Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 31, Number 9, 1 September 2014 — Waipā connection [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Waipā connection

Eō e nā 'ōiwi 'ōlino, nā pulapula a Hāloa, mai Hawai'i a Ni'ihau a puni ke ao mālamalama. E hana kākou me ke ahonui, a pili me ka hā a ke aloha, 'oiai

e kūlia i ka nuQ, a kau i ka 'iu o luna. Mahalo to Louise Yee Hoy and Reynold Freitas for contributing to the following story: Drive out to Hanalei Valley and enjoy the beauty of Kaua'i that is not yet lined with high rises and squares of cement. Drive past Hanalei town and just a mile or so, to the left, is the Waipā Foundation. Waipā's 1,600 acres of lush land is owned by the Kamehameha Schools and managed by the Waipā Foundation, a 501c3

nonprofit organization. Stacy Sproat-Beck is the Executive Director who tirelessly advocates for the foundation's eeonomie, social and cultural sustainability.

Two years ago, on June 8, 2012, Kamehameha Schools and Waipā celebrated their groundbreaking of the Waipā MultiPurpose Building. Presently the building is being used by its staff and the community. On July 23, 2014, the groundbreaking ceremony for the Waipā Poi Mill, the Waipā Kitchen and the Waipā Hale Imu took plaee. Trustee Apoliona and Trustee Ahuna were there to represent the Office

of Hawaiian Affairs. Also in attendance were county, state, community and Hawaiian organization dignitaries who support the interests and mission of the Waipā Foundation.

The new certified facilities will open up opportunities for farmers, small businesses and families to utilize the kitchen to process their crops, prepare their foods and goods for catering, fundraising and for supporting their lifestyles. The youth have a plaee to go to learn how to grow kalo and farm other foods, and to help process and package the products. Currently, every Thursday, Waipā has a "Poi Day." The first thing on the schedule is to make

sure your hands are washed and elean. While cleaning your hands, you would be thinking, "Who else going show up today?" By 7 a.m. the grinding starts. By 8 a.m. you LATE! The hands are working hard grinding while the mouth is talking story. By 11 a.m., if it's a good day, pau elean up but the bagging continues until completed. By 1 p.m. mahalo for the food and it's time to go home. The following is a list of Waipā supporters, whieh was posted at the July 23, 2014, Waipā groundbreaking ceremony: Anthony J. Sutton, Atherton Family Foundation, Bank of Hawai'i Foundation, Charles S. Chapin CLU, Chester F. Chapin CLU, Cooke Foundation, E1 Arco Iris Fund, First Hawaiian Bank Foundation, GN Wilcox Trust, Gun-zenhauser-Chapin Fund, Hawai'i State Legislature, James Kimo Campbell, Jan Elizabeth, Jim and Momi Thacker, Lynn R. and Karl E. Prickett Fund, Mclnerny Foundation, Northwest Minnesota Foundation, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Parks Family Foundation, Peter Buckley (Front Porch Farm), Senator Inouye (HUD appropriation), Starwood Hotels & Management Ine., Stiller Family, SW Wilcox Trust, Tambor Aeai, The Community Foundation, The Gift Foundation, Teresa Young, plus many other supporters who contributed $5-$ 1,000 or asked to remain anonymous; mahalo to all. Mahalo to Stacy Sproat-Beck, her crew and volunteers at Waipā, past and present, for their vision, perseverance and belief in Waipā, "a plaee where folks ean connect with the 'āina." 21/48 ■

Editor's note: In accordance with an Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board ofTrustees policy based on state ethics guidelines, any trustee runningfor re-election is suspended from publishing his or her regular eolumn until the elections are complete, e.xceptfor those trustees running unopposed.

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Haunani Apnlinna, MSW TrustEE, At-largE

The Waipā Foundation held a groundbreaking ceremony in July for a poi mill, kilehen and hale imu. Trustees Dan Ahuna, left, and Haunani Apoliona attended on behalf of OHA, helow. - Courtesy photos