This market is from 8am-2pm but very laid back. Set up is first come, first serve and it seems you can show up and pack up whenever you feel like it. Pretty loose structure and its been going on for about 12 years, but at different locations. I really miss the families and people I use to see twice a week in Hawaii Kai and Haleiwa and I was shy about meeting new people but it was an equally friendly, open, welcoming group of people.
Ted and I set up next to Harvey and his wife, who work with people Ted and I both know in Waiahole. Harvey and Ted both use to farm in Manoa for a number of years. Sitting and listening to the two of them discussing ag issues and realities was like eavesdropping on two encyclopedias. Or history professors. They mentioned politicians that show up at meetings and say the right thing but don't back it up with policies that truly support farmers or ag. Harvey was able to secure a 75 year lease in Waiahole after a number of years of fighting for that. A couple of farmers I know are on month to month leases.
If a farmer invests the time and resources to clean up the land and plant crops, but has to leave after a year, that's not right and that's not secure. If ag land is being leased to farmers at market prices, small farmers can't afford that, and that's the idea behind special low prices for ag land. This can be easily abused though by people who plant a couple fruit trees and justify their right to ag land. Gentleman Estates I think they are called. To combat this abuse, I believe a new tactic I heard is for the state to declare that farms under 10 acres are not productive and as a result they want to combine small farmers (i.e. relocate them to larger parcels of land, or not give special low ag prices to smaller than 10 acre farms??). A response to that policy I heard is this could be a tactic to justify condensing farmers together to free up land to sell to developers, despite it being good ag land. I don't know enough to give a confidant opinion on the matter but when it comes to public lands, with the current state of our budget I can see where the state would try to justify selling good ag land to developers or private individuals for more 'profitable' purposes, but that's a short-sighted approach. Whatever the price they are getting on that land thats good for growing food, they risk selling Hawaii's potential to be more food secure and independent along with it. They mentioned that the proposed route for the rail goes through A-1 ag land in Waipahu.
Harvey talked about not wanting to be anything but a farmer. He talked about it as his escape and his solace. Being outside, surrounded by nature and beauty. Working at your own pace and desire. Picking food and making it on the spot. He called a meal, 'Everything Soup', chopping up whatever vegetables are around him and boiling it in a big pot. He talked about raising his kids on taro and those ice cream bananas. Lots of beautiful stuff to hear someone talk about. It reinforces my belief that your environment can have an amazing impact on your perspective. How would the world be different if more people immersed themselves in the lifestyle this guy has made for himself? Ted's as well. I feel so lucky that I got to hang around and listen to these guys talk.