Building food security: Hawaii has the capacity to grow about 85% of our food, yet astoundingly, we actually import about 90%. Can ‘ulu – breadfruit – help turn this around? Dr. Diane Ragone, Director of the Breadfruit Institute, and Birgit Cameron, co-founder and head of Patagonia Provisions, think so. They share their insights in a May 26 webinar here.

The Common Ground Collective received a grant from the Nuestro Futuro Foundation to increase staffing, secure a vehicle for harvests and distributions, purchase some much needed supplies and provide more locally grown produce to food insecure individuals in Maui County.

Another new vegan dining option: Last month we noted that the Sprout Vegan Café transitioned from food truck to brick-and-mortar restaurant and that a new vegan food cart, Maui Garden Grove Café, opened at the Garden of Eden (mile marker 10.5 Road to Hana). We are pleased to report another new vegan option: Earth Aloha Eats has opened a second food truck in Kahului directly across from Costco at 520 Keolani Place.

New vegan dining options: A new vegan food cart has opened at the Garden of Eden (mile marker 10.5 Road to Hana), the Maui Garden Grove Café. Among its offerings are Hawaiian Curry and Hawaiian Chili over rice, Coconut Glen's ice cream, pineapple upside down cake with a scoop of pineapple banana ice cream. … Sprout Vegan Café, formerly a food truck, is now a restaurant at 10 Wailea Gateway Place, B102, Kihei, having officially reopened its doors as a brick-and-mortar location. “Serving the same delicious menu as before but with a few great additions! Now offering dine-in, takeout, or order delivery. Indoor and outdoor seating available.” Hours are 9 am to 9 pm, except for Monday, when it closes at 5 pm.

New Farmers Market: Starting this Tuesday January 26, 2021 Oko’a Farms has established a new Wailea Village Farmers Market at 100 Wailea Ike Drive every Tuesday from 8 am - 12 noon. It features more than 80 organically grown vegetables, herbs, greens, and local fruits. … Congratulations to the mostly vegan Choice Health Bar, which will celebrate its 10th anniversary at its Lahaina location in April … Kudos to the Common Ground Collective which, in 2020, harvested 18,500 lbs of backyard produce and donated over 10,000 pounds to community partners to distribute to those most in need. You can support the Common Ground Collective here.

Good works: Grow Some Good distributed 620 plant kits to all K-5 students at Wailuku Elementary. Each kit included a journal, colored pencils and sharpener, magnifying glass, 20 4” pots, soil, chard and pea seeds, plus instructions. … In 2020 the Common Ground Collective collaborated on seven food bag giveaways and helped provide over 1,300 bags of groceries to local residents in need.

An indefensible proposal sponsored by Maui Council Member Tasha Kama to criminalize providing food to hungry people has been rebuffed. This means that groups like Chilis on Wheels and Maui Food not Bombs may continue to provide wholesome vegan meals for people in need without fear of government intervention, at least for now … Closed for almost a year, the Lipoa Farmers Market in Kihei will open in a new location: South Kihei Road in front of the Kukui Mall. A “soft opening” is planned for Tuesday, December 1 at 4 pm. The plan is to also be open on Thursdays from 4 - 8 pm. … Vegan food truck Earth Aloha Eats has moved to the Lahaina Cannery Mall Parking Lot at 1221 Honoapi'ilani Highway.

Elections Matter: For veganism on Maui to thrive, local, independent farmers must be empowered to consistently produce and distribute a wide variety of sustainable and affordable whole plant foods. It’s election time, which means that big outside corporations are using dark money – funds provided by secret donors – to bend Maui’s politics and commerce to their advantage.

The Common Ground Collective Foster Farming project is now offering weekly harvesting services to Upcountry and North Shore areas of Maui County. Landowners get to decide if they would like to donate their produce or sell their produce. This is a great way to help people without enough food – consider donating produce to organizations like the Maui Food Bank and Chilis on Wheels. Details are here. In case you like to sleep in on Saturdays, the Upcountry Saturday Farmers Market in Olinda – not to be confused with the larger Saturday morning Upcountry Farmers Market in Pukalani – is open noon to 4 pm.

Even in the best of times, it’s not easy sustaining an independent restaurant. In a pandemic, many businesses face exceptional challenges. We were heartened to learn that Maui’s second all-vegan food truck, which opened in late May in Kihei, Sprout Vegan Café, is still going strong. Let’s support Sprout Café, as well as vegan stalwarts like a’a Roots, Earth Aloha Eats and Maui Kombucha. And don’t forget to patronize vegan-friendly establishments like Moku Roots, Choice Health Bar and Down to Earth.

Maui’s only vegan food truck, Earth Aloha Eats, has moved from Kihei to 370 Dairy Road, Kahului … Grow Some Good has partnered with Big Brothers Big Sisters Maui to initiate a community garden. The purpose is to cultivate curiosity about natural life cycles, connect people to their food sources and inspire better nutrition choices.

Toward a new normal: Although the pandemic is far from over, small, but important steps are being taken toward a new normal. For example, more and more vendors have been returning to the Upcountry Saturday Farmers Market. Dine-in table service under new health guidelines begins on June 5th. Many parks re-opened June 1. Taking appropriate health safeguards, let’s support vegan-friendly enterprises so that they may survive and prosper.

Acts of aloha: Kudos to Shelly Brown, Jennifer Schmidt, Melody Hofmann, Sarah Haynes and all who have prepared and delivered vegan meals to ICU nurses at Maui Memorial Hospital. … The Maui Chapter of Chilis on Wheels, which delivers vegan meals, first aid, personal hygiene supplies and more to homeless people has partnered with several groups to form Maui Rapid Response. … Anne Miura named a 2020 Maui County Volunteer Hero: Anne was the first to answer Chilis On Meals call for help two and a half years ago. Chilis on Wheels is a program that provides vegan meals to unsheltered people on Maui.

Vegan diets and COVID-19: Currently, no vaccine or cure is available for the COVID-19 virus. However, a whole food, vegan diet can strengthen our immune system and potentially mitigate some of the damage caused by the virus. According to the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine: “As coronavirus (COVID-19) has impacted communities around the world, many people have wondered whether there are steps they can take to stay healthy. Everyday preventive measures—such as handwashing, avoiding contact with sick individuals, and good hygiene—can go a long way in reducing your risk for viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens.

We recently met with vegan activist Stephen Beidner at the Choice Health Bar in Paia. He shared his views on transitioning to veganism, why he’s involved and how to grow veganism on Maui. … If you’d like to support prepare or deliver meals or support people in need, support Chilis on Wheels by reaching out to Nicole at maui@chilisonwheels.org or call 808-633-4811. … Are cattle industry profits more important than the health of our children? Proposal to put more plant-based foods in Hawaii schools has cattle ranchers concerned.

Growing veganism on Maui means supporting the precious few plant-based restaurants, including Maui’s only vegan food truck, Earth Aloha Eats.  We visited recently with the chef and co-owner and appreciate her enthusiasm for enhancing vegan options on Maui.

Maui Food Not Bombs seeks volunteers to make vegan food potluck style (make at your home and bring the food to serve). If you have paper plates and cups, bring that too. Send a direct message with your name and cell phone number. Maui Chilis on Wheels also welcomes volunteers. If you would like to help in any capacity (grocery delivery, food prep, meal share, social media), please reach out to Nicole at maui@chilisonwheels.org or 808-633-4811(no texts).

There are many opportunities on Maui for vegans interested in outreach and advocacy. Maui Chilis on Wheels provides high quality vegan meals to people in need.  If you are interested in volunteering as a food preparer or deliverer, join the group on Facebook. Save Maui Cats is a non-profit group of dedicated volunteers, devoting our time, money & resources to helping solve the tragic cat overpopulation on Maui. 

Each month, the Vegetarian Society of Hawaii presents a thought-provoking and timely lecture, usually on the second Thursday at 7 pm at the Cameron Center in Wailuku.  If you can’t attend a lecture or just want to learn more, each speaker is also scheduled to appear on Off the Record, a KAKU radio show (88.5) at 11 am same day.

Thursday, October 10, 7 pm. Improving Healthspan: Tools to slow Down Aging. Irminne Van Dyken, MD. J. Walter Cameron Center, 95 Mahalani St., Wailuku. Free. More information.

Wednesday, October 16-Tuesday, October 22. Living Aloha Retreat. Maui. More information here.

Saturday, October 19, 8 am - 2 pm, Maui Liliko’i Festival, Napili Farmers Market. Food, music, games. Honoapilani Hwy & Napilihau St. Lahaina.

Thursday, October 24, The Vegan Lifestyle with Kathy Ryan. 10 am - 1 pm. $5 payable by October 5. West Maui Senior Center, 788 Pauoa Street, Lahaina, 270-4310.