アセルカデ

We moved to Hawaii in 2013 after fast-paced urban life in New York and Tokyo to slow down and have down-to-earth life. We plan to grow fresh Japanese varietal vegetables, herbs, and rice for the local community, and value-added products for the international market. Ohisama means sunshine in Japanese. We are grateful to be able to farm in this paradise full of sunshine!

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Rice is one of the staple foods in Hawaii. Loco-moco, SPAM musubi, bento, etc... It is used in a variety of food in the state. Hawaii has the highest rice consumption per person in the U.S. at an average of 100 pounds per year (70,000 tons per year as the state). However, almost 95% of rice in the state is imported from California. What happens when a natural disaster or shipping disruption occurs? 

Hawaii used to grow rice and was self-sufficient 100%! According to the University of Hawaii Hilo research, rice has been grown in Hawaii since the 1860s and the production was second in value and acreage only to sugar. I want to revitalize production commercially. I attended one of the top business schools in the world to validate my ideas and realized that is not impossible and built network with potential investors around the world. My ancestors back in Japan were rice farmers in Niigata and Tochigi, and rice farming is somewhat imprinted in my DNA...

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We plan to grow short-grain rice on paddy fields (lo'i). Specifically, the Sasaniski variety which contains more amylose compared to the prevailing Koshihikari variety. It supports suppressing a surge of blood sugar hence good for people with diabetes (a major issue among native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders in the state). Sasanishiki is also preferred by sushi chefs in Japan because it is delicious when cool. It is also ideal for spam musubi or bento.
 

Our kuleana is to help people of Hawaii!