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Maui AgFest honors Harold Keyser as Maui Legacy Farmer

Jonathan Keyser, co-founder of Native Nursery, stands with his father Harold Keyser at the 2026 Maui Legacy Farmer during the Maui AgFest & 4-H Livestock Fair. Photo courtesy Maui County Farm Bureau

The Maui County Farm Bureau honored longtime agricultural advocate and soil microbiologist Harold Keyser as its 2026 Maui Legacy Farmer during the opening of the 17th Maui AgFest & 4-H Livestock Fair on May 30 at the War Memorial Special Events Field. Keyser, a retired Maui County administrator and former University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience professor, was recognized during the annual Maui Legacy Farmers Pancake Breakfast, which celebrates individuals who have made significant contributions to Maui agriculture. "I appreciate the diversity of the agriculture industry, and I'm grateful to have played a part in strengthening and perpetuating it during my career," Keyser said while accepting the honor. [caption id="attachment_1323051" align="alignnone" width="690"] Members of the Keyser family gather during the Maui Legacy Farmers Pancake Breakfast on May 30 at the Maui AgFest & 4-H Livestock Fair. Pictured are (from left) Jonathan Keyser, Kether Keyser, Anne Keyser, Dr. Harold Keyser, Arica Keyser, Joseph Hailemariam and Solomon Hailemariam. Photo courtesy Maui County Farm Bureau[/caption] According to the Farm Bureau, Keyser has spent more than two decades supporting Maui agriculture through research, education and public service. As a soil microbiologist and county administrator, he helped secure funding partnerships that supported University of Hawaii agricultural extension and research programs on Maui and frequently provided science-based guidance on issues including water use, agricultural biotechnology and pesticide safety. "We've been celebrating our farmers and ag families at the pancake breakfast since 2016, and it's become a beloved tradition," Maui County Farm Bureau Executive Director Warren Watanabe said. "This year's honoree is a proponent of agricultural innovation who has dedicated his career to providing our community with science-based perspectives." Keyser also has remained active in agricultural education since retiring from the university in 2012. He volunteered with the Farm Bureau's Agriculture in the Classroom program, provided pesticide safety training and helped establish the Kula School Agricultural Science Program at Keokea. His son, Jonathan Keyser, has continued the family's agricultural involvement as co-founder of Native Nursery, a Kula-based wholesale nursery that supplies native Hawaiian and Polynesian-introduced plants for restoration and landscaping projects. "My father's contribution to the farming community has been through the assistance he has offered by researching questions, bringing experts from different fields together to share information and by promoting the continued need for innovations in agriculture," Jonathan Keyser said. For more information about Maui AgFest, visit MauiAgFest.org. The Fairmont Kea Lani team served up more than 300 "Pang-cakes" for the breakfast in memory of the late Chef Tylun Pang, who started the tradition of the FKL pancake breakfast buffet at AgFest. His contributions to Maui agriculture were celebrated at the popular Maui Legacy Farmers Pancake Breakfast, held at the start of AgFest. [caption id="attachment_1323052" align="alignnone" width="722"] Harold Keyser (third from left) poses with Maui County and state officials after being named the 2026 Maui Legacy Farmer during the Maui Legacy Farmers Pancake Breakfast at the Maui AgFest & 4-H Livestock Fair on May 30. Joining him are (from left) Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen, Maui County Farm Bureau Executive Director Warren Watanabe, Maui County Council Member Gabe Johnson, Gov. Josh Green's Maui representative Leon Bolosan, Maui County Council Vice Chair Yuki Lei Sugimura and state Sen. Troy Hashimoto. Photo courtesy Maui County Farm Bureau[/caption]

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