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Our mission is to support the growth of Hawaiʻi agriculture.

The Synergistic Hawaiʻi Agriculture Council (SHAC) is a State of Hawaiʻi nonprofit organization formed to unify and strengthen the state’s agricultural industries through collaboration, research, and strategic market development.

In 2011, Hawaiʻi’s agricultural leaders recognized the need for a unified effort to compete in global markets and secure federal funding.

SHAC was formed as a consortium of key statewide associations to collectively pursue funding opportunities, support industry-wide challenges, and expand access to international markets.

Group of diverse people standing together in an indoor atrium with a glass ceiling, greenery, and a waterfall feature in the background.

SHAC brings together organizations representing the majority of Hawaiʻi’s agricultural production across multiple sectors, including:

  • Coffee

  • Floriculture & Nursery

  • Macadamia Nuts

  • Cacao & Chocolate

  • Papaya

Close-up of ripe red coffee cherries on a branch surrounded by green leaves, with some sunlight shining through.
A man and a woman are in a greenhouse or plant nursery surrounded by pink and red flowering plants. The woman is handing the man a potted plant with dark red leaves.
Close-up of a branch with green macadamia nuts and leaves.
Various colorful cacao pods, some opened revealing white seeds, and a large pile of yellow and red cacao pods.
A tall papaya tree with clusters of green papayas growing along the trunk and two ripe yellow and green fruit near the bottom. Green leaves form a canopy overhead.

Together, these industries represent a significant portion of Hawaiʻi’s agricultural economy, from growers and processors to exporters and educators.

Synergistic Hawaii Agriculture Council

Circular logo with the words 'HAWAII COFFEE ASSOCIATION' in green and red, with a red coffee flower in the center and a white background.
Logo of the Hawaii Floriculture & Nursery Association with green text and website URL.

*HCA

*HFNA

HCCA

HMNA

Close-up of a circular chocolate and cacao themed label with a cacao pod illustration in the center and the words "HAWAII CHOCOLATE & CACAO ASSOCIATION" around the edge.
Logo of the Hawaii Macadamia Nut Association with a macadamia nut illustration and text indicating it was founded in 1960.
Hawaii-grown papayas in yellow and green with text 'Hawaii-Grown Papayas' on a white background

*HPIA

Learn more about each member 
*Founding Members

SHAC Activity Timeline

Close-up image of papaya fruits growing on a tree, varying in ripeness with some green and some beginning to turn yellow, surrounded by green leaves.

2009 - Hawaiʻi Papaya industry receives a Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC) grant to prove to the Japanese market that the Rainbow Papaya is safe and healthy to eat.

2011 - Hawaiʻi Papaya industry approaches HCA and HFNA about forming a consortium focused on Foreign Ag Service Marketing and Technical Assistance grants. SHAC forms as a 501(c)6 Trade Association

A variety of colorful potted anthurium flowers displayed in a floral nursery.

2012 - SHAC receives their first MAP grant, targeting Japan and Canada for exports. All commodities become active in Canada, with HPIA also active in Japan.

2012 - SHAC Receives TASC funds to target Coffee Berry Borer (CBB) relief. The $1.27 million program continues for 5 years

Close-up of a cluster of coffee cherries in various stages of ripeness, hanging on a branch with green leaves and a blue sky in the background.

2012 - State of Hawaiʻi assists SHAC coffee with $435k in Coffee Berry Borer (CBB) IPM and extension development.

2013 - The Rainbow Papaya is proven safe and is deregulated in Japan

2014 - TASC grant issued for papaya food safety testing in China

2015 - Hawaiʻi County funds inbound trips for buyers from Japan

2018 - Kilauea lava flow destroys the orchid and papaya communities in Puna

Aerial view of a Kilauea lava eruption flowing through vegetation near a rural area, with large plumes of smoke rising into the sky.

2019 - The Dept of Commerce Minority Business Development Agency awards SHAC $500,000 for agribusiness disaster relief from the Kilauea Lava Flow

2019 - After successes in Canada, coffee expands into the Taiwan, China and Hong Kong markets

2019 - SHAC assists orchid growers with relocation and formation of the Puna Flower Power cooperative (PFP)

Close-up of a green coffee leaf with yellow and brown spots, indicating coffee leaf rust disease, also known as CLR and roya.

2020 - Coffee Leaf Rust (CLR) discovered on Maui and quickly found throughout all coffee regions

2020 - SHAC receives $200k in FFAR Rapid Response funding for CLR surveys and extension

2021 - NIFA awards SHAC with $6.1 million in CLR research funds for Hawaiʻi and Puerto Rico. Scientists from USDA-ARS, University of Hawaiʻi, Purdue, University of Puerto Rico, and Michigan State participate.

Collection of whole and cracked open macadamia nuts on a wooden surface.

2021 - Hawaii Macadamia Nut Association (HMNA) joins SHAC and begins exports to Canada

2021 - The SHAC Foundation is formed to provide non-profit 501(c)3 services to benefit all Hawaiʻi growers

A group of people standing on a wooden deck with a lush green forest and mountains in the background during sunset in Taiwan. They are smiling and giving thumbs up.

2023 - SHAC receives $1 million in RAPP funds to enter new markets from the Foreign Ag Service

2023 - SHAC Foundation and PFP collaborate on orchid grants through Hawaiʻi County Kilauea Relief Grants

2024 - SHAC receives $500k from USAID for soil fertility projects in Hawaiʻi and Guatemala. This project is defunded in 2025.

2024 - $450k TASC grant focusing on anthurium export pests (thrips) prevention is awarded.

Close-up of colorful cacao pods, some opened to reveal white pulp and beans, with a background of yellow and orange cacao pods.

2024 - Hawaiʻi Chocolate and Cacao Association (HCCA) joins SHAC

2025 - SHAC receives $640k from DAB to develop plans for a macadamia processing cooperative.

2025 - SHAC Foundation receives a Workforce Development grant on behalf of the orchid industry

2026 - SHAC participates in the University of Hawaii and Clemson Statement of Interest for the State Dept Innovation Lab on Coffee and Cacao

Indoor floriculture nursery with rows of flowering anthurium covered by a shade cloth, and workers tending to the plants.

2026 - SHAC joins the USDA-funded Hawaii-Grown Partnership for Agriculture grant led by Lynker and focusing on building markets for individual growers

Six papayas arranged in a row on a dark surface, transitioning from green to ripe orange.
Open cacao pods with white pulp and seeds on a wooden table, cacao beans in a jar, and cacao seeds on a cutting board, set outdoors.

SHAC focuses on 3 core areas:

Market Development

Expanding Hawaiʻi-grown products into domestic and international markets

Research & Innovation

Funding and supporting agricultural research to address industry challenges

Industry Support

Providing resources, training, and disaster recovery support for farmers

Explore Our Programs
Close-up of freshly harvested cacao pods, some opened to show white pulpy fruit inside, with a background of assorted cocoa pods.
A pink red anthurium flower with a yellow spadix surrounded by green leaves.
Hands holding a collection of green coffee beans against a gray background.
A close-up view of a cluster of green papayas growing on a tree, with one fruit showing signs of ripening and yellowing, surrounded by lush green leaves in a tropical setting.
A close-up of a branch with multiple green limes and green leaves.
Yellow cacao pods growing on a tree with green leaves and grass on the ground.
A bowl of vibrant red and yellow flower arrangements.
Close-up of a pile of whole and cracked open nuts, likely hazelnuts, on a wooden surface.
Close-up of a hand holding green coffee beans with a green container in the background.
Suzanne Shriner in a blue floral aloha shirt standing in a flower nursery and greenhouse with yellow flowering orchids.
Various ripe cacao pods, some opened to reveal white pulp and beans, on a wooden and mesh table. There is also a jar of roasted cacao beans and small cacao seed samples, with a knife and a metal spatula nearby, in an outdoor setting.
Six papaya arranged in a row on a black surface, transitioning in levels of ripeness from green to yellow to orange.
Red flowering tropical plant with green leaves
Close-up of a macadamia nut tree with multiple green macadamia nuts growing among large green leaves and branches.
Close-up of a person's hand holding a bunch of green coffee beans, with more green coffee in the background.
Close-up of ripe and unripe coffee cherries on a coffee plant branch with green leaves.
Floriculture greenhouse with rows of red and yellow bromeliads growing under shade cloth, supported by a piping system.
Close-up of a white plate filled with round, pale yellow macadamia nuts.
A man and woman holding tropical plants amidst rows of red and pink tropical plants in a greenhouse.
Two hands holding macadamia nuts over a beach with water and sand in the background.
Rows of potted anthurium plants with red, pink, and white flowers and dark green leaves inside a greenhouse with a black plastic covering overhead.
Close-up of red coffee cherries on a coffee plant with green leaves in the background.
Close-up of various processing stages of macadamia nuts, with green leaves in the background.