Nearly two decades ago, Molokai’s livestock industry was crippled by the State Department of Agriculture’s mandate to eradicate all cattle on the island due to the threat of bovine tuberculosis. Another heavy blow was dealt at the closure of the old slaughterhouse in Kaunakakai. Much planning from the grassroots level up was undertaken to resolve this problem. Commitments from county, state, and federal partners (US Office of Community Services, USDA natural Resources Conservation Services Molokai Agriculture Community Program, State of Hawaii legislature, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, US Housing and Urban Redevelopment, County of Maui Office of Economic Development), including RDP; in-kind contributions by volunteer members of the Molokai Livestock Cooperative; and countless volunteer hours and services offered by various local businesses and individual residents in an estimated combined total of $2 million led to the establishment of a new slaughterhouse facility located in Ho’olehua.

Erecting this state-of-the-art facility poses a tremendous economic boon for Molokai. Ranchers and homestead farmers on-island now have a venue to process their animals. In addition to the more established ranches, an estimated 150 Molokai families raise livestock largely for home consumption. With the advent of the slaughterhouse, there are now opportunities for these small scale farmers to expand into commercial livestock production. Stores and restaurants need not import all their meat from off-island as they now have access to local meat. Monies generated benefit the community directly.

The slaughterhouse processes on average five (5) head of cattle weekly and provides over seven-hundred (700) pounds of ground and bulk beef to restaurants and grocery stores on Molokai. The price is competitive and buyers prefer Molokai beef. So far there are seven (7) regular buyers with new accounts being opened as more positive feedback is generated. Existing accounts include the Friendly Market Center, Misakis, Paddlers Inn, Kualapu`u Cookhouse, Maunaloa General Store, Hotel Molokai, and Molokai Ranch Lodge. With growing opportunities for deer ranching, the slaughterhouse is now processing venison. Expansion into value-added product development is also underway.

RDP has specifically dedicated substantial funds to equip the slaughterhouse, provide a trades training component to build a lunchroom and assist in other infrastructural improvements. More recently RDP sponsored specialized work training for key staff and is now undertaking a training program for Molokai ranchers and livestock producers in pasture management, organic certification, and cattle finishing techniques. The purpose of this two-tiered training is to strengthen Molokai’s livestock industry and assist in the sustainability strategy for the Slaughterhouse.

Work-Based Training

Work-based training was provided to the Slaughterhouse Manager and two floor assistant workers. Training included meeting Hazardous Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) protocols, Biomedix laboratory certification, and compliance with Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOP) which are pre-requisites to processing and retailing meat. During the training, workers received supervision from inspectors to ensure strict adherence to industry standards. Inspectors observed work at every processing stage. Trainees consulted with inspectors on a regular basis to check logs and meet Critical Control Point (CCP) sets for all steps of processing within each room (chill room, kill floor, and cut room). Workers conferred with inspectors to modify and perfect HACCP protocols to effectively operate the slaughterhouse and process animals through the facility. Through work-based training, compliance objectives with all HACCP manuals approved for beef slaughter, pork slaughter, raw (not ground) processing and raw (ground) processing were met.

This training provided a major first step for the slaughterhouse in transitioning from custom kills to retail. For these efforts along with infrastructural improvements to the facility, a successful Grant of Inspection was issued by the US Department of Agriculture – Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA – FSIS).

Rancher Training: Pasture Management, Organic Certification, and Cattle Finishing

The broader impact for the island in having its own slaughterhouse, the most advanced facility in the State of Hawaii, is the revitalization of Molokai’s ranching industry. The facility is completely booked each month with Kualapu`u Ranch, Molokai Ranch, and Pu`u O Hoku Ranch as steady suppliers. The word is getting out and more ranchers are demonstrating interest in utilizing the slaughterhouse as well as becoming members of the Molokai Livestock Cooperative (MLC). MLC has taken some important strides to strengthen its leadership base through the election of new officers and acquiring additional members.

The Molokai Livestock Cooperative (MLC) received a RETAH II grant award jointly with the Maui Cattle Company which entails inter alia the establishment of a cattle finishing operation on Molokai. RDP seeks collaborative partnerships to supplement this effort through providing training in Pasture Management, Organic Certification, and Cattle Finishing. Expertise within the Molokai Livestock Cooperative and the agricultural extension agents with the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (UH-CTAHR) will assist RDP in recruitment, designing and implementing the training.

In the past during the closure of the first slaughterhouse, ranchers on Molokai adapted by shipping their animals to be finished and processed on the mainland. With a new plant on-island, ranchers need to shift towards finishing their own cattle and routing their animals for processing here. In this transitional phase, RDP can respond best through providing specialized training to producers. Where quality and increased volume are paramount, ranchers with the right tools may take advantage of consumer trends towards making healthier food choices through offering Molokai-grown, grass-fed, organic beef as a value-added niche product.

DISCLAIMER: Project Photo Album contains graphic pictures.
Click here to view project photo album.