Remembering Kyle Jackson
Kyle Jackson, our friend, passionate ʻulu advocate, and longtime Member Coordinator for the cooperative, passed away suddenly on December 15th, 2025.
He made an indelible mark on the Hawaiʻi ʻUlu Co-op and Hawaiʻiʻs agroforestry community through his overflowing enthusiasm for ʻulu, soil health, farming, farmers, the co-op model, and his community.
Kyle was hired as the co-opʻs first Membership Department employee in October 2021 and led our member outreach and education work through Summer 2025. Over these 3-1/2 years, he provided technical assistance to hundreds of ʻulu farmers across Hawaiʻi and stewarded tremendous growth of the co-opʻs membership from about 85 to nearly 200 farmers. Some of Kyle‘s greatest strengths were his immense passion for food production and his ability to bring people together. He was often the first to volunteer for new initiatives and sign up for community events. He was humble and embraced opportunities for growth.
Outside the co-op, Kyle loved playing music, surfing, his dogs, and spending time with family and friends. He lived life to the fullest and never missed an opportunity for adventure.
Many of the projects Kyle worked on over the past few years continue to flourish and impact peopleʻs lives, including the OK Farms ʻUlu Agroforest and the Young Farmer Mentorship Program. Mahalo Kyle for your service to our community, your memory is a blessing and your legacy will live on through the many people and places youʻve touched.
Memories of Kyle from Hawaiʻi farmers…
I found Kyle to be genuine, humble, yet intelligent and helpful during the times we interacted in the co-op work. He really embraced the challenge of a new company and new position so gracefully. He was already missed on the West side when having to cut back on his traveling.
We shall miss his gentle demeanor and amazing smile. I pray for comforting thoughts as you remember and miss Kyle.
– Lani Eubank, E-Scape Enterprises
Kyle was an enthusiastic advocate for making Hawaiʻi less reliant on imported food. We shared many conversations about improving our soils to grow healthy, high-quality ʻulu, palaʻai, and kalo. His positive energy, commitment, and genuine enthusiasm were deeply appreciated by the many farmers he supported within the Hawaiʻi ʻUlu Cooperative.
– Keith Kropf, Manawaiopae Adventure Farm
I was grateful that Kyle was Membership Lead for the Ulu Co-op. He visited our farm at least once a year and always had useful suggestions as to how we could improve our operations.
He grew on me. The longer I knew him the more I appreciated him.
I was sad when he left the Co-op. I am sad for his passing.
Rest in peace, Buddy.
– Guy Nicholson, Wailea Breadfruit Company
My wife and I met Kyle many times and those meetings were always just great. Kyle – always smiling…always fun… always helpful and attentive. A ways back, Kyle came to our farm. He was Kyle – great sense of humor, answered questions, offered suggestions…just time very well spent. We are very, very sad to read this news.
We miss you Kyle!
– Neiani and Ralph, Ohana Farm Nursery
Iʻm very saddened to hear about the loss of Kyle. As a member of the Hawaiʻi ʻUlu Cooperative, I had many opportunities to interact with Kyle and always found him to be friendly, upbeat, engaging, and truly caring about us, our challenges, and our successes as farmers. I am quite possibly the smallest farmer in the 200+ member co-op, with trees not yet (and possibly not ever) producing deliverable crop, but Kyle knew me by name at the workshops and member meetings. He even reached out with directions to the location on a morning I was late, in case that was the reason. I was always made to feel welcome and that my presence and participation mattered. I felt a great loss when Kyle left the ʻUlu Coop, and an even greater one now. Much aloha and a big mahalo to Kyleʻs ʻohana for your roles in bringing him into this world, raising him to be who he was, and sharing him with our community.
E hoʻomālielie i kou kaumaha,
– Lisa Kanoe Dowd
What a beautiful person, caring, generous and full of life! He loved helping farmers to enrich their soil and their lives! I was Blessed with the opportunity to work and get some really good soil tips from Kyle. I pray for his Ohana and that they feel at peace and joy of celebrating a truly amazing person, we will miss you Kyle, but your memories will always be in our hearts and in our plants!
Mahalo,
– Gloria Ilagan, Ed.D
Kyle was instrumental in building the OK Farms Agroforest into what it is today. His sincere friendship and positive attitude will be remembered well, Mahalo Piha brother
– Troy Keolanui, O.K. Farms
