The opening of Leeward Community College's Wahiawa Value-Added Product Development Center will mean additional opportunities for students studying agriculture and the culinary arts at the nearby Leilehua High School.
The high school already has traditional agriculture and culinary classes but is adding entrepreneur courses in those pathways starting next year, said Jason Nakamoto, principal of Leilehua High School.
As part of the partnership, the high school's students will have a chance to go to the center during class time, Nakamoto said.
Jackie Freitas, the school's agriculture and natural resources teacher — who was just named Teacher of the Year by the Hawaii State Department of Education — leads the classes that will use the newly opened center, he said.
The school's 3.5-acre "land lab" on campus includes traditional and organic farming, floriculture, an 80-foot hydroponic greenhouse, animal husbandry — including a mule, turkeys, pigs, chickens, ducks, bees and more — and a shop for welding, Freitas told Pacific Business News. It also includes technology, including robots that can plant, water and weed, the school's principal said.
Nakamoto spoke with Pacific Business News about the school's workforce development partnership at the grand opening of the Wahiawa Value-Added Product Development Center on Friday, April 12.
What does the opening of this center mean for students at Leilehua High School? It's a great opportunity. We take what the kids are learning in their classes now, and then for them to have an opportunity to see the next level and actually work with Leeward Community College, as well as some of the business partners, I think that's invaluable.
How are students using robots on campus to help farm? We've got the traditional agricultural practices, and then we've got ag tech bringing technology in. So, we've got some robots that the kids will program to plant, weed, seed [and] water. ... So the cool thing is now you're expanding the opportunities to kids who may not be the ones who want to get their hands dirty.
Is there anything I haven't asked that you want to share with readers? As far as the center, just focusing on the culinary side, there's a lot of equipment that our kids can use that will help preserve food products longer. For example, our culinary class has their own secret dressing that is very popular. But just the way they package it — they could use this facility [for that]. ... We actually have an apiary, so we have honey. So again, [with this facility, there's a chance to take that honey and do] the packaging and probably extend the shelf life. That's exciting.
