Farmer - MAHIAI WAENA

MA'O Organic Farms; Ewa Beach (HI); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

MA'O Organic Farms in Hawaii seeks a Mahi'ai Waena (Production & Harvest) to support production planning, harvest execution, and cross-functional farm operations. This role works with managers, interns, and youth participants to maintain quality, safety, and efficiency in a fast-paced setting.

The position emphasizes mentorship of Mahi'ai Akahi and interns, adherence to organic standards, and collaboration across farm teams to meet program goals and sustainability targets.

Qualifications

• Associate’s degree in Agricultural Science or equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience.
• Minimum of three years of progressively responsible experience in agriculture, organic farming, food production or processing, or a closely related operational field.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and execute production plans, including crop scheduling and task prioritization.
• Monitor crop health, irrigation performance, and field conditions; report issues to supervisors.
• Assist with installation, removal, and maintenance of irrigation systems (overhead and drip).
• Perform weed management including hand weeding, knife weeding, and weedeating per safety standards.
• Support harvest operations; ensure timely harvesting of high quality produce and transport as needed.

Skills

Production planning

Harvest coordination

Team mentorship

Safety compliance

Education

Associate degree in Agricultural Science

Job description

Career Opportunities with MA'O Organic Farms

A great place to work.

Careers At MA'O Organic Farms

MA'O Organic Farms (MA'O), located in Lualualei Valley, Waianae, is a social enterprise of the Waianae Community Re-Development Corporation (WCRC), a non-profit 501(c)3 organization. Established in 2000, MA'O grows organic food and new leaders for a sustainable Hawaii. For the first 18-years in operation MA'O managed 24-acres of certified organic land, now we’ve grown to 280-acres in Lualualei Valley. This new aina presents a huge kuleana – to manage land and water with aloha, and to radically increase the production of nutritious local organic food, while empowering a new generation of leaders to serve Hawaii nei.

Position Summary:

The Mahi'ai Waena (Production & Harvest) role is an intermediate-level staff position in organic farm operations with a primary focus on production and harvest. Through the training model of ma ka hana ka ?ike (learning through doing), this role operates in a fast-paced, hands-on environment while taking on increased responsibility for coordinating workflows, supporting operational execution, and providing day-to-day direction, guidance, and mentorship to Mahi'ai Akahi and youth interns.

Working alongside Managers, Mahi'ai Akahi, and interns, the Mahi'ai Waena supports production planning, harvest execution, and cross-functional farm operations while reinforcing quality, safety, efficiency, and operational standards.

• Work Location(s):
  This position may require occasional travel between our farm sites for meetings, events, or operational support based on program and operational needs.
  • MA'O Organic Farms, 86-148 Puhawai Rd. Waianae, Oahu, Hawaii 96792
  • MA'O Organic Farms, Palikea Farm Site, Waianae, Oahu, Hawaii 96792
  • MA'O Organic Farms, Makaha Farm Site, Waianae, Oahu, Hawaii 96792
• Schedule:
  • Production & Harvest Tracks: Primarily Monday to Friday with occasional evening or weekend hours to support youth programming and operational needs.

General Duties & Core Responsibilities
(Applies to all Mahi'ai Waena work, regardless of track)

Uphold organic certification standards, food safety protocols, and food quality expectations in accordance with MA'O Organic Farms’ policies and training.

Work both collaboratively with the Farm team and independently, as assigned, to support organic farming operations.

Maintain cleanliness, sanitation, and safe use of farm vehicles, equipment, tools, and workspaces. Operation of vehicles, machinery, chainsaws, or power tools is performed only as authorized, trained, and licensed (if applicable to assigned duties) and in accordance with safety policies.

Maintain the cleanliness of shared and collective spaces, which may include break areas, parking lots, restroom facilities or portable restrooms, tool sheds, and surrounding work areas. Assist with managing trash and recyclables in accordance with farm practices.

Coordinate and manage multiple groups of staff, interns, and volunteers to support safe and efficient operations.

Support cross-functional farm operations as assigned, including assisting in different work areas based on operational needs and training, consistent with safety requirements and role classification.

Collaborate with Akea and 'Auwai teams to achieve organizational impact goals.

Support end-of-day security procedures by ensuring farm tools, equipment, vehicles, tractors, facilities, and gates are properly secured.

Use digital tools and software, as required and/or provided by the organization, to support communication, coordination, documentation, and operations. This may include email, mobile devices, farm management or scheduling software, point-of-sale tablets, and platforms such as Microsoft products, Google Workspace, Slack, WhatsApp, and the organization’s HRIS.

Participate in required food safety and organic certification audits, trainings, and inspections, as assigned.

Perform other duties as assigned, consistent with training, safety requirements, and operational needs.

Production Track

Coordinate and execute assigned production plans, including crop scheduling, field coordination, and task prioritization to maximize yield and support efficient resource utilization.

Monitor crop health, irrigation performance, and field conditions, and communicate issues, risks, or inefficiencies to supervisors or managers.

Assist with the installation, removal, and maintenance of irrigation systems, including overhead and drip irrigation, irrigation timers, and related components.

Perform weed management practices, including hand weeding, knife weeding, picking, flame-weeding, and weedeating, in accordance with safety and operational standards.

Execute planting activities such as hand transplanting, implement-assisted transplanting, nursery operations, direct seeding, and tree planting.

Maintain agroforestry areas through weeding, pruning, mulching, harvesting, and irrigation maintenance.

Support processing shed operations as assigned, including washing and packaging produce in compliance with food safety standards.

Provide direction, guidance, and support to Mahi'ai Akahi and interns during production operations to ensure quality, safety, and efficiency standards are consistently met.

Teach, train, and provide mentorship to Mahi'ai Akahi and interns during production operations to ensure efficiency, safety, and adherence to quality expectations.

Manage and execute daily harvest operations to ensure timely harvesting of fresh, high-quality organic produce in alignment with production schedules and quality standards.

Coordinate and prioritize harvest tasks based on crop readiness, order demand, and field conditions.

Utilize harvest tools and equipment safely and effectively in accordance with training and food safety protocols.

Monitor harvested produce for quality and food safety concerns and communicate issues promptly.

Maintain cleanliness and organization of harvesting areas during and after harvest activities.

Assist with transporting harvested produce, interns, or supplies using authorized farm vehicles.

Support processing shed operations as assigned, including washing and packaging produce in compliance with food safety standards.

Provide direction, guidance, and support to Mahi'ai Akahi and interns during harvest operations to ensure quality, safety, and efficiency standards are consistently met.

Teach, train, and provide mentorship to Mahi'ai Akahi and interns during harvest operations to ensure efficiency, safety, and adherence to quality expectations.

Model professionalism and provide mentorship and positive reinforcement for youth interns learning in the fields, processing shed, and farmers markets.

Support the training and evaluation of the farm’s youth interns.

Model mutual love, respect, and a willingness to work, thus reinforcing organizational and programmatic policy and values in a positive and formative manner that supports the mission, goals and activities of WCRC and MA'O wherever possible.

Required Experience:

Associate’s degree in Agricultural Science, Horticulture, Botany, Environmental Science, Sustainable Community Food Systems, Engineering, Community Development, Culinary Arts, Food Science, Hawaiian Studies, or a related field; or equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience.

Minimum of three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in agriculture, organic farming, food production or processing, or a closely related operational