HULI A MAHI

HŌʻĀ launched the HULI A MAHI (formerly known as Huli Kalima Ilalo) program to engage community members in hands-on learning grounded in sustainable agriculture, cultural practice, and mauliola, health and well-being. The program creates a shared space for community connection, cultural exchange, and experiential education.

HŌʻĀ stewards 70 acres of former pasture lands as a living community resource.

The landscape is cultivated with healthy trees and crops that model traditional and environmentally responsible agricultural practices. The site hosts individuals, school groups, visiting families, and local ʻohana, strengthening food access, cultural knowledge, and community connections.

  • This program promotes the cultivation of traditional, nutrient-dense local crops while establishing native forest stands that function as windbreaks, provide habitat for native species, and serve as a seed bank for ongoing native forest restoration across the Hāmākua Moku.

    During the COVID-19 pandemic, Huli Ka Lima I Lalo became especially impactful as travel restrictions redirected hundreds of GIVE volunteers to Hawaiʻi. At the same time, the pandemic revealed the fragility of existing food systems, with many Hāmākua families facing increased food insecurity. Witnessing these challenges firsthand, Lanakila sought to address immediate community needs while building long-term food resilience.

GROUP VISITS

HULI A MAHI fosters community connection and cultural exchange, providing a dynamic environment for experiential learning.

Creating educational opportunities for the whole community, from projects promoting home gardens, to cooking lessons with local produce, to hands-on learning about food production, the HULI A MAHI education component promotes access and utilization to local foods for the community.

KiTeya Belford-Smith
Director of Operations
HŌʻĀ MAHI

With over 25 years of experience in outdoor and agricultural education, KiTeya leads HŌʻĀ MAHI’s efforts in Indigenous land stewardship, watershed restoration, and food sovereignty. He blends traditional knowledge with modern regenerative farming to build resilient, culturally grounded food systems. At HŌʻĀ MAHI, he oversees crop production, soil and water conservation, and hands-on learning programs that empower the next generation of land stewards.