Island Innovation
The Kaua‘i FFA Chapter is making waves in Lihue, Hawai‘i, as 16 members gain hands-on experience with four ‘ulu trees on their school farm. A few years ago, students began looking for ways to use the crops they were growing, which planted the idea of creating ‘ulu chips. As the project expanded, production outgrew the school’s supply, leading the chapter to partner with a local community college to source additional fruit.
“‘Ulu, also known as breadfruit, is a tropical fruit with a spiky green skin that turns yellow or brown when fully ripe. Inside, it has pale, starchy flesh that tastes similar to a potato,” says Kaua‘i FFA member Trestyn Noah Reis. “It can be used in both savory and sweet dishes — baked, steamed, fried or made into chips — making it incredibly versatile.”
Kaua‘i FFA advisor Christina Martiney leads the project and calls it a full-circle moment. As a college student, she helped grow some of the ‘ulu trees now used by her students.
Hands-On Learning
Students take on roles across the entire production process from prep and slicing to frying, seasoning and packaging. Once harvested, the ‘ulu is boiled to reduce its natural latex sap, then frozen until ready for use. It’s sliced while semi-frozen using a meat slicer or food processor before being turned into chips.
Each batch is carefully tested for quality, and students have put intentional effort into designing packaging that appeals to both local consumers and visitors.
The chapter produces the chips as part of the Hawai‘i Ag Foundation’s Young Entrepreneur Program and sells them at open markets on the island of O‘ahu.
“My students understand the cultural relativity of the products,” Martiney says . “They’ve made sure what they create reflects that with dignity and relevance.” With land cost high across Hawai‘i, Martiney also uses this project to teach entrepreneurship through value added agriculture. “This project has shifted my perspective on agriculture from traditional farming to complex food systems that support local economies,” says Kaua‘i FFA member Khloe Balaan.
By showing her students how to make value-added products from what they grow, Martiney hopes to increase the number of farmers and improve food security in the islands.
“As an FFA member, being a part of this experience was an opportunity to apply the hands-on skills I’ve obtained to explore new ways to innovate our island’s crops,” Balaan says.
By connecting culture, agriculture and entrepreneurship, the Kaua‘i FFA Chapter is helping students see new possibilities for the future of farming in Hawai‘i.
