Young Farmer Mentorship Pilot Program
Program Overview
The young farmer mentorship pilot program will focus primarily on breadfruit (ʻulu) agroforestry producers, pairing experienced growers with beginning producers ages 18–25 for a structured, six month, hands-on learning experience. Running from December 2025 – May 2026, three mentees will be matched with three mentors to shadow them across all aspects of their operation, gaining real world experience in Hawaiʻi’s regenerative agriculture sector.
Mentees will work 30hrs per month (about 7 hours per week) for a total stipend of $3,600.
Mentors receive a $2,700 stipend ($450 per month) in addition to the on-farm help from their Mentees. All payments will be made at the beginning of each working month.
In addition to the one-on-one mentorship, all participants will take part in three online educational modules covering topics such as farm succession planning, financing, and other areas relevant to the program. All group workshops will be open to the public, sponsored by GoFarm Hawaiʻi.
***APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED***
By connecting generations, we’re keeping Hawai‘i’s agricultural knowledge alive and empowering young people to build meaningful careers that care for the ʻāina and their community. Join us in growing the future of local farming!
About Koi Pond Bridges
Koi Pond Bridges is a hui of people who love Hawai’i Island and gather to explore economic, environmental, and social issues that affect quality of life for all who live here. Motivated by a sense of gratitude for our island community, we foster collaboration between the private and public sector in advancing opportunities via workforce development. These organizations provide young residents in-depth training, mentorship, and exposure to career paths, enabling them to pursue high-value jobs on-island.
Koi Pond Bridges has generously awarded The Hawaiʻi ʻUlu Cooperative & GoFarm Hawaiʻi the funding to coordinate this project to help ensure Hawaiʻi island farming knowledge can be passed down to those who need it.
