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Kanekoa Kukea-Shultz featured in the latest issue of Noelo
Excerpt:
Since 2010, the nonprofit Kākoʻo ʻŌiwi has restored several acres of lo’i kalo and other forms of agroecology. It has also constructed a certified kitchen and mill for the production of value-added goods like poi (mashed cooked taro), kulolo (taro and coconut dessert) and kulolo crunch.
In the process, it has restored an endangered waterbird habitat, revived Indigenous food systems, created green-sector jobs with living wages, and cultivated regenerative economic opportunities for the larger community. For example, to meet the demand for these value-added projects, Kākoʻo ʻŌiwi has been purchasing taro above market value from regional farmers to support the viability of Windward O’ahu’s rural lifestyle.
“We are creating a wheel of relations and pilina (connections) that is so important to all of our community,” said Kanekoa Kukea-Shultz, Kākoʻo ʻŌiwi’s executive director. “We are grateful to be able to grow and strengthen that wheel by creating more opportunities and mana (power) for local farmers and families.”
Restoring cultural connection between the land and our Ohana
At Kākoʻo ʻŌiwi, we’re committed to providing sustainably farmed fresh produce. We’ve been working towards this goal since 2006, and we continue to strive towards a future where people can have meaningful cultural connections with the land in ways that are both educational and rewarding. Our Poi Mill, which broke ground in 2020, is just one example of how we’re making headway towards our goal.
At Kākoʻo ʻŌiwi, you’ll find farm fresh produce, educational visits and cultural workshops, community workdays and more.
Shop from our sustainably farmed fresh produce
