Fall News+Chocolate Event at One Island

A current step forwards on this path is a new solar grant project that is offering 24 schools and non-profit organizations an opportunity to qualify this Fall for $5,000 grants to bring solar energy to their facilities.

More news on their smart energy and

cost saving accomplishments coming soon!

Reclaiming our Local Food System

One Island has been selected to receive a new USDA grant that will support the strengthening of a farmer's collaborative effort to develop innovative new ways to increase farm-direct sales to consumers.

Our first task is to conduct a chef and retailer survey to assess current demand for local foods and to then convene farmers interested in meeting those needs.

Future projects include developing a CSA program, increasing the number of farmers featured at our Farmer's Market booth, and hosting local Green Walks to visit farms first hand.

Seedling

Same Canoe Community Gardens

Starting this Fall, One Island will be convening 12 non-profits to come learn about innovative zero-mile food gardens (including aquaponics, natural farming, orchards, container gardening, biochar and more), plus classes will be offered on improving wildlife habitat and reforestation.

Each invitee can become eligible to apply for a mini-grant to implement and plant a project at their own location.

Support LOCAL FOOD!

"A Day of

Healing"

Hawaiian Healing Day

Fri. Nov. 11th

The Ho'oli Farm in Honomolino is inviting guests interested in traditional Hawaiian healing practices to spend a day on retreat at their farm.

Guest presenters from several Hawaiian Islands will present practical and inspirational
information about different facets of Hawaiian Healing practices: Lomilomi, Hawaiian Spirituality, Spiritual Foods, Awa Ceremony, Hawaiian Blessings, Labyrinth Meditation Walk, Sustainable Aloha and more.

To learn more, call

808.936.8594

or go to Ho'olie Farm

A BIG Mahalo!

to the USDA for their continued support with three new grant awards this fall, and to HUD for previous support that allowed us to build Hawaii's first Sustainable Living Center.

Aloha Friends of Hawaii Sustainability,

Welcome! Community response to our new newsletter has been very encouraging and we look foward to sharing both near term and long term programs and accomplishments with our readers.

New Grants We are pleased to announce a third grant has been awarded to One Island in the last few weeks. This one will develop a farmer-to-consumer collaboration project. The goal is to help connect local farmers with local buyers in new, innovative ways in order to 'Reclaim our Local Food System'. A huge thanks to the USDA!

Green is a Verb - Do it!

UPCOMING Fall Events

A Taste of Paradise:

Chocolate Chocolate!

November 5th

Our third Chocolate Chocolate! event with delicious chocolate tastings, talk story and music returns to One Island's sustainable living center for a delightful sunset and fireside experience of locally grown, locally made, and/or innovative chocolate-inspired products. 4-9pm overlooking Kealakekua Bay.

Chocolate tastings will be held 4-8pm, with a savory dinner entree served 5-6pm that features chocolate-themed tamales, beans and rice with vegetables from our greenhouse, and fresh local green salads. Selections of finely crafted chocolate desserts and gifts for friends and family will be presented by Madre Chocolate (unique Hawaiian and Mayan flavors), Completely Different Chocolate (raw cacao bars and beverage), and Kona Origins (grown and made right in Honaunau), and medicinal Chacamaca chocolate (from Amazon Herbs), will be available at tasting tables, 4-8pm.

We will gather to hear a fascinating talk story about Madre Chocolate's international explorations of cacao at 6:30, and then a fire circle will be lit on the lawn for a tasting of traditional spiced Mayan hot chocolate until 9pm.

$12 tickets provide 2 servings (including a savory entree option with beverage, or sweet treats) with additional $6 tickets available to purchase dessert and gifts items for friends and family.

These are delightful, magical events that definitely twinkle!

To Register for this event: Click here

Sustainable Saturdays & Sundays

Saturday, October 29th

We are all in the same canoe - grab a paddle!

Once a month we open the farm and gardens to a crew of delightful volunteers who come lend a hand to restore our gardens and build new garden and farm features. October 29th we will be harvesting absolutely mammoth sweet potatoes planted by a previous volunteer group and then clearing and re-planting a new THREE SISTERS corn, beans and squash zero-mile fall garden. Your help is welcome and you'll find the conversation and camaraderie a great way to meet new neighbors and help One Island's non-profit demonstration gardens. We call these work parties our Sustainable SatSuns and all ages and abilities are welcome.

Event is 8:30am-noon, followed by a free lunch for our volunteers.

RSVP to [email protected] for directions.

Medicine at Our Feet is a special Sustainable Sunday
event for November - see below.

ONGOING EVENTS at One Island

Potlucks with a Purpose

Tuesdays

Tuesday evenings every week, One Island opens up its Center in Honaunau for fun, free, and friendly community potlucks. Each event features a new learning topic and highlights an intriguing film, a wellness or cultural practice, or a special speaker and, of course, a delicious potluck that features locally grown foods. See our web site for current news on these events. RSVP to [email protected] for directions.

UPCOMING:

Next International Foods Potluck: Days of the Dead,

Tuesday, November 1st

You are invited to learn to make organic masa tamales, traditional offerings for Dias de los Muertos gatherings in Mexico, 4-6pm. Potluck is 6-7pm - bring something with a Mexican theme as your dish or drink, and a memento or flowers to add to our traditional altar for honoring the departed. Film Night will show 'Frida' 7-9pm. Costumes welcomed!

Tuesday November 8 - Slow Food / Slow Money Potluck - learn about the national and local activities of this great group that supports local food system projects. One Island is a member and supporter of the Big Island chapter.

Tuesday November 15 - What is an Eco-village? Potluck

How can they be formed in Hawaii? with reports from the Art of Community gathering in California in October that was hosted by the Federation of International Communities.

Thanksgiving Gathering

Thursday, November 24th

Come celebrate local and traditional Thanksgiving Feast Foods for our potluck, 4-6pm, and then we will show the hilarious film 'Alice's Restaurant' at 6:30. Vegetarian options will be provided. Bring your favorite dish!

GRATITUDES

As a non-profit 501c3 organization, One Island's accomplishments are a reflection of the community we serve - and of those who serve our community.

Our recent workshop, The Art of Tea, held on October 16th, was such a great success that our first thanks goes to Taka and Kimberley Ino of Mauna Kea Tea. We were taught about four different types of tea, growing techniques, harvesting methods, seasonal and flavor variances, health benefits, and proper steeping. They also brought sweet Green Tea delicacies,
tea plants, and of course, delicious Hawaii-grown Green and Oolong teas to sample using different brewing methods. You can support this great local farm at Mauna Kea Tea.

Another important thank you goes to John Replogle and the Nature Conservancy for hosting our first field trip to the Ka'u Preserve behind Na'alehu on October 22nd. If you have ever marveled over the cinder cones that march down the slope of Mauna Loa just east of Na'alehu, we can report that there is an amazing ranch land and montane-to-cloud forest up there that forms the multi-use Ka'u Forest Preserve, the largest of its kind in the state. Learn more at the Nature Conservancy.

One Island is fortunate to have a crew of staff and volunteers who are personally committed to learning to 'walk the talk' and 'sing the song' of sustainability. We whole heartedly thank and honor this crew for their passionate desire to be a part of the sustainability solution and for putting their hearts and hands together to help us explore practices that we can implement TODAY and tomorrow. Our sincere thanks to Raven, Eli, Cody, Maggie, Adam, Markus, Steve, Kally and all of our teachers, advisors, and volunteers who have shared their vision and passion for a better world with us in very real, tangible ways. We ARE the change we know must come.

All Sizes Welcome

One Island welcomes YOUR participation
in our community's betterment. If you'd enjoy participating in a community service project, of any size, please let us know at
[email protected] .

Financial contributions to our non-profit educational organization are tax deductible and you can learn more here.

UPCOMING

Events

Winter Solstice Drumming and Fire Circle. Thursday December 22nd, the shortest day of the year, One Island is calling a circle of friends to close out 2011 and welcome in the transformational promise of 2012.

Join us for a fireside Mark Twain storytelling on December 29th and hear his wry observations while on the Big Island in the 1860s.
Learn more about Mark Twain in the "Sandwich Islands' at our sister project, the Full Circle Learning Network.

The next event in the A TASTE OF PARADISE local food series will be a lively COFFEE BREW BREAKFAST featuring bean-to-cup experiences including hot and cold brewing methods and barista tricks of the trade. This coffee (and pancake) celebration of local farmers and artisans will be held on January 21st. Plus it includes local coffee farm tour options. Learn More Here !