Lānaʻi Farmers Market Opens at “Entry Park”
“All great journeys begin with one step,” said Councilmember Gabe Johnson, standing in the middle of what most residents still call “that grass space by the fire station.” “With the costs of food rising, it’s important that our communities gain access to healthy, locally produced food. It’s a win for our farmers. It’s a win for our families.”
The Lānaʻi Farmers Market held its grand opening Saturday morning, October 4, at Lānaʻi Entry Park, a name that continues to puzzle even longtime residents. “I didn’t even know this place was called Entry Park,” said Samson Aki, who was there to blow the pū at the opening. “I always thought it was the Bon Dance field.” Others joked that it only makes sense when driving into town, calling it “Exit Park” when headed the other way.
Whatever the name, the space featured tables and tents with island-grown produce, herbs, and seedlings from Hale Lānaʻi, Johnson Farms, Kapua Farms, Kumu Ola Farm, Lānaʻi Culture & Heritage Center, and Lānaʻi Green Resources. Stalls offered a variety of crops grown on-island, including eggplant, lilikoʻi, māmaki, noni, pak choy, and papaya.
Bob Priske and Allyson Apo handed out seedlings and samples of jackfruit, joined by other vendors offering local greens and herbs. “We’ve been here ten years, and we just try to raise these and give them out in the community,” Priske said. “This seemed like a great event to do that.”
Kari Bogner of the Lānaʻi Culture & Heritage Center contributed native and edible plants from the community garden, including basil, ʻuala, ʻipu, and ʻohiʻa lehua. The center continues to expand its work in providing community access to native species and encouraging backyard growing.
The market will continue every first Saturday of the month, with plans to expand to twice a month beginning March 1, 2025, on both the first and third Saturdays.
Negus Manna, president of the Hawai‘i Farmers Union (HFU) Lānaʻi Chapter and owner of Lānaʻi Green Resources, said the market’s purpose is to strengthen local food security. “We wanted to give all members of our community, even the most vulnerable, access to nutrient-dense local food,” he said. “We’re trying to develop a circular economy here, working with community gardeners, supporting local farmers, and keeping our food grown, caught, and sold right here.”
Manna also spoke about plans to integrate food assistance programs such as EBT and the MEO Food Voucher initiative beginning in November, which will allow residents to buy local produce at reduced cost. “Our economy wins, our farmers win, and our health wins,” he said.
The launch followed months of coordination among the Hawai‘i Farmers Union Lānaʻi Chapter, Councilmember Johnson’s office, and Maui County’s Departments of Agriculture and Parks and Recreation. Vendor guidelines, permits, and logistics had to be worked out before the first tent went up. “Many hands made this happen,” CM Johnson said earlier in the morning. “It took persistence and a lot of cooperation.”
Local growers, fishers, backyard gardeners, and food producers are encouraged to participate. Vendor applications for future markets are available through the Maui County Department of Agriculture website or at Councilmember Johnson’s office.
The next Lānaʻi Farmers Market will be held Saturday, November 2, from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Lānaʻi Entry Park (the empty green space adjacent to the fire station… aka, depending who you ask, as “Bon Dance Field”).
