We Are Portland

Volunteers Harvested Kalo Crop at Portland Garden

Community members gathered 300 pounds of leaves while distributing 1,200 free plants to support local families.

Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Gardening

Bold vector editorial illustration of harvested kalo leaves and garden shears on a wooden bench, representing local food security efforts.
Volunteers at Portland's Unity Farms harvested 300 pounds of kalo leaves to provide culturally relevant food for local Hawaiian families facing food insecurity. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Portlanders interested in food security have bolstered local resources after volunteers at Unity Farms successfully harvested 300 pounds of kalo leaves. The effort supports the local Hawaiian community as the Ka ʻAha Lāhui O ʻOlekona Hawaiian Civic Club continues its work to provide culturally relevant food.

Why it matters

The project addresses food insecurity and health equity within the local Hawaiian community, which faces a 41% higher likelihood of food insecurity. By growing crops traditionally found in Hawaii, the initiative helps preserve cultural identity while mitigating high market costs for these staples.

Volunteers harvested 300 pounds of leaves from a 400 square foot plot, with market prices for the vegetable ranging from $4 to $12 per pound. It remains unknown how the upcoming winter hibernation period will affect the survival of the remaining garden infrastructure.

The players

Ka ʻAha Lāhui O ʻOlekona Hawaiian Civic Club

An organization that operates the AloHā Resource and Community Center and coordinates cultural and food support programs.

Oregon Food Bank

A regional non-profit organization located adjacent to the Unity Farms garden plot.

The details

The garden, located on an acre behind the Oregon Food Bank, serves as an experimental site for growing tropical kalo in the Pacific Northwest. Volunteers harvest the plants by slicing the stems, providing a staple for dishes like lau lau to families served by the AloHā Resource and Community Center. This initiative follows three years of growth experiments aimed at helping native Hawaiians who live outside their ancestral home.

Timeline

  1. Three years ago the kalo growing experiment began.

  2. Late September 2026 volunteers harvested the crop.

  3. October 2026 potential cuts to SNAP benefits are scheduled.

Beyond the Bridges

The project follows the trend established by 2020 U.S. Census data showing that over half of native Hawaiians now live out of state. By adapting traditional farming to Portland, the effort marks a localized response to maintaining heritage far from an ancestral homeland.

Local families may see reduced access to food resources if the planned SNAP benefit cuts take effect next month. Residents looking to support the project or access resources can connect with the AloHā Resource and Community Center.

The takeaway

This garden demonstrates how urban agriculture can sustain both physical nutrition and cultural heritage in a new climate. Keep an eye on the upcoming federal benefit adjustments in October 2026 to understand the shifting landscape for food-insecure households in the metro area.

What happens next

The kalo plants are expected to enter winter hibernation as the community prepares for potential federal SNAP benefit cuts occurring throughout October 2026.

Further reading

For more on local cultivation efforts, see Gardening.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Opb.

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Is community-led local gardening an effective way to preserve cultural identity in your area?