Bee in Hawaii
Lorilani Keohokalole

Lorilani Keohokalole

Moving forward by looking back – Mahi’ai Camp at Kumimi, Moloka’i

In October of 2022, nine parents (makua) and seven children (keiki) from four Hawaiian islands participated in the first Mahi’ai Camp on Moloka’i. Participants learned about traditional food sustainability practices, including planting kalo (taro) and working to restore a traditional Hawaiian fish pond (loko i’a).

Over a period of five days, individuals became like family (‘ohana), working together, creating art together, and living together, learning from the stories of the past to prepare for the future.

Hanohano Na’ehu provides us with a summary of the purpose of the camp, “We’ve got to be the best guides for the next generations and this camp was such an awesome opportunity for us to share with these keiki and these makua. . . what we do as a lifestyle. How we live. Just like this kalo, we hope that what we planted, with a little bit of care, will turn out to be productive, fruitful examples of what happen when ‘aina and keiki get put together.”

The full story of this gathering is shared in this video created by videographer Kahale Na’ehu-Ramos. We invite you to learn more by watching and listening.

Mahalo.

Lorilani Keohokalole

Lorilani Keohokalole

Lorilani Keohokālole is PAN's Co-Director of Organizing for the Hawaii Region and comes from the beautiful islands of Hawai'i. Born and raised on O'ahu, Lorilani currently resides on the island of Kaua'i. A wife and mother of 4, Lorilani's passion around advocacy was cultivated at a young age. The Hawaiian cultural value of Mālama 'Āina (care of the Land) is a key value that drives her passion for the protection of the 'Āina (Land). Lorilani believes that in caring and cultivating a relationship with the land, one ultimately is cultivating and caring for oneself. Lorilani was a PAN Fellow in 2020 and joined staff in 2021.

Share this post