Saving Seafood

HAWAII: Aloha Harvest casts a line for a fish expert to help break down donations

April 10, 2024 — Ever wonder what happens to unsold fish at the Honolulu Fish Auction? The nonprofit Aloha Harvest recently began rescuing that fish through a new partnership with the United Fishing Agency, which runs the auction, and the Hawaii Longline Association.

“One thing that we kind of knew was going to be an issue is, of course, these fish are coming straight from the auction. So they’re whole fish, you know, generally going to be probably about 50 pounds. But these fish have the head and tail on, you know, they’re gutted, but there’s some work that has to go into getting it ready for prep,” said Aloha Harvest Executive Director Brandon Tomita.

Read the full article at Hawaii Public Radio

HAWAII: United Fishing Agency and Hawaii Longline Association Join Forces with Aloha Harvest

March 12, 2024 — The following was released by Aloha Harvest:

United Fishing Agency (UFA), Hawaii Longline Association (HLA), and Aloha Harvest have established a fish donation and distribution program for social service agencies feeding local people and families in need. To jumpstart the program, HLA will donate $10,000 to Aloha Harvest. The monetary and in-kind donations will go toward Aloha Harvest’s ongoing mission to fight hunger in Hawaii.

“Mahalo to United Fishing Agency and Hawaii Longline Association for the generous donation and ongoing partnership,” said Brandon Tomita, executive director at Aloha Harvest. “Fresh fish is a staple in many local diets. This is a great opportunity to provide a nutritious protein option to those in need on a regular basis.”

Aloha Harvest is the largest food rescue and redistribution organization in Hawaii. Free of charge to both food donors and recipient agencies, Aloha Harvest is a key logistical partner coordinating difficult, often same day, deliveries of prepared foods and stock items. Now entering its 25th year of operation, Aloha Harvest has curated a network of over 1,000 collaborators looking to Waste Less, Feed More.

“Aloha Harvest is aligned with the local fishing industry’s mission to nourish and sustain the people of Hawaii,” said Mike Goto, vice president at UFA. “We’ve been supplying fresh and sustainably caught fish to local residents, restaurants and businesses since 1952. We’re fortunate to be in a position to give back to the community that has supported us for over 70 years.”

HLA is comprised of 150 locally owned fishing boats that supply premium quality fresh fish to many of Hawaii’s famous poke shops, sushi restaurants, retailers and more. The Hawaii longline fleet is federally managed, comprehensively regulated and highly monitored. The fishery is also independently certified as sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council.

“The Hawaii longline fishery is the largest food producer in Hawaii and we work really hard in dangerous conditions to produce high quality fish for local consumers and visitors,” said Eric Kingma, executive director of HLA. “Seafood is a healthy food choice and we’re thrilled to work with Aloha Harvest to get more fresh fish to local people in need.”

UFA and HLA are committed to the long-term health and strength of Hawaii’s people, culture and economy. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, United Fishing Agency formed a strong working relationship with Hawaii Foodbank through the Fish to Dish program, which supported Hawaii’s longline fishing industry and provided over 350,000 servings of locally sourced fish fillets to Hawaii Foodbank and partners. In 2022, to celebrate its 70th anniversary, UFA donated approximately 4,000 pounds or over $10,000 worth of local fish to Hawaii Foodbank to support the redistribution of food to vulnerable members of the local community.

About United Fishing AgencyUnited Fishing Agency owns and operates the Honolulu Fish Auction located at Pier 38, which is an essential part of Hawaii’s food security and economy. The Honolulu Fish Auction is the only fish auction between Tokyo and Maine and the only fresh tuna auction of its kind in the United States. Since 1952, it has supported local commercial fishers, while providing fresh, high-quality, and nutritious fish for the state’s residents and visitors. To learn more, visit www.unitedfishingagency.com.

About Hawaii Longline Association
Established in 2000, HLA represents the Hawaii-based longline fleet and associated seafood businesses. The Hawaii longline fishery — which started in Hawaii in 1917 and is now comprised of 150 locally owned active vessels — is the largest food producer in the State of Hawaii. The dockside landed value of the fishery is around $120 million annually, ranking Honolulu Harbor in the nation’s top ten ports in terms of fisheries economic value. The longline fishery represents approximately 85% of commercial fishing landings  in Hawaii. To learn more, visit www.hawaiilongline.org

About Aloha Harvest
Founded in 1999 by the Hau’oli Mau Loa Foundation, Aloha Harvest is the largest food rescue and redistribution organization in Hawaii. Providing its services free of charge, Aloha Harvest rescues quality food before it enters the waste stream and delivers it to community partners that feed the hungry. In January 2024, Aloha Harvest reached a milestone when it hit 35 million pounds of food rescued.