Eat with Endowment leaves a moo-ving impression on KP employees

Hawaiʻi island Senior Asset Manager Perry Kealoha shared about KS’ initiative for food sustainability through improving local beef production at a recent Eat with Endowment presentation.

May 13, 2015

Contributed by Mae Nishimura

Kawaiahaʻo Plaza employees were mooved by the latest Eat with Endowment presentation which focused on beef. The event took place recently in the Kaiona Conference Room.

Perry Kealoha, Hawaiʻi island senior asset manager, shared about Kamehameha’s efforts to support Hawai‘i’s food sustainability movement through improving local beef production.

Kealoha’s presentation covered the history and future of beef in Hawai‘i and the need to find local alternatives to finishing cattle. Currently, most cattle are shipped to the continent for finishing, taking with them a viable industry that could support Hawai‘i’s economy.

Leucaena, a legume forage related to the koa haole, is known for its high levels of protein and other nutrients. It is successfully managed and used as cattle feed in Australia.

Kamehameha Schools has started testing the viability of using leucaena for feed. The results and return on investment for the trust and all of Hawai‘i proved to be great.

“Nearly half of KS’ land is zoned for agriculture, so having the ability to increase the amount of beef produced per acre is deemed to be just one of our strategies to support Hawai’i’s food sovereignty movement,” said Kealoha. “Then keeping the cattle here to be finished in Hawai‘i brings benefits to our economy as well.”

According to Kealoha, Kamehameha Schools is currently partnering with E. Deluz Ranch on a cattle forage trial to create a working business model that would make sense for all involved.

“We’re, right now, testing a new business model utilizing leucaena” said Kealoha. “The goal is to establish a cooperative agreement between the landowner, the producer, as well as the processor. When beef prices are down, we all take a little less. When prices are up, we all take a little more. It’s not just the rancher taking all the risk. We’re hoping to create a win-win situation for everyone involved.”

Another KS trial compared weight gains of steers eating a leucaena and guinea grass mix versus solely guinea grass. It proved weight gains were much greater in cattle grazing on leucaena.

The leucaena trial site locations include Mahakuolo and Hāmākua. The outcome? Beef gains were higher over an 18-month trial period, and the steers grazing on the leucaena mix finished on average six months sooner that their guinea grass-fed counterparts.

For Collaborations Analyst Brandon Wong, the presentation at Kealoha’s lunch time round-up hit close to home.

“What was really intriguing about the presentation on leucaena was that this form of feed provides an alternative to corn feed, and that the beef we get as a result of this effort can have an impact on our people’s health,” said Wong.

The 2009 KS Strategic Agricultural Plan developed by KS’ Land Assets Division (LAD) provides a vision and goal-based strategy for optimal management and use of KS’ 169,410 acres of agricultural land on the islands of Hawaiʻi, Maui, Molokaʻi, Oʻahu and Kauaʻi.

The plan helps KS migrate from passive land management to active agricultural stewardship. During the fiscal year 2014, KS spent $11 million (net of agricultural rents) to steward agricultural and conservation lands and natural resources.

This year’s three Eat with Endowment presentations focus on KS’ efforts around food sustainability and cultural and natural resource management. KS’ Land Assets Division will host the last presentation:

May 26
Natural Resources Management
Regional Assets Manager Ulalia Woodside will talk about KS’ natural resource management projects, challenges facing Hawai‘i’s resources and some of KS’ accomplishments achieved through its Mālama ‘Āina program.

Sign up today!

WHAT:
Eat with Endowment presentation sharing about what KS is doing to care for unique native ecosystems on its lands. Lunch will be provided.

WHO:
Land Assets Division Regional Manager Ulalia Woodside

WHY:
To give employees a better understanding of the Natural Resources Management Plan and the Mālama ʻĀina Program.

WHEN:
Tuesday, May 26, 2015 from Noon – 1:00 p.m.

WHERE:
KP Kaiona Conference Room

SIGN UP:
Space is limited. To sign up, contact Teri Takishita of the Community Relations and Communications Group at tetakish@ksbe.edu.

The popular event was the second in a series of three presentations. Above, Endowment Operations Specialist Moana Hanawahine signs in.

KP employees packed the Kaiona Conference Room with hungry minds and bellies. Attendees enjoyed bentos from Nippon Bento and Catering, a KS commercial tenant in Kapālama whose lease revenues support KS’ educational mission.