Roots of Kauai

LIHUE – A massage therapist for the last eight years, Nadia Kaley was looking for a career change.

That’s when she saw an advertisement for Malama Kauai’s new Roots of Kauai Green Careers training program.

“I thought, ‘Wow, a free program. I’m interested in learning more about being sustainable on Kauai,’” she said. 

Kaley signed up and ultimately found herself a part of a tight group of likeminded people she now describes as “a little family.”

“I really feel like it just opened up my eyes to a lot of things here on Kauai, and around the world … about how we need to be more conscious of where our waste is going and where our food is coming from,” she said.

This week, Kaley was one of 14 Kauai residents to graduate from the free, 10-week summer program, which focuses on supporting young adults ages 18 to 35 interested in building a sustainable career that benefits both them and the future of their island home.

“This was actually our first pilot session,” said Megan Fox, Malama Kauai’s director of operations. “The goals are to demonstrate the green economy as one of growth and worthy of investment.”

Today, Kaley and her classmate, Stormy Soza, are in the process of starting H2O Pono, their very own water catchment and conservation business.

“We’re looking at launching it in the next two to three months,” Kaley said. “We want to promote water (conservation) education to people and also offer classes on water catchment systems.” 

Kaui Fu, who graduated from the University of Hawaii at Hilo two years ago, says she signed up for the program because she was beginning to lose sight of her career goals. Above all, Roots of Kauai helped her refocus — with confidence. 

Fu and fellow classmate, Shawna Blackford, won the program’s business plan competition with their community river restoration and cultural education project, Ho’okahe Wailana. 

“This program has given me so much exposure to all the great things that are happening on this island,” Fu said in a release. “Kauai can seem like a small island with limited opportunities but after every class, especially with the guest speakers, I gained such a brighter outlook on the future of Kauai and learned of so many reasons to be proud of the positive things that are happening here.”

Fu’s hope with her project is to establish a maintenance cooperative between the people who use the Hanalei River and the state and local landowners.

The Roots of Kauai program consists of 60 hours of classroom education, including a variety of interactive discussions, educational documentaries, and individual and group projects to engage students in critical thinking on environmental issues, solutions and related career opportunities, according Malama Kauai’s website. 

Each student is also required to complete a 100-hour internship within a green or sustainability-focused organization. Fu and two other women interned at the Waipa Foundation. 

Stacy Sproat, Waipa’s executive director, said she was struck most by the students’ motivation and their enthusiasm about finding careers that would help benefit the island. 

“Megan (Fox) and Malama Kauai have created something that has gotten them excited,” Sproat said of the students. 

Waipa has since hired Fu part time. In addition, four other students have secured green jobs in the fields of solar and aquaponics installation, sustainable farming, conservation and local beverage production, according to a release.

Of the 14 graduates, 10 have either started a new position or a business of their own, according to Fox.

Take 25-year old Kanoa Nabeshima-Costa, of Waimea, for example. He recently launched Rootless Yardcare and Small Engine Repair, focusing on landscaping with native plants, effective integrated pest management use and affordable small engine repair, according to Fox.  Nabeshima-

Costa interned at the National Tropical Botanical Garden.

The community is invited to a graduation ceremony and networking potluck event at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 21 at Lydgate Pavilion.

Fox said the graduating class represented a diverse group — hailing from Hanalei to Kekaha — with each bringing their unique experiences and perspective to the discussion. 

“They worked hard throughout the very demanding program requirements and I can’t wait to see what is ahead for their futures, especially those who started businesses that may create employment opportunities for future generations,” she said.

Info: visit www.malamakauai.org or email Megan@MalamaKauai.org.