Oahu Agriculture And Conservation Association

Oahu Agriculture And Conservation Association (OACA) is a non-profit organization registered in SAM.gov as a corporate tax-exempt entity located in Kunia Camp, Hawaii. The organization focuses on supporting Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and other socially disadvantaged farmers and producers in Hawaii, with a mission of enhancing agricultural sustainability and providing critical support services to underrepresented agricultural communities. As a registered federal grant recipient, OACA has established itself as a key intermediary organization dedicated to improving agricultural opportunities and economic resilience for minority and immigrant farming populations in the Hawaiian islands.

OACA has received multiple federal grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, specifically through the Rural Business Cooperative Services and Office of Advocacy and Outreach. These grants, totaling approximately $378,376, have supported diverse projects including agricultural producer outreach, education, technical assistance, and renewable energy initiatives. Notable grant awards include a $144,346 Rural Business Development Grant focused on enhancing financial literacy and agritourism, a $234,030 Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grant promoting renewable energy systems, and a grant addressing challenges faced by Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander farmers. OACA has collaborated with strategic partners like the University of Hawaii and Lynker Corporation on sub-grant awards, with activities ranging from multilingual farmer education to strategic outreach and producer engagement. Their grant-funded work involves comprehensive services such as improving access to USDA programs, developing energy efficiency strategies, conducting linguistic outreach, and providing technical support to historically underserved agricultural producers across Hawaii.