Producer
Hydroponic Hut
Contact: Allen and Allyson Blackard
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Website: https://www.facebook.com
About Us
We are Allen and Allyson Blackard—“The Al’s”—and together we operate Hydroponic Hut in Ainaloa.
What began as a personal effort to grow fresh, affordable food for ourselves soon became something much larger. As we shared our surplus with neighbors, we recognized the potential for small-scale hydroponic growing to help strengthen local food security throughout Hawai?i Island.
In 2023, Allyson graduated from the Hawai?i Community College agriculture program. Inspired by her mentor, Lew Nakamura, and his commitment to addressing Hawai?i’s food-security challenges, we established Hydroponic Hut in Ainaloa as a place where locally grown food, practical education, and community service come together.
Our original weekly “you-pick” hydroponic farm allowed residents to harvest fresh greens directly from our growing tables, with no head of lettuce priced above $3. Unsold produce was bagged and shared freely with members of our community. That model has since evolved into a 24-hour honor stand offering freshly harvested, nutrient-rich greens—with their roots still attached—so residents can access living produce at their convenience.
Our hydroponic systems are elevated on tables, helping keep the produce away from the ground and reducing exposure to slugs and snails—a particularly important consideration on Hawai?i Island. We also teach careful growing, inspection, and handling practices, including awareness of rat lungworm disease. These methods allow us to produce clean, consistent greens while using space and water efficiently.
Education remains an important part of our mission. Through community workshops, we have helped nearly 1,000 residents learn how to grow food for themselves, their families, and their neighbors. Our goal is not only to provide produce, but also to help create more growers and strengthen Hawai?i Island’s local food system.
We live here because we love it, and we serve our community because we believe in it. We are simply two people trying to grow good food, share useful knowledge, and do something positive for the place we are grateful to call home.
Mahalo,
Allen and Allyson
“The Al’s”
Hydroponic Hut
Growing Hawai?i Together
What began as a personal effort to grow fresh, affordable food for ourselves soon became something much larger. As we shared our surplus with neighbors, we recognized the potential for small-scale hydroponic growing to help strengthen local food security throughout Hawai?i Island.
In 2023, Allyson graduated from the Hawai?i Community College agriculture program. Inspired by her mentor, Lew Nakamura, and his commitment to addressing Hawai?i’s food-security challenges, we established Hydroponic Hut in Ainaloa as a place where locally grown food, practical education, and community service come together.
Our original weekly “you-pick” hydroponic farm allowed residents to harvest fresh greens directly from our growing tables, with no head of lettuce priced above $3. Unsold produce was bagged and shared freely with members of our community. That model has since evolved into a 24-hour honor stand offering freshly harvested, nutrient-rich greens—with their roots still attached—so residents can access living produce at their convenience.
Our hydroponic systems are elevated on tables, helping keep the produce away from the ground and reducing exposure to slugs and snails—a particularly important consideration on Hawai?i Island. We also teach careful growing, inspection, and handling practices, including awareness of rat lungworm disease. These methods allow us to produce clean, consistent greens while using space and water efficiently.
Education remains an important part of our mission. Through community workshops, we have helped nearly 1,000 residents learn how to grow food for themselves, their families, and their neighbors. Our goal is not only to provide produce, but also to help create more growers and strengthen Hawai?i Island’s local food system.
We live here because we love it, and we serve our community because we believe in it. We are simply two people trying to grow good food, share useful knowledge, and do something positive for the place we are grateful to call home.
Mahalo,
Allen and Allyson
“The Al’s”
Hydroponic Hut
Growing Hawai?i Together