alongside their six keiki, shaped by a deep connection to the ʻāina and a commitment to self-sufficiency. Following the devastating Mana Road Fire in 2021, the family continued rebuilding and adapting their operation. Today, they are developing an off-grid, pasture-raised poultry operation guided by regenerative agricultural practices, cultural knowledge, and a vision of strengthening food security for their ʻohana and community.
The Challenge
Operating a farm in a remote, off-grid location presents significant challenges. For Whittle Farms, inconsistent availability and rising costs of poultry feed, limited water access, and the expense of maintaining independent energy systems make daily operations increasingly difficult.
Poultry processing is also labor-intensive without specialized equipment, limiting the family's ability to expand production efficiently. With restricted water availability and fluctuating costs for fuel, materials, and farm supplies, William and Leilani must continually find creative ways to sustain their operation while caring for their land and family.
How Mālama Da Farmer Grant Helped
The Mālama Da Farmer Grant provided Whittle Farms with an opportunity to address critical infrastructure and production needs. Their project focuses on improving feed security, strengthening poultry processing capacity, and developing a more efficient pasture-based farming system.
Planned investments include bulk feed and storage, poultry processing equipment, solar-powered electric fencing, a mobile chicken coop, and additional water storage. Together, these improvements are intended to reduce operating challenges, support rotational grazing, and help the family build a more resilient and self-sufficient agricultural operation.
Impact
For William and Leilani, strengthening Whittle Farms is about more than expanding agricultural production. It is about building a sustainable future for their six keiki, caring for their Hawaiian homestead, and contributing to greater food security on Hawaiʻi Island.
By improving farm infrastructure and developing regenerative pasture management practices, the family hopes to reduce operating costs, strengthen soil health, and increase their capacity to provide locally raised food. Their vision reflects the resilience of Hawaiʻi's small family farms and the importance of supporting agricultural systems rooted in mālama ʻāina, cultural identity, and community well-being.
Hear Their Story
Meet William and Leilani Whittle of Whittle Farms in Puʻukapu and hear about their family's farming journey, their resilience through challenges, and their commitment to raising the next generation with a deep connection to the ʻāina.
Video by Nixon Jack
