Investing in ʻĀina
To ensure good food for Hawaii.
Welcome to Slow Money Hawaii
'Ī'o Farm, in Haleiwa, using a Slow Money Hawaii loan, supplies pasture-raised chicken and rabbit to the North Shore community.
Hawai'i has very little locally sourced small livestock meat.
We bring farmers and foodies together to nurture small Hawaii farmers and food entrepreneurs who are committed to increasing the local food supply using practices that are good for people and the earth. We want to help farmers grow more food for Hawaii and support the small food businesses who buy their ingredients.
The Challenge
Small farm and food entrepreneurs have difficulty accessing affordable capital to grow their businesses – loans from typical institutional lenders are either too expensive or have stringent requirements beyond what a small or start-up farmer can meet. Banks are not particularly sympathetic to the variables that are an accepted part of farming. The borrower's character and community benefit don't score extra points on typical loan applications.
We frequently hear that up to 90% of our food in Hawaii is imported, along with reminders of how vulnerable we are to air and sea port closures in the event of a hurricane, tsunami or strong earthquake. Health threats caused by disease-tainted food imports are in the news too often. We've also learned that industrial agriculture is one of the biggest contributors to global warming.
The time is ripe to take more control over our food.
The Challenge
Small farm and food entrepreneurs have difficulty accessing affordable capital to grow their businesses – loans from typical institutional lenders are either too expensive or have stringent requirements beyond what a small or start-up farmer can meet. Banks are not particularly sympathetic to the variables that are an accepted part of farming. The borrower's character and community benefit don't score extra points on typical loan applications.
We frequently hear that up to 90% of our food in Hawaii is imported, along with reminders of how vulnerable we are to air and sea port closures in the event of a hurricane, tsunami or strong earthquake. Health threats caused by disease-tainted food imports are in the news too often. We've also learned that industrial agriculture is one of the biggest contributors to global warming.
The time is ripe to take more control over our food.
Follow the progress of our Slow Money Hawaii agripreneurs on Facebook |
What's on the menu?
LendingCurious about how a Slow Money investment works? Would you like to know more about becoming a lender?
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BorrowingAre you a farmer or food
entrepreneur who is ready to take your business to the next level? |
The 'Āina FundThe ʻAina Fund offers foundations and philanthropists a means to support small sustainable agriculture through donations.
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