Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 22, Number 7, 1 July 2005 — MA'O prize [ARTICLE]

MA'O prize

In June, the MA'O Youth Organic Farm in Wai'anae heeame one of four runners-up to receive a $25,000 prize in a national business-plan competition that drew more than

450 applicants. In addition, the Wai'anae program will also receive a year of technical assistance from Yale University, one of the members of Partnership on Nonprofit Ventures, the group that held the competition. MA'O farm serves as a training program for Wai'anae youth who grow a variety of organic fruits and vegetables on the farm's five acres in Lualualei Valley and sell the produce at the group's Aloha 'Āina Cafe and various farmers' market stands. Even prior to taking home the national award, MA'0's business plan was a proven winner: it took top honors in Hawai'i's first business plan competition for nonprofit organizations held last year.