Hoa 'Āina O Mākaha Newsletter January 2025

Updates From The Farm

Aloha e nā hoa, we hope your 2025 is off to a wonderful start and has been filled with peace and joy!

As we reflect on the past year, we're ecstatic to have celebrated 45 years, welcomed new staff and board members to our 'ohana, expanded our programs and partnerships in meaningful ways, and spent lots of time connecting with 'āina and community. Hoa 'Āina O Mākaha - the land shared in friendship - continues to be a safe and peaceful place for people to gather and learn. We have entered this year with an immense amount of gratitude, intention, and hope for the work ahead of us and look forward to all of the ways we will grow and learn alongside each other.

45th Anniversary Fundraiser Celebration

Our hearts are incredibly full to have commemorated a major milestone for our organization at our 45th Anniversary Fundraiser event, An Evening Under the Stars, on Saturday November 23, 2024 at our farm! Surrounded by the beauty and bounty of Mākaha, we honored our 45-year history, shared memories, and enjoyed each other's company in the place that we love so much. At this event, guests could engage with the farm through our country store featuring value-added products, farm tours led by Mākaha Elementary keiki, photo arc, and memory tree. We honored our beloved founders and leaders, uncle Gigi and aunty Judy Cocquio and remembered aunty Puanani Burgess. Everyone was treated to a special mele composed by uncle Gigi, it was truly an unforgettable evening!

A very big mahalo to...

Our super talented chefs from Istanbul Hawai'i, MW Restaurant, and Wai'anae High School Searider Culinary for the 'ono food!

Uluwale for the nahehane mele and our amazing MC Mehana Hind!

Josiah Patterson for capturing the love and joy shared this evening!

Pacific Hawaiian Group for the beautiful tent, tables, and chairs!

Under My Umbrella for all of the kōkua and support to plan this event and bring our hopes and dreams to life!

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to every single person, volunteer, guest, organization, school group, donor, and sponsor who supported us and made this event a dream come true, we are very humbled by the generosity of the hearts of so many friends.

Special Mele by Uncle Gigi

Hoa 'Āina O Mākaha is a beloved place with a special mission that has inspired countless people over the past 45 years. To capture the essence of this 'āina, Uncle Gigi composed a mele that shares about the beautiful way in which this place brings people together and uplifts our spirits. We hope the lyrics to this mele brightens up your day!

Hoa 'Āina O Mākaha is the land shared in friendship and love

Hoa 'Āina O Mākaha gives us peace, joy, and hope

When we plant the seeds together

We care for all the world

When we share the food from this land

We become very close friends

Hoa 'Āina...

When we feel alone and sad

Let's walk gently together on this land

She will touch our heart and soul

Our smile will be new and whole

Hoa 'Āina...

Les us share her love with the people

We will meet on the path of our life

To bring joy, peace, and justice

To a world that needs a lot of love

Hoa 'Āina...

Upcoming Events & Announcements

U-Pick Farm To Basket

Saturday January 25, 2025

8:00am-12:00pm

Come spend time with us on the farm harvesting, planting, and growing community. Our U-Pick events are free and open to the public (no pre-registration required), we welcome donations for the produce, plant starters, and value-added products you take home. All are welcome, hele mai!

Kūpuna U-Pick with Papahana 'o Kaiona Tuesday January 28, 2025

9:00am-11:30am

Are you a kūpuna and would like to take home fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables and spend time on the farm with our staff and 'ōpio from Wai'anae? If so, join us at our Kūpuna U-Pick where students from Papahana 'o Kaiona will lead stations on the farm - harvesting, value-added products, sugarcane juice, and cooking demos. This event is free and open to kūpuna 55+, bring your mo'opuna.

Ke Ala Educational Farm Visits (Ongoing)

Schools, partners, and organizations are invited to visit us to learn how to grow and harvest mea 'ai, taste farm-fresh samples, see the animals, and do some hana on the farm. Please email us for visit inquiries.

Ka Pa'alana Preschool Site

Wednesdays, Thursdays

9:00am-11:00am

Did you know that Hoa 'Āina O Mākaha is a Ka Pa'alana preschool site twice a week? This 'ohana program services keiki 0 to 5 years old with parent and child together time and classes. There is no cost to attend. Check out the Partners In Development website for more details, www.pidf.org.

Hoa 'Āina O Mākaha Community Scholarship Fund - Applications Open

Applications for our Hoa 'Āina O Mākaha Community Scholarship Fund that is adminstered by the Hawai'i Community Foundation are now being accepted through the end of February. Our scholarship was created to support students from West O‘ahu who are pursuing post-secondary education degrees or vocational programs related to health of people, health of ‘āina, and health of community in perpetuity. We’re elated to have awarded our first scholarship recipient from Wai'anae last year and look forward to supporting more students from our community on their educational journey. Check out Hawai'i Community Foundation's Scholarship Page and Scholarship Flyer for more information about their array of available scholarships and how to apply.

If you're able to, we humbly invite you to make a donation towards our organization that would go directly towards supporting our mission-driven work (programs, operations, HAOM Community Scholarship Fund, Capital Improvement Projects, and much more!). Your gift will help us to continue serving our community as we grow together.

To make a tax-deductible donation, click the link below or feel free to email us at contact@hoaainaomakaha.org.

From our HAOM 'ohana, mahalo nui loa for your aloha and friendship!

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Hoa 'Āina O Mākaha (HAOM) was founded in 1979 as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization in beautiful Mākaha valley with a mission of, "Creating peaceful communities in harmony with nature through the eyes, hands, and hearts of the children." Our work focuses on community self-reliance, supporting 'ohana, and peacemaking in Wai'anae through innovative and engaging educational programs.