For nearly 25 years, MAʻO Organic Farms has sought to create opportunities for youth in the rural community of Waiʻanae on the western coast of Oʻahu and transform a region with consistently high poverty rates into one of abundance, prosperity, and health.
MAʻO, a Native Hawaiian nonprofit that operates a 281-acre farm, grows more than 125 tons of fresh organic fruits and vegetables each year. The farm also provides programs for youth, enabling them to connect with ʻāina (land), participate in a flourishing agricultural business, and prepare for postsecondary education and careers. MAʻO stands for Mala ʻAi ʻOpio, or youth food garden — reflecting the belief that reconnecting youth with ʻāina restores ancestral ties and fosters growth, health, and prosperity in the community. In fostering that relationship, MAʻO strives to improve the health and well-being of residents in West Oʻahu, which is home to the state’s largest population of Native Hawaiians.
To further advance MAʻO’s vision and work, the Weinberg Foundation has transferred ownership of nearly 250 acres in Mākaha — its first-ever land grant in Hawaiʻi. MAʻO’s stewardship of these acres, which neighbor the nonprofit’s farm in Waiʻanae, will put currently vacant lands into productive use for agriculture and housing, support greater expansion of its successful educational programs, and further invest in the health, well-being, and future of local young people.
“MAʻO’s vision is a model for community development that puts ʻāina and community leadership at the center,” said Marisa Hayase, who leads the Foundation’s grantmaking in Hawaiʻi. “We share a commitment to helping create a Hawaiʻi where housing is affordable, nutritious food and health care are accessible, and quality education leads to good and meaningful jobs, allowing generations of families to live and thrive in their home communities and shape their future.”
A vision to cultivate abundant food — and prospects
While Mākaha was once water-rich and fertile, years of degradation and extraction by sugar plantation companies followed by decades of underinvestment have resulted in a cycle of intergenerational poverty, increased homelessness, and a lack of educational and economic opportunities for youth in this rural area. Only 16% of adults have a college degree, and more than 30% of students do not graduate from high school on time.
MAʻO focuses on building a strong community of support for youth that fosters their success. It is one of the state’s few large-scale certified organic farms and represents a much-needed source of healthy food in a community where 33% of residents receive food assistance. Beyond providing fresh vegetables to youth in its programs and their families, the farm sells produce to supermarkets and restaurants across the state. Proceeds go directly back into its programming, which includes youth leadership programs, on-farm training that results in an industry-recognized credential, and paid internships that equip students to navigate and cover the costs of postsecondary education. The impact of that programming is evident: For example, a University of Hawaiʻi study saw a 60% decline in risk for Type 2 diabetes among MAʻO youth interns within one year, and over 140 young people have earned an associate or bachelor’s degree with the support of the nonprofit’s local partnerships.
With Weinberg’s land grant, MAʻO will nearly double its footprint and develop another 249 acres in service of future generations, with immense potential for creating affordable housing — one of Hawaiʻi’s biggest challenges; strengthening food security; and forming partnerships with other nonprofits that share the organization’s core commitment to the health of land and community. All of these efforts ultimately aim to support the sustainability of the region, address poverty and health inequities, and enable the community to lead its own transformation.
“This land grant is not just about what one organization can do. It is also about investing in leaders and places that are strengthening Hawaiʻi and ensuring members of our community facing economic challenges can stay and thrive in their home communities,” said Kelly Miyamura, who leads Weinberg’s grantmaking focused on building paths to jobs and careers in Hawaiʻi. “MAʻO will need many supporters and partners to make this vision a reality, and we look forward to working with everyone who joins together in this effort.”
Learn more about the vision and plans for the land in Mākaha at www.wcrchi.org.
