North Shore NewsThe North Shore of Oahu along with the entire state of Hawaii has a passion for eggs. From the hard- boiled eggs that sit next to almost every cash register on the North Shore to all the loco mocos, spam and eggs, or even loaves of banana bread; eggs in Hawaii are a big deal! Historically the egg industry in Hawaii has struggled relying on main-land production. Cur- rently there are only a handful of commercial egg farms on Oahu. In speaking with grocery stores the demand for local eggs is very high with most stores having a hard time keeping them in stock.
About six miles south from Waialua on Kauko- nahua Rd sits Villa Rose Waialua Fresh Eggs. The farm which took over three years to build has now been producing eggs for one year. The farm is run sustain- ably off the grid using solar power, their own water source, and the chicken manure is used as fertilizer by local farmers. The management team brings a combined over 100 years of industry experience.
On a recent visit to the farm; Avery Barry, wear- ing a chicken shirt, steps out to greet me; we first walk over to view a giant chicken-filled barn. The chickens seem happy as they hop and cluck around their home. We jump in my car to drive around an ever-growing facility with new barns in various stages of construction. We step inside the packing facility where workers command a high-tech array of cleaning, sorting, and packing machines all while listening to music. At the conclusion of our tour Peggy Johns in HR greets us warmly. Peggy herself has over 25 years of industry experience and prefers to hire and train locally, with a goal of the facility being 100% locally run in 5 years. Entry level positions start at $17 an hour and applications are available at the guard shack seven days a week.
The farm is also a contributor to the local food bank. Between their commitment to the community, industry, and the respect they show the land through their sustainable practices Villa Rose Waialua Fresh Eggs has made a big impact in a short time.