Poi for the People

We strive to strengthen the po‘e kanaka relationship with Haloa and Papahanaumoku by increasing access to poi and kalo for our Hawaiian people. Through collaboration with strategic community partners, we are able to increase purchasing and production of culturally significant crops, increase accessibility, and normalize consumption of Native Hawaiian foods.

E lilo hou ‘o ke kalo ka ‘ai ko‘iko‘i o ka papa ‘āina o ke kanaka

Let Kalo return to its rightful position as the central food of the Kanaka diet.

Focal areas of impact

Poi For The Pēpē

Kalo Snack Development

Campus Menu Planning

Community Experiences

Impact Storytelling

Poi for the Pēpē

Poi for the Pēpē is a hui under Poi for the People, which intends to provide 1lb of poi to every preschool haumana of Kamehameha Schools and beyond. Through this initiative we hope to expand our keiki's food palate and increase their ‘ono for indigenous and Native Hawaiian foods; namely, kalo and poi. We support and source poi from kalo farmers on a regional basis across the pae‘aina, ensuring our keiki have access to fresh and ‘ono poi to enjoy and experience at home.

Kalo Snack Development

This hui aims to work with our preschools and elementary campuses to increase the amount of locally sourced and healthy snacks fed to our haumana by working with local food hubs and snack manufacturers. We are continuously exploring ways in which we can source delicious and healthy snacks while supporting local businesses and increasing ‘āina sustainability and food security for our state.

Campus Menu Planning

In collaboration with our procurement team and cafeteria management across all three campuses, we are finding ways to increase the amount of poi and Native Hawaiian ingredients included on the menu. Whether it be simple additions to meal service or working on a more culinary level with our executive chefs to elevate and incorporate ancestral crops into main dishes, we are excited to create healthy, locally sourced and ‘ono meals for our students.

Community Experiences

In efforts to expand our reach beyond the campus and student level, our Community Experiences hui finds ways to activate community members to join us on our journey to make Native Hawaiian crops like kalo, ‘uala, and ‘ulu household staples once again. Through immersive learning activities, ku‘i demonstrations, and culinary experiences, we hope to have a positive and lasting impact on our lāhui’s palate and lifestyle.

Impact Storytelling

As we strive towards increasing the accessibility, affordability, and consumption for Native Hawaiian crops, we find ourselves working with a multitude of companies, organizations, farmers, and cultural practitioners to elevate this work. Our impact would not be possible without a collective effort. Through our journey, we want to showcase the impact of our collective hana via mo‘olelo, videos, blogs, and social media and hope to inspire others to join us along this movement toward a more sustainable and healthy lāhui.

Poi for the People

E lilo hou ‘o ke kalo ka ‘ai ko‘iko‘i o ka papa ‘āina o ke kanaka

Focal areas of impact

Poi for the Pēpē

Kalo Snack Development

Campus Menu Planning

Community Experiences

Impact Storytelling

‘Āina stories

Kawaiaha‘o Plaza

KS Hawai‘i

KS Kapālama

KS Maui