ʻAha ʻAi Pono
This journey was inspired by both Native Hawaiian and Native American gatherings. As we immersed ourselves in spaces where indigeneity was the lens for understanding food and health systems, we felt called to create that space here in Hawaiʻi, rooted in our own practices. We hope these first four gatherings were just the beginning. We hope they inspire other moku, other ahupuaʻa to plan and gather. Our purpose is to ensure our food system thrives, honors ʻāina, and nurtures our people.
Our Mission
The ʻAha ʻAi Pono is a journey of learning, action, and transformation rooted in Native Hawaiian knowledge, culture, and the power of community. These gatherings serve as sacred spaces to learn and to know—grounding ourselves in the ʻike of the land, our kūpuna, and one another. However, knowledge alone is not enough. The true purpose of these ʻAha is to inspire action: How will we apply what we have learned to nourish our people, sustain our culture, and strengthen our lāhui?
Following a cyclical path, each ʻAha builds upon the last—beginning with the birth of the ʻAha ʻAi Pono in Pālehua, exploring collaboration in Waiʻanae, moving into application and action in Waimānalo, and embracing education and perpetuation at Hoʻoulu ʻĀina in Kalihi Valley. This journey serves as a living culmination where we bring together the collective wisdom, work, and relationships formed over time to inspire and uplift a larger community.
ʻAha ʻAi Pono: Report Back to Community
