In this episode, we sit down with David Fuertes, a farmer, educator and advocate for food sustainability, to explore his path of bringing aloha to agriculture. As a community leader and Executive Director of Kahua Paa Mua in North Kohala on Hawaii Island, David has spent the past 15 years cultivating a “backyard revolution” through aina-based education that blends traditional practices with Korean Natural Farming. He shares how the organization supports youth and families in learning to grow their own food, raise animals, and build agricultural businesses. David reflects on rebuilding Hawaii’s Future Farmers of America chapters, his roots in Kaumakani, Kauai, and the importance of pilina (relationships), a value deepened through his friendship with Pono Shim. Through stories of teaching, military service, and reflecting on E Ohana Hou (the eternal unleashing of grace), David reminds us that food and love can be the foundation of a thriving lahui (people).

Episode Highlights

0:24 Introduction to David Fuertes

1:02 Kahua Paa Mua and the "backyard revolution" of learning to grow food

3:15 Rebuilding Future Farmers of America (FFA) Hawaii chapters

5:25 Pandemic pivots on the farm and Aloha Connects Innovation (ACI)

9:32 Roots in Kaumakani, Kauai, a sugar plantation town; learning about hard work

12:41 College, getting drafted into Vietnam War, giving back and lifelong friendships

15:51 Becoming an agriculture teacher

18:21 The best Filipino ringtone ever

20:18 Former students, then and now

22:44 Dream food sustainability scenario - ahupuaa model

26:05 How to make agriculture thrive in Hawaii: a farmer's perspective

27:28 Reading plants and organisms to help them grow and thrive

30:18 Taro: teaching young ones about life

32:15 E OHANA HOU

35:28 Pilina: Friendship with Pono Shim

39:47 Aloha and the lahui

43:05 The universal language of love: food

44:33 The 3 QP (Quality, People, Partnership)

47:21 Aloha + the concentric circle of influence and control

48:33 JFK Hawaii visit

49:23 Driving with aloha

Learn more about Kahua Paa Mua at: https://www.kahuapaamua.org/about

Welcome to the Above the Sides podcast! Join us on our journey to uncover what it means to think, act, and live aloha. The inspiration for this podcast is the late Pono Shim, former President and CEO of the Oʻahu Economic Development Board. His stories capture the essence of what it means to live aloha. He made it known that aloha is a lifestyle. It is not a solution to problems, a marketing brand or to be used as an advantage over anyone else. Aloha is to be honored and practiced.

The name of this podcast is in reverence of Hawaiʻi's Queen Liliʻuokalani, who wrote: "To gain the kingdom of heaven is to hear what is not said, to see what cannot be seen, and to know the unknowable – that is Aloha. All things in this world are two; in heaven there is but One.” Through these episodes, we seek to find that singular perspective, the one that is "above the sides" as we strive for universal peace.

We welcome you to pause with us as we share the stories and voices of Hawai’i business leaders, educators and community members who have chosen to be lifelong students of aloha. Mahalo nui loa for listening.