Mahalo Michael

‘Auamo, an ‘Āina Dedication and Celebration was held to commemorate MA‘O Organic Farm’s stewardship of 11-acres on Thursday, September 17, 2009.

Chef Kapolanialaimaka Kealoha and Tiki's Grill & Bar are very proud to be a small part of a huge movement.   Great food and wonder community.  It was a great hear Gary Maunakea-Forth, the Managing Director thank us for being a Co-Producer in the "Local Community Food Movement."

This is movement of community sustainable, organic farming in perpetuity for future generations of the Wai‘anae moku. With committed support from the Trust for Public Land, the State of Hawai‘i Legacy Land Conservation Program, and the Pierre and Pamela Omidyar Fund of the Hawai‘i Community  Foundation, MA‘O and its ‘āina based community non-profit umbrella, the Wai‘anae Community Re-Development Corporation (WCRC),

Guests who wanted to bring ho`okupu were are asked to bring three things that are representative of the community/place they come from, that tells something about their unique traditions and customs of their family or community and that will imbue and reflect the characteristics of the person giving the gift.  Pono intention is the essential focus of the mana or energy that each of these items represent.

WATER or WAI, from a nearby stream, river, or `auwai to represent the basic element essential to sustaining all living things.  Wai is rooted in many diverse and important words and thoughts like waiwai which means wealth,  pu`uwai which means heart and even kanawai which means law.  Wai is fundamental and so it is relevant in all aspects of our lives, the social, cultural, economic, spiritual and even the economic levels.

POHAKU or STONE, from your `aina (about the size of a baseball) to represent  the mana`o that all `aina is connected as one, but recognizing that each specific place has an ano and character unique to each place.   Pohaku are an important resource to the Hawaiian people providing an abundance of raw material for house foundations, walled gardens, fishponds, and tools.  There is an amazing spirituality housed within each pohaku.

LA`AU or PLANTS/VEGETATION, from your `aina, also represents connection between the material culture and the spiritual culture of the Hawaiian people.  One leaf from your la`au or plant, will be woven into lei specially created to put into the ahu at the end of the ceremony to show the innate and unbreakable bond that people have to our `aina and our cultural language, traditions, and practice.

Join MA`O organic farmers, chefs, youth interns, and foodies everywhere and become active in the MA`O movement!

• Buy MA`O—support local farmer’s markets;

• Eat MA’O—support farm-to-table restaurants (easy, right!);

• Come to Community G.I.V.E. Days, last Saturday of every month;

• Volunteer your valuable time to events;

• Support  fundraisers, e-mail to be on the fundraiser list; and/or,

• Send a youth to college—make a tax deductible donation.

Farm sales currently support 40% of our entire budget, this is equal to the support received from grants!  Private donations and fundraisers support the remaining financial needs of the organization.  

-- Most of the text of this post came from the invitation of the event.

We brought one dish of Stir Fry Shirmp, Tofu and Watercress for 200 guest, a few other restaurants also prepared dishes as well.