Kākoʻo ʻŌiwi on East Oʻahu is not just about farming; it’s about weaving the vibrant tapestry of Hawaiian culture back into the land.
“At Kākoʻo ʻŌiwi, we’re an educational nonprofit leasing about 400 acres from the state,” said Nick Reppun, farm director. “We’re part of a cohort of organizations focused on land restoration, perpetuation of native Hawaiian culture and practices, and traditional agriculture.”
Historically, Heʻeia was one of the most extensive areas of wetland taro cultivation on Oʻahu. Through the mid-1930s, it was a thriving agricultural landscape producing volumes of kalo, a nutrient-dense staple for Hawaiians.
Since 2010, Kākoʻo ʻŌiwi has been hard at work, restoring land to aina, including six acres of loʻi kalo, 20 acres for diversified dryland agriculture, or mala and 15 acres of wetland habitat. Its mission is to reconnect people with the land through sustainably farmed fresh produce and enriching cultural experiences. This restoration work is crucial for the ecosystem of the Heʻeia Watershed, mitigating terrestrial runoff effects on the estuarine and coral reef ecosystems of Kāneʻohe Bay.”
