Aloha!

We're Allen and Allyson Blackard, happily married for over 18 years, living in Puna on Hawaiʻi Island. We're often seen together because we genuinely love spending time with each other—it's our favorite pastime. While we don't have children together except our beloved cats, Brad and Jack, they are an integral part of the Hydroponic Hut family.  When we're not at home enjoying our family, we love exploring the island and taking in its natural beauty. The simple pleasures of this place are more than enough for us—we're not flashy people; we're just grateful to be here together.

What began as a personal mission to grow fresh, affordable food for ourselves quickly blossomed into something much bigger. As we shared our surplus with neighbors, we realized the immense potential to address food insecurity across the island. 

In 2023, Allyson graduated from the Hawaiʻi Community College agriculture program, inspired by her mentor Lew Nakamura to help solve our islands food insecurity problem. Together, we launched Hydroponic Hut in Ainaloa — a space where people can learn, grow, and access fresh produce affordably. Our weekly “you pick” farm let residents harvest greens directly from our hydroponic tables, with no head of lettuce priced over $3. Any unsold produce is bagged and shared freely with the community. 

Our original “you pick” hydroponic farm has evolved into a 24-hour honor stand, offering fresh, nutrient-rich produce with roots still attached. This self-serve model allows community members to access clean, living greens at their convenience, embodying our commitment to trust and supporting small-scale farmers. By reviving the tradition of honor stands, we aim to inspire others across Hawaiʻi to establish similar setups, fostering a network of accessible, local food sources.

We are passionate about teaching our community how to grow their own food through our community workshops. By sharing knowledge and sparking excitement, we empower people to embrace this sustainable, urban method of farming and take control of their food future.

We’ve been building this movement for nearly two years, and we’re ready to take it to the next level. But we can’t do it alone. We are now reaching out for help. We’re seeking members to join our team — individuals who share our vision of a food-secure Hawaiʻi. By focusing on our members, we aim to ensure they are well-supported and equipped before extending our efforts further into the community.

We live here because we love it. We serve our community because we believe in it. Over the past two years, we've proven to be good stewards in our neighborhood, and we aim to show anyone new to meet us that this is exactly who we are — good people spreading a good word, trying to do good and help.

Mahalo for being part of our journey.

— Allen & Allyson  "The Al's"!