Bringing rice back to Hawaiʻi: Japanese cultivars yield high-quality grains in just three months

In a major step toward enhancing food security and exploring the potential to bring rice farming back to Hawaiʻi, an international research team has successfully cultivated premium Japanese rice varieties on Kauaʻi using a water-saving, upland cultivation method. The rice matured approximately one month earlier than it typically does in Japan, yet produced yields comparable to those of upland rice grown in Japan, with superior grain appearance and quality.