Leilehua High School CASE STUDY

Leilehua High School has been a participant in a Hawaii Department of Education composting pilot project designed to integrate sustainability into agricultural education and campus operations. To level the program up, the school sought an on-site composting solution that could process campus food scraps and agricultural waste while providing students with hands-on experience in organic waste management, soil conditioning, and sustainable agriculture.

The project supports the school’s top ranked vocational and agricultural science programs, allowing students to observe and participate in the composting process as part of their livestock and crop curricula. The resulting compost is then used to support the school's extensive gardens and agricultural programs, with plans to eventually sell compost as an additional educational and economic opportunity for students.

At the heart of the project is the Hawaiian ethos of mālama ʻāina - caring for and tending the land. By incorporating composting into the school’s agricultural programs, Leilehua High School is teaching students to understand organic waste as a resource while building practical skills and a deeper connection to environmental stewardship.

Leilehua High School selected an Earth Flow IM-20 automated in-vessel composting system from Green Mountain Technologies to process campus food scraps and green waste. The selection builds on the successful installation of an Earth Flow system at Full Circle Farms, providing the school with access to experienced local operations team in Hawaii.

The enclosed system automates aeration and provides integrated moisture and odor controls for consistent composting conditions. Its integrated biofilter helps manage odors on school grounds, while the closed, contained design helps prevent Coconut Rhinoceros Beetles from entering or emerging from the composting process. The Earth Flow IM-20 is housed in a shipping container-based system, helping reduce transportation and shipping costs for deployment in Hawaii.

Serving as a hands-on educational tool, the Earth Flow allows students to observe sustainable waste management in practice and connect composting to their agricultural coursework. The system will transform campus organic waste into nutrient-rich compost and soil conditioners for school gardens and agricultural programs, while supporting the school’s longer-term goal of producing compost for sale.