Mele in the Mala | Kanu Ka ʻIKe (Kapūʻao. Cultural Farm)

Mele in the Māla is more than just a community event; it is a meaningful opportunity to connect and network with our Native Hawaiian mahiʻai agricultural community.

Participating in this event allows us to gather and share ʻĀina Aloha through learning and education about ʻāina technology and philosophy that our kūpuna knew so well. ʻŌiwi Hawaiʻi developed some of the most sophisticated agricultural technologies and land management practices known to civilization. However, these practices and methodologies still do not receive the respect and prioritization they deserve in today’s society.

Our goal for Mele in the Māla is to create a safe space that invites our broader community and other cultures to learn the significance and importance of ʻāina stewardship through mahiʻai practices. We believe events like this can increase opportunities for our mahiʻai practitioners to influence and contribute real-world solutions to modern-day challenges.

Over the years, we have identified that events or spaces like these are rare, if not nearly nonexistent. Our hope is for Mele in the Māla to continue to grow, travel to other farms, raise greater awareness, and create dignified unity within our farming community—one that values the importance and understanding of Hawaiʻi’s agricultural history.

Mele in the Māla will bring together music, education, and panel discussions on mahiʻai practices and challenges. We will also invite up to eight mahiʻai vendors to share produce and products created from their farms.

Mahalo for this opportunity to apply. We kindly ask for your consideration and support of our application.