MEDIA RELEASE

The Hawai’i Agri-Tourism Association (HATA) has announced a new website to book their “Hilo Grown Ag Tours”.  The new website (www.hawaiiagtours.com) will allow visitors and local residents to learn more about the tours and book them well in advance of their visit to Hilo.

“We’re excited about this new website because it’s packed with information about the tour and the great family farms we visit.  Now visitors can book and pay for their tour from anywhere in the world,” Lani Weigert, HATA’s Executive Director, said.

The daylong tour starts at Green Point Nurseries, the state’s largest anthurium farm and the producer of orchids, tropical plants and foliage.  Four generations of the Tanouye family have built an internationally recognized farm that ships its flowers all over the world.

The tour then heads to KTA Super Store at Puainako.   Tour members learn the history of how this “Grown on the Big Island” superstore has helped farmers; ranchers and dairies get their products to market since 1916.

The tour continues to the Imiloa Astronomy Center and Native Hawaiian Gardens.  This is a unique experience for visitors to explore the connection between Hawaiian cultural traditions and astronomy.

The last stop of the day is Hamakua Springs County Farm. This is a full-scale production farm that specializes in several varieties of tomatoes, bananas, lettuce and cucumbers run by three generations of the Ha family in the Pepe’ekeo area of Hilo.

Hilo Grown Ag Tours is a HATA project funded by the County Product Enrichment Program (CPEP) of Hawai’i County.  The CPEP program is a part of a statewide program sponsored by the Hawaii Tourism Authority.  The cost of the tour is $90 for adults and $55 for children under 12.

Tours are offered on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday and can be booked on the website: www.hawaiiagtours.com or by calling 808-930-0086.

—Learn more:

Benson Medina  benson@hiagtourism.org