Kamuela Meheula was born and raised in Kona, Hawaiʻi amongst the once famous Kūāhewa field system. She owns and operates a small business that helps to support her kalo farming passion. Kamuela has worked for many years as an ʻāina based educator, community collaborator, and kalo variety curator. Her dreams for the future are to continue feeding community through a holistic approach.
Keahi Tomas was raised as a child in the loʻi of Lāʻie, Oʻahu, and has become a woodworker and carver, creating implements for cultural practices. Keahi is a heavy equipment operator by trade and kalo farmer by passion, with dreams of becoming a full time ʻāina educator.
Kamuela and Keahi met through their Kumu Jerry Konanui in 2010, and together since 2019 have been able to expand and carry forward this kuleana of preserving and perpetuating the knowledge of the world of Hāloa for themselves and their community.
Our History
Community: We exist for and because of our kaiāulu (community). We seek positive collaborations in and beyond Kona to continue strengthening the lāhui (nation).
Hope: We look to the past while moving forward, reminding our community of what is possible and inspiring them to take steps to (re)connect with Hāloa.
Growth: We practice continuous learning and open-ended ʻike (knowledge), with acknowledgment that we teach “a” way not “the” way.
Family-based: We provide a kind and encouraging environment for ‘ohana (family), supporting intergenerational learning and sharing from keiki (children) to kupuna (elders).
Respect: We show respect for each other and for ʻāina (land). “He aliʻi ka ʻāina, he kauwā ke kanaka” (land is a chief, man is its/her servant).*
Healing: We use regenerative agriculture practices to heal degraded, abused, or neglected land, recognizing this is part of our own healing.
Intention: "Nani ke kalo" - Uncle Jerry Konanui’s manaʻo. We focus on the hana (work) at hand despite the world’s chaos, and care for kalo with intention.
