'Oko’a Farms - The inspiration behind ParaGenius.
How a Farmer’s Grit Sparked Our Mission to Fortify Maui’s Food Security and inspired a new vision for resilience across the island.
'Oko'a Farms
Leading the Charge: Ryan Earehart and Sal Gil Coca
‘Oko’a Farms is a Maui family farm established by Ryan Earehart and his business partner, Sal Gil Coca.
Meaning “whole” or “different” in Hawaiian, ‘Oko’a reflects the team’s commitment to a holistic approach to agriculture.
They began farming together in 2008 and have made an incredible mark on Maui's fresh food system!
‘Oko’a Farms Story
The magic behind ‘Oko’a comes from Sal’s expertise in farm production and Ryan’s passion for community networking through healthy food.
Their presence in Maui has built a robust network of dozens of local vendors and producers.
Their operations began on a lone parcel of land in Kula, then expanded to a single farmer’s market. As they grew to four weekly markets, they gained such popularity that customers would wait 20 minutes to purchase their produce.
2 am start times and setting up and taking down a store 4 times a week eventually wore its welcome!
In 2015, Dr. Dean began her philanthropic journey by purchasing two specialty tractors for ‘Oko’a, increasing their efficiency.
Dr. Dean first met Ryan after a produce delivery. Over time, she learned of the challenges farmers face-from acquiring loans to exorbitant overhead costs and elaborate logistics. Touched by Ryan’s hard work and candor, she became an angel investor.
Her investments grew to include volunteering at the markets, recruiting friends and colleagues to join her, and loaning well over 3 million in low-interest funding.
In the midst of covid-19, where many businesses were forced to close their doors, ‘Oko’a leveraged her support. With the help of Dr. Dean and others, ‘Oko’a quadrupled their reach to residents by moving into the permanent storefront.
Today, they manage 70 acres while providing access to a cornucopia of fresh food, 7 days a week. Through their store, they bring incredible access and visibility to Maui’s locally grown and locally produced food.
After 11 years of selling produce at four farmers markets across Maui, ‘Oko’a Farms proudly opened their own store in 2023
‘Oko’a Farms Success:
Permanent Storefront
Opened a brick-and-mortar produce-driven grocery store in upcountry Maui. (And a Wailea store, coming soon!)
Produce Centric Market
Provides access and quality food from up to 200 local vendors and neighborhood orchards each year.
Organic & Energy Efficient
Driven by renewable power, regenerative soil health and organic integrity.
EBT Da Bux Program
Participates in the EBT Da Bux program, providing 30% of their customer base 50% off their organic produce.
Organically Grown Produce
Offers over 160 varieties of organically grown fruits, vegetables, herbs, and value-added products, 100 of which grow on their farm.
Inspired by the growth and potential of ‘Oko’a, ParaGenius was born
The spark of one person’s inspiration can ripple out and become a movement!
PGF intends to inspire passionate individuals and organizations to rally together for Maui’s organic farming community.
We offer an open invitation to YOU, to take action and help us champion our farmers and fresh food system.
We continue to find unique ways we can move the needle in the direction of local food resilience!
