Today’s the big day! Hawaiian Airlines and Barclays have debuted an enhanced Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® and Hawaiian Airlines® Business Mastercard®, including boosted reward perks, a bigger sign-up bonus for new cardmembers and more.
Among the exciting changes, cardmembers now earn two Hawaiian miles per dollar spent on dining and grocery store purchases.
So, as part of the celebration, we decided to shift the spotlight onto four local organizations – the Hawai‘i Agricultural Foundation, Kohala Institute, Mālama Kaua‘i and MA‘O Farms – that are paving the way for sustainable food production in Hawai‘i. Hawaiian Airlines, Barclays, Mastercard and Bank of Hawaii gifted $100,000 to support their collective work in improving sustainability and food resiliency in the islands.
“Hawaiian has been a long-time supporter of the hardworking farmers and tastemakers who advance Hawai‘i towards more sustainable food production,” shared Ann Botticelli, senior vice president of corporate communications and public affairs at Hawaiian Airlines. “It is with great honor that we present this special donation to four beloved local organizations in recognition of their great work in leading our state’s agriculture industry.”
Meet today’s four beneficiaries:
MA‘O Farms
Since 2012, Hawaiian Airlines has supported MA‘O Farms to help fulfill its mission of stewarding local minds and improving access to sustainable, organic foods. The farm is deeply rooted in improving the social and environmental well-being of the Waianae coast – one of the most food-insecure regions in the state – and has doubled as a community resource. While the farm’s focus is primarily on youth leadership, programs are available to all family members – from keiki (children) to kupuna (elders) – and include edupreneurial opportunities, economic development and culture-based education.
Check out Team Kōkua’s recent trip to MA‘O: Getting Back to the Roots at MA‘O Organic Farms
Hawai‘i Agricultural Foundation
The Hawai‘i Agricultural Foundation is dedicated to sustaining Hawaii’s food production by addressing the critical needs and services of the agricultural industry. Through its hands-on, educational programs, the nonprofit works to better connect farmers with the community (and vice-versa) and steward local youth to become the future leaders of Hawai‘i’s ag sector.
“Hawai‘i Agricultural Foundation is grateful for the support of Hawaiian Airlines, Bank of Hawaii, Barclays and MasterCard for supporting our programs that benefit our farmers, school students and community,” said Denise Yamaguchi, executive director of Hawai‘i Agricultural Foundation. “Funds will be used to create a greater awareness of the importance of agriculture in our State, develop programs that spark an interest in ag careers among our youth, and provide support through technical assistance and marketing programs for our farmers statewide.“
Mālama Kaua‘i
For over a decade, Mālama Kaua‘i has provided advocacy, education and resources for fostering sustainability on the Garden Island. The organization takes a holistic approach to growing a greener future, focusing primarily on caring for the ‘āina (land), building community and perpetuating Hawaiian culture.
Kohala Institute
Based on 2,400 acres of the Island of Hawai‘i’s historic North Kohala Coast, The Kohala Institute provides a rich environment for discovery through place-based experiences that encourage connections with place, self, and others as a basis for developing and renewing relationships in preparation for challenging discussions. The nonprofit’s initiatives also touch multiple aspects of sustainability, including food production, ag education, aquaculture and renewable energy.
"We are honored to receive this generous grant which will support our farm-to-table program at our GRACE Center – Kohala Institute's meeting and conference campus – that supports place-based learning within the 2,400 acres we manage,” said Noe Kalipi, executive director of the Kohala Institute. “These funds help us to grow our partnerships with individuals and entities who share our vision and support for ʻāina-based learning and strengthening our relationship to the land and to each other in support of fortifying the resiliency and sustainability of our communities."