Megan Fox
Photo: Megan Fox & Mitchell Bounos
Photographer: Harneet Bajwa
“Every individual’s efforts can make a big impact when they join together. Iʻm thankful that so many in our community not only talk and feel that way- but also act on it. It gives me a lot of hope for our future.”
Megan Fox is the Executive Director of Mālama Kaua`i, supporting the day-to-day operations, program management, fundraising, and marketing for the non-profit. She has a Bachelor of Science in Management and Public Policy with a focus on Human Resources and is a published author on creating job programs. She has also served on the Advisory Board of the University of Hawai`i's Kaua`i Master Gardener program. Megan is working on farmer-related programming during the COVID-19 response, while growing, birthing, and raising her first child. We caught up with Megan in June, 2020, shortly before the birth of her son.
How are you? Can you start with a quick picture of what life was like pre-COVID?
Life was good, just the normal Kaua`i life and food systems work. I’m actually 9 months pregnant with my first child right now, so COVID was an extra scary thing to me on a personal level when it hit. I’m so grateful for our Mayor and his administration’s quick actions to keep our island protected and safe during this time.
What changes have you made in your business/lifestyle/platform to adapt to our current situation?
We are a fairly dynamic and ever-changing organization so pivoting is something we’re used to based on what challenges and opportunities are in front of us.
This time around, all of our programs and staff immediately pivoted to meet current needs. Our Farm-to-School Program Manager is working on keiki food access programs. Our grant writer helped to obtain a large USDA contract to buy produce from local farmers to give to families in need. Our farmer technical support programs ramped up to create our Local Food Connector’s “Buy Local Directory” info hub and assist with fundraising and getting grants out to farmers. Our marketing intern started developing logos and doing photoshoots and blogs to highlight farmers. Everyone found their niche to pitch in to help our community.
This is Kaua`i’s second major “disaster” in the last few years, so we are lucky to have an amazingly responsive community, a local government that engages and responds to the community, and lots of leaders across the island who work together quickly when things get sticky here.
Personally, it was really hard for me to have to stay off the front lines due to the baby, but our staff is like a family and they made me!
Personally, it was really hard for me to have to stay off the front lines due to the baby, but our staff is like a family and they made me!
What food system vulnerabilities have been exposed in this crisis?
Sadly it’s the same issues those of us in food systems work have been on the soapbox about for over a decade - lack of food-related agricultural infrastructure development, providing better support systems and financial resources directly for farmers, increasing food hubs to address food safety & compliance issues, long-term land, and housing access, the challenges facing small island micro-economies that require a unique lens, reliance on tourism over basic needs of residents, etc.
More investments are needed in direct farmer support versus overall marketing campaigns with low return on investment. Frankly, “ag branding” should be reserved for cattle okoles! We need to invest in scaling our ag businesses to feed ourselves. Iʻm stoked that more people are paying close attention to that now. I think a lot of us are hoping that the uncertainties brought into the spotlight in regards to our lack of food security result in some big lasting changes and genuine investments in our food systems this time around.
What is your vision for the future? Are there changes occurring now that you want to see remain in place once COVID-19 is over?
For Kaua`i I’d like to see an ag park with housing options and a food hub in every moku, led by farmers and farming organizations who have been working on these issues for so long; more agricultural career pathways and entrepreneurial training programs for our youth so they can succeed in our microeconomic environment; and lasting consumer preference for local products.
I’d like to see an ag park with housing options and a food hub in every moku, led by farmers and farming organizations who have been working on these issues for so long.
What can the community do to help?
First and foremost - support local however and whenever you can, but also find a way to make a difference beyond that - get engaged politically to have your voice heard, volunteer in your community, donate to local efforts, whatever you are able to do. Every individual’s efforts can make a big impact when they join together. Iʻm thankful that so many in our community not only talk and feel that way- but also act on it. It gives me a lot of hope for our future.
Every individual’s efforts can make a big impact when they join together. Iʻm thankful that so many in our community not only talk and feel that way- but also act on it. It gives me a lot of hope for our future.
Who are your local food heroes?
There are really so many it’s hard to call anyone out specifically.
Tammy Smith (Hale Kealoha and Lunalilo Home, O’ahu) and Lorna Poe (‘Ai Pono, Kaua’i) are both incredible aunties I look up to for their never-ending commitment to create change by feeding keiki ‘āina-based foods and teaching them where their food comes from. They’ve both shown me so much aloha and encouragement, and are so humble. They just put their heads down, DO the work, and have hearts of gold. Kukui at MA’O Farms is the same way for the production and youth leadership side of the food system, and her undying strength and dedication to her guiding values is really inspiring.
Another person that stands out to me is one of our County Councilmen, Mason Chock. He looks at things really holistically and systems-wide aside from just food, and his interpersonal skills and patience are nothing short of astounding. His heart seems to always be centered on bringing folks together for the best outcomes for the people of our island. Plus he lets me bug him a lot, which I do quite regularly! Our county government is so approachable and caring in general, and I think that makes a world of difference in situations like the one weʻre currently in.
