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In Hawaii, there is an increasing demand by consumers to purchase locally grown agricultural food products. Within this food movement, demand for grass-fed beef is increasing and providing an opportunity for beef cattle producers to enter into this segment of the industry. However, the production of quality grass-fed beef in tropical pastoral systems is often limited by the high carbon and low nitrogen content of the forages, leading to low rates of gain, extended production time, and compromised carcass quality characteristics. With interest in expanding the grass-fed beef production sector in Hawaii, a study was initiated to evaluate the incorporation of an improved variety of a high protein tree legume, leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala cv. Wondergraze), on animal growth performance, days to market and carcass and meat quality traits. Two treatment pastures were developed; the predominant grass in the control pasture was guinea grass (Panicum maximum) and the treatment pasture a mix of 60% guinea and 40% leucaena. Twenty-five crossbred weaned steers were randomly assigned to each pasture group and managed identically. Preliminary results show a significant improvement in average daily gain by leucaena incorporation (1.63 vs 1.17 lb/day). The average days to market at about 1,300 lb llive weight were 432 days for the leucaena pasture and the animals in the guinea pasture are yet to reach the market wieght. Carcass and meat quality traits will be analyzed and compared at the completion of marketing of all steers in the study.