About Kuamoʻo Legacy
Kuamoʻo Legacy Foundation is dedicated to preserving and promoting the cultural practices and moʻolelo of the Hawaiian people. Our foundation works tirelessly to educate and engage the community in the rich history and traditions of the islands. We strive to empower the next generation to embrace and carry forward our heritage. Through educational programs, events, and outreach, we aim to ensure that the legacy of our ancestors lives on for generations to come.
Our Story
The KuamoÊ»o family is a prominent Native Hawaiian family whose ancestry dates back to the 1400's on Hawaii Island. Kuamo’o Mo'okini was the heiau (temple) architect for Pa ao during the establishment of the Government hierarchy of rules and order in the 1400s. Many stories have been circulated in published historical books and reference the family and cultural practices.
The Kuamo’o family has continued its commitment and responsibility to cultural practices, place, and community and retained its influential hierarchy to this day. In the 1970s, the Hawaiian community experienced a cultural renaissance. The growing interest in the Hawaiian language, music, hula, traditional navigation, and traditional agriculture practices including moon phases sparked new pride amongst Hawaiians.
The Hawaiian language, on the brink of extinction, was kept alive through the formation of Hawaiian Immersion Schools. Research conducted in Hawaii indicated that learners thrive with culture-based education (CBE), especially Indigenous students who experience positive socio-emotional and other outcomes. Educational progress emerged, especially for Hawaiian students who historically were the victims of racism, poverty, cultural trauma, and oppression. By cultivating culturally vibrant and affirming learning environments in place of a "one-size-fits-all" approach, new educational systems honored assets found in Indigenous knowledge, values, and stories as models of vitality and empowerment for all.
The terms malama i ka 'aina (take care of the land) have become mainstream terms and mindset of both Native Hawaiians and residents of Hawaii. This renaissance would not be possible without families such as the Kuamo’o who have continued cultural practices and sharing of knowledge over the many generations.
In August 2019, members of the Kuamo’o family formally convened to discuss the extensive family lands under their control and how to ensure that not only the family lands would be retained and secured but would be utilized and dedicated to perpetuating cultural practices including food production for generations to come. The Office of Planning, Department of Business Economic Development and Tourism in cooperation with the Department of Agriculture recently developed a report entitled "Increased Food Security and Food Self-Sufficiency Strategy/State Strategic/Functional Plan prepared in accordance with HRS Chapter 226 Hawaii State Plan and the Hawaii Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy Plan.
What
and
Why
Our family has over 60 acres in lower Puna within the family control which includes 8 acres of traditional farmlands with deep soil where extensive farming has previously occurred. All the breadfruit trees, kukui groves, and other food-producing trees are still producing. While there are other large landholdings with the family, we have determined that we will start with these agriculture-focused lands and practices including community education to successfully pilot and create the frameworks for our future projects. We have identified 4 broad goals to guide our programs, services, and resources for our family members and non-profit work.
• Educate and support Hawaiian cultural values, language and practices to be integrated at the core of our work, decision-making, and community development.
• Provide cultural, values, and place-based service opportunities for emerging and existing family and community members, students, and organizations in the County of Hawaii.
• Ensuring the protection of our family lands within our family. Provide information and advocacy to family members when any family property is at risk with strategies of intervention and support.
• Develop and expand community partnerships to further our mission and vision. Build relationships with each other (pilina Kanaka) and our relationship to place (pilina 'ãina.) Family members will build upon existing community collaborations and partnerships in the development and offering of hands-on, place-based, culturally driven agriculture and culinary education. Kupuna (elders) have done extensive work and provided community education on *awa, noni, and kalo (taro) cultivation - staple Hawaiian medicine and foods. The legacy lands will provide opportunities for continued research, management, preservation, and activation. We seek to achieve the following objectives that align with our 4 overarching goals through the formation of our non-profit;
• Support and expand upon the stewardship of our family lands.
• Strengthen Native Hawaiian communities and practices through hands-on education and service rooted in language, culture, and aloha.
• Ensure the integration and perpetuation of Hawaiian values, culture, language, practices, and lifestyle concerning food production, traditional agriculture practices, culinary practices, and sustainability.
• Prepare our youth and adults for a local and global marketplace.
• Ensure family lands are protected and instill a sense of place for future generations.
• Develop and provide resources, education, and support in collaboration with the community to achieve our goals. During the family monthly gatherings, we have incorporated some malama 'ãina activities (taking care of the land) at Malama Ki. We cleared the roads and the invasive plants of the Kalo fields. We have begun to plant 'olena (turmeric) and 'awa (kava medicine). We started with these two plants as we do not have these properties fenced yet and these particular plants will not be destroyed by feral pigs, a big issue all farmers need to address on this Island.
We also engage family and community regularly in making a traditional imu which is cooking foods in an underground oven. We have prepared traditional foods this way as part of our fundraising efforts including the sale of kulolo (Hawaiian fudge) and kalua pork. We also utilize another form of food preservation, smoking of meats such as smoked whole chicken. The family has copyrighted "Kuamo'o MOA (smoked Chicken)." This copyright is for the smoked chicken name and practice used as part of their fundraising initiatives.