In the heart of Hawaii Kai, a unique community garden is taking root, not in a remote valley, but at the Hawaii Kai Towne Center. It’s being spearheaded by Sondra Ouye, who recently founded Abl Collective to reconnect residents with their local food system and support sustainable agriculture in Hawaii.
The Community Garden at Hawaii Kai Towne Center consists of 40 large grow bags filled with a variety of seedlings including spinach, kale and japanese cucumber — just to name a few.
(photography by Therese Padua Howe)
From Corporate Finance to Community Farming
Sondra’s journey from financial accounting to farming wasn't a straight path. After years in the corporate world, a trip around the world ignited a passion for sustainability and food systems. Influenced by her travels and her brother's career switch from engineering to agriculture, she realized that volunteering at farms during her stays was no longer enough. She wanted to dedicate her life to it.
"I just realized I wanted to … spend more of my time doing that," Sondra said during an interview at her Waimanalo farm. "I wanted to make that switch and move into something more directly related to sustainability."
Her search for a new direction led her to the introductory level of the GoFarm Hawaiʻi farmer training program. A volunteer hands-on experience at Ko Farms (an organic farm in Palolo Valley), combined with the educational courses at GoFarm, solidified her purpose. She completed the intensive eight-month program in April of this year, and from that experience, her vision for Abl Collective was born.
Sondra Ouye, founder of Abl Collective, at her Waimanalo farm.
(photo courtesy of Sondra Ouye)
Sondra's mission is clear: to help people understand the vulnerabilities of Hawaii's food system and encourage a greater interest in local agriculture. "A lot of people aren't necessarily aware of what things are like in our food system in Hawaii," she said, adding that there’s also a lack of awareness about sustainable farming practices.
The community garden is a direct response to this, providing a space for residents to learn about the entire process of growing food. Even if they’re not going to grow at home, Sondra hopes to encourage people to “have some sort of interest and just sort of awareness around what it takes to grow food. And so that's really what the point of the community garden is, to try to get people from the community involved and … build and support local agriculture.”
The author planted these spinach seedlings at the Sept. 6 Hawaii Kai Community Garden planting event at Hawaii Kai Towne Center.
(photography by Therese Padua Howe)
Garden Work Days
The Hawaii Kai Towne Center’s Community Garden launched in August with a seed planting event, followed by another planting event in early September. To encourage families to attend, keiki activities were offered that ranged from educational tables to games.
At the September event, Abl Collective farmers including Sondra were assisted by a group of Kaiser High School students who guided individuals and families to plant seedlings into large black grow bags filled with potting mix.
By the end of the event, a row of 40 bags were filled with a wide variety of seedlings, from spinach to kale to japanese cucumber — just to name a few.
The public is encouraged to help monitor the plants and report any issues using the QR code on small signs in some of the pots. To help deter theft or vandalism, the center has security, landscaping and maintenance teams who patrol the property day and night.
More garden work days are scheduled two times monthly through the end of the year, where smaller groups can volunteer to help prune, weed, harvest and replant. “It's really just an opportunity again for people to learn about how to grow food … and help people be able to feel like they can do it at home themselves too,” Sondra said.
The garden's success so far is a testament to strong community and business partnerships. Sondra praised the Hawaii Kai Towne Center management for their support, noting they even installed the irrigation system for the garden.
“We’re proud to support this collective of local farmers, which promotes sustainable farming and partners with nonprofits in local agriculture,” said General Manager Michelle Sasaki, who added that the garden brings a “unique dimension” to the center.
“It’s a green, interactive space, and has created events that draw families and community members,” she said. “It transforms the center into more than just a place to shop and dine – it’s a gathering place where people can connect, learn, and grow together.”
Other local businesses also have stepped up, with City Mill donating most of the supplies and Niu Nursery and Fukuda Seeds providing bulk compost and seeds.
City Mill is supporting the initiative “because it emphasizes connection, education, and sustainability,” said Shari Komo-Matsueda, president of City Mill. ”Her idea of a community garden where families can come together, learn and grow aligns perfectly with our values as a family-owned business serving Hawaii since 1899 and our mission to support the community.”
City Mill has seen an enthusiastic response from the public, she said. “Many ask how they can participate, what’s growing and how to apply these gardening techniques at home.” She added that “after participating in a Community Garden event at the center, our City Mill associates can assist with DIY or gardening projects to offer their expertise or product recommendations.”
A Market for Farmers and the Community
Now that the community garden has been launched, Sondra and the center are finalizing plans for a farmers market, currently slated for Saturdays. A past market at the same location was well-loved but closed when its organizers retired, Sondra said. The center's management receives regular inquiries about its return, showing a clear demand from the community.
"It’s just about giving people an opportunity to be able to buy more locally grown, sustainably grown produce in Hawaii Kai," Sondra said.
More than just a convenient shopping spot, the market also is aimed at supporting local farmers. With her background in finance, Sondra knows the economic challenges of farming in Hawaii. By providing a direct-to-consumer sales channel, the market helps farmers earn a better price for their produce, which can be up to double what they'd get from a wholesaler.
This, she hopes, will make farming a more financially sustainable career, helping to combat burnout among farmers who often have to work multiple jobs.
“If we can help create a market that allows them to get a good price point and be able to sell to the community, then I think that's like a win-win for everybody.”
