Fourteen Members of Hawai‘i Agricultural Leadership Program Class XIX to Graduate in November
Fourteen members of Class XIX of the Hawai‘i Agricultural Leadership Program will graduate next month, completing a rigorous 14-month curriculum for agricultural professionals statewide. The graduation ceremony will take place on November 9 at 5 p.m. in the Naupaka 4 Ballroom at the Waikōloa Beach Marriott Resort and Spa during the 2026 Hawai‘i Agriculture Conference. The conference theme is "Hawai‘i Agriculture: Driving Dedication, Diversity & Diligence."
The leadership program equips local industry leaders with tools to navigate complex regulatory landscapes, drive agricultural innovation, foster sector collaboration, and strengthen food system resilience. With Hawai‘i importing over 85% of its food, the state’s food system is vulnerable to external factors. This year’s cohort addressed this challenge by authoring a white paper identifying three key opportunities to reduce Hawai‘i’s food import dependence and bolster food system resilience: biosecurity and invasive species, natural disaster mitigation and action, and post-harvest processing.
The white paper was developed through discussions with farmers, ranchers, farm support agencies, and food system advocates.
Since 1982, over 200 individuals have participated in the leadership program, including producers, entrepreneurs, corporate managers, association executives, researchers, government employees, and non-profit managers.
This year’s graduates:
- Shaun Wilcox – Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, O‘ahu
- Lehua Abrigo – Hawai‘i Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, O‘ahu
- Mason Alfaro – Lydgate Farms, Kaua‘i
- Clayton “Jr” Allencastre – Reyes & Hall, Maui
- Jessica Araszewski – Hawai‘i Farm Bureau Federation, O‘ahu
- Bonarath “Bo” Bory – Pacific Gateway Center, O‘ahu
- Justin Brown – Vylor, Kaua‘i
- Rachel Fukumoto – Agriculture Stewardship Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i Island
- Judah Lum – Kahuku Farms, O‘ahu
- Jesse Pilialoha Mikasobe-Kealiinohomoku – ‘Elepaio Social Services, O‘ahu
- Christen Oliveira Reppun – Hawai‘i Good Food Alliance, O‘ahu
- Jillian Scheibe – Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture & Biosecurity, Hawai‘i Island
- Francesca “Chess” Scola – North Shore Economic Vitality Partnership, O‘ahu
- Chelsea Takahashi – The Food Basket, Hawai‘i Island
The Agricultural Leadership Foundation of Hawai‘i, established in 1982, offers leadership development opportunities for individuals dedicated to strengthening agriculture within the state.