Hookuaaina at Kapalai

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Hookuaaina at Kapalai

We grow kalo. Growing kalo is our means to growing young people. We provide mentoring programs to bui

We provide mentoring programs to build young lives for a healthy tomorrow.

11/09/2026

Yesterday was a day we will never forget.

After nearly a century, wai is flowing once again through the ancient ʻauwai and the first huli were planted in the restored loʻi at Pālāwai. Mahalo nui to our kaiāulu who came out to support us. We were overwhelmed by your aloha.

Our hearts are full of gratitude and excitement for all that is to come. This is only the beginning.

Mahalo. Kanu kalo! 💧🌱

11/05/2026

Stay Tuned- Epic days ahead

10/31/2026

We are incredibly honored and grateful to be one of 14 organizations, and one of only five Indigenous-focused organizations, selected to receive a grant from Newman’s Own Foundation, Humanitix, The Henry P. Kendall Foundation, and Hunger to Health Collaboratory!

At Hoʻokuaʻāina, we believe that reconnecting our keiki and ʻōpio to ʻāina and the food that nourishes us is essential to building a healthier, more resilient Hawaiʻi. This generous investment helps us continue cultivating the next generation of aloha ʻāina leaders while strengthening food security, perpetuating cultural practices, and growing a future of abundance for our communities.

Mahalo to all the partners who believe in this important work, and to Maui Now for sharing our story and highlighting this wonderful opportunity!
Mahalo! Kanu Kalo! 🌱

10/29/2026

Hulo! We’ve been awarded the 2026 Food Justice for Kids Prize!

This support will help us continue our work to cultivate a culture of individual well-being and community waiwai through aloha ʻāina. We’re proud to be part of a cohort of 14 organizations advancing food justice for children across the country. 🌱

Read the announcement at foodjusticeforkids.org

Thank you to Foundation, , Henry P. Kendall Foundation, and for investing in this work and our communities.

10/27/2026

At Hoʻokuaʻāina, we believe that understanding the health and abundance of our ʻāina means experiencing the interconnectedness of the entire ahupuaʻa—from the uka (upland forests) and kahawai (streams) that bring life-giving wai (freshwater), to the loʻi kalo (taro patches) of the valleys, and ultimately to the kai (sea) and loko iʻa (Hawaiian fishponds) along our shores.

Through exchanges with our hoa mahi (fellow stewards of the land) and partner organizations, our Ahupuaʻa Systems Apprenticeship (ASA) youth gain a deeper understanding of how these systems work together, how our kūpuna sustained them, and the kuleana we share in caring for them today.

This week, our ASA apprentices traveled from the loʻi to the loko iʻa to spend the day with our friends at Paepae o Heʻeia!

Our apprentices learned about traditional fishpond management, explored fish classifications from pāpio to ulua, and worked together to catch fish using nets. They got their hands muddy removing sediment to improve habitat for young fish and support phytoplankton production. To complete the experience, they learned how to clean, descale, and prepare their fresh catch for frying!

From mauka to makai, everything is connected. These exchanges remind our youth that caring for ʻāina is about more than one place or practice. It is about understanding the relationships between wai, ʻāina, kai, and kānaka—and our collective responsibility to mālama the resources that feed and sustain our communities.

Mahalo nui to our hoa at Paepae o Heʻeia for sharing your ʻike, aloha, and kuleana with our next generation of ʻōpio! 🤙

10/22/2026

Mahalo nui loa to the Hawaiʻi Tropical Fruit Growers for bringing farmers from across the pae ʻāina together on Kauaʻi for their 36th Annual Conference!
Our farm manager, Jon Watase, spent three days learning from some of the most dedicated fruit growers in Hawaiʻi. The farm tours were unforgettable. At the University of Hawaiʻi’s Kauaʻi Agricultural Research Center, high above Kapaʻa in Wailua, researchers are testing kalo, tree crops, coffee, ʻawa and so much more across 260 acres. At the Kauaʻi Food Forest, a living seed bank holds rare and valuable food plants. And at Moloaʻa Organicaʻa, a certified organic family farm and orchard in Moloaʻa Valley grows dozens of mango varieties and sells its harvest straight to the community through its fruit stand.
Back at the conference, speaker after speaker shared decades of hard-earned knowledge. A display table was covered in tropical fruits grown by farmers from every island: mangoes, cacao, citrus, avocados, figs and fruits many of us had never seen before.
One highlight was learning that Hawaiʻi is growing the best chocolate in the world. Lydgate Farms on Kauaʻi is proof of what our ʻāina and our mahiʻai can do when we invest in them.
Everything Jon brought home is going straight into the vision for Pālāwai. Orchards, food forest systems, cover crops and diverse fruit production will help us grow more meaʻai for our community and restore abundance to this ʻāina for generations to come.
If Hawaiʻi can grow the best chocolate in the world, what’s stopping us from growing the best food in the world? Nothing. We believe Hawaiʻi can be an agricultural destination where people come to taste, learn and be inspired by what our islands produce.
We are so grateful to the Hawaiʻi Tropical Fruit Growers, UH CTAHR and the Kauaʻi Agricultural Research Center team, the Kauaʻi Food Forest, Moloaʻa Organicaʻa and every farmer who shared their harvest and their manaʻo. The future of Hawaiʻi agriculture is bright, and we’re honored to be growing it together.
Mahalo! Eat Kalo!

10/20/2026

🌱We’re growing our ʻohana, and we’re hiring!🌱

Want to put your skills to work for something bigger than a paycheck? Come be part of the Hoʻokuaʻāina ʻohana and help us cultivate a healthier, more resilient Hawaiʻi through agriculture, cultural restoration, and food security! 💚

We’re looking for a Finance Specialist who loves numbers, thrives on organization, and wants to make a difference!

If you have accounting experience, are skilled in Excel, Google Workspace, and QuickBooks, and can work independently while being part of a passionate, purpose-driven team, we want to meet you!

This is more than just a job. It’s an opportunity to use your talents to support meaningful work, strengthen our community, and help grow something that will last for generations.

🌿Sound like you? Find the full job description and application link in the Linktree in our bio!🌿

Come grow with us! 🌱

10/16/2026

Mahalo nui loa to the Hawaiʻi Good Food Alliance for bringing together such a diverse community at the Food is Medicine Summit!

It’s not often that farmers, healthcare practitioners, doctors, dietitians, and advocates for food and health access have the opportunity to gather in one space to discuss the health and well-being of Hawaiʻi, both today and for generations to come.

Our very own Meakala and Gil had the opportunity to share the work of Hoʻokuaʻāina through a kalo cooking demonstration and conversation about the importance of reconnecting our communities to ʻāina and traditional foods.

Our team walked away with a deeper appreciation for the vital role we play as mahiʻai in making fresh, nutritious, and affordable food accessible to our communities. We were reminded that food is more than sustenance. The meaʻai and lāʻau our ʻāina provides have the power to nourish, heal, prevent chronic illness, and strengthen the overall well-being of our people.

How can we move forward as a people, a community, or a nation without first caring for our physical, mental, and emotional health?

We are grateful to everyone who made this gathering possible and for shining a light on the important connection between agriculture, food access, and health. It was a powerful reminder that the work we do as mahiʻai goes far beyond growing food. We are cultivating healthier people, stronger communities, and a more resilient Hawaiʻi.

Mahalo! Eat Kalo!

10/10/2026

Our crew knows how to have fun, especially when the ʻāina surprises us!

Check out this 5-pound ʻohā! We’re thinking this might be a record! And of course, our crew couldn’t resist showing it off!
But there’s a beautiful lesson growing here, too. In the loʻi, the mākua is the parent kalo plant, and the ʻohā are the offspring that grow around it (usually much smaller). From ʻohā comes the word ʻohana, meaning family. Just as the mākua nourishes the ʻohā, each generation nurtures the next, creating a living connection between those who came before us and those who will follow. And sometimes, with a whole lot of nurturing, the little ones grow even BIGGER than their parents!

Nui ʻohā. Nui ʻohana. Nui aloha!

10/01/2026

Big things are happening at Pālāwai. Take a listen to our farm manager, Jon Watase, about the latest developments!

We are in the business of planting hope and cultivating a stronger future for Hawaiʻi. This is more than an expansion of Hoʻokuaʻāina. It is an investment in Hawaiʻi’s future - restoring ʻāina, growing more food, cultivating leaders, and building greater resilience for generations to come.

Address

916E Auloa Road
Maunawili, HI
96734

Website

http://www.hookuaaina.org/, https://linktr.ee/hookuaaina

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