Maile's District 21 Blog

By Joleen Oshiro
Star-Advertiser, Dec 18, 2013

Who’d have thought kiawe was edible? Ipo Kea and Ka‘ua­lani “Ka‘ua” Cari­aga learned that it is, and their healthful recipe using kiawe flour is so delicious it earned them a win in the For Kids, by Kids Healthy Snack Contest presented by Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort & Spa.

BUY KIAWE FLOUR: Find Wai‘anae Gold kiawe flour at Kokua Market or Waianae farmers market on Saturdays; or to order, call ‘Ai Pohaku at 478-6492 or email aipohaku@hotmail.com.

The Nanakuli pair’s PALS Coconut ‘Aina Treats, which also features organic sunflower seed butter and local honey, apple, tangerine and coconut, was one of three winning recipes selected to be served at Hyatt Waikiki’s SHOR restaurant during the spring school semester.

Other winning dishes include Fruit Sushi, by Brittany Amano of ‘Iolani School, and Grown-Here Green Taro Smoothie “Ice Cream,” by Matilda Colvin of Mid-Pacific Institute. All the winners will receive a class party.

Ipo and Ka‘ua are members of the Program for Afterschool Literacy Support, or PALS, at Nana­kuli High and Intermediate School. The program’s current focus is on ingredients grown or raised in the Leeward area that students can develop into their own products.

Waianae resident Vince Dodge, founder of ‘Ai Pohaku, a community group that produces Wai­‘anae Gold kiawe bean pod flour, taught the PALS group how to select and process kiawe pods. When the students heard about the contest, they adapted a recipe by Dodge for submission.

Click here to read the full article at the Star-Advertiser.

Also see Wai‘anae Gold Kiawe Bean Pod Flour, ‘Aina Bars, Info & Recipes

Filed under: Uncategorized | Leave a comment »

Click image to view large PDF file.

Filed under: Uncategorized | Leave a comment »

This postcard has been mailed to approximately 6,624 businesses and residents in Waipahu. The postcard provides a project update and information on 2014 Monthly Business and Community Meetings. The postcard should reach businesses and homes either Monday, December 16 or Tuesday, December 17. Click to enlarge.

Filed under: Uncategorized | Leave a comment »

‘Ai Pohaku – The Stone Eaters is a community-based economic endeavor that continues to nurture and grow our ‘aina connection through the cultivation, gathering and production of real food. With a strong foundation of the tradition of ku‘i kalo (hand pounding kalo into pa‘i‘ai and poi), we have spent a good part of the last six years learning about kiawe as a food for our people. Even though kiawe has been in the islands for almost 200 years, this ancient food is brand new for almost all of Hawai‘i’s people.

Vince Kana‘i Dodge, founder of ‘Ai Pohaku.

The founder of ‘Ai Pohaku, Vince Kana‘i Dodge, is a papa (grandfather), educator, cultural practitioner and longtime resident of Wai‘anae where kiawe trees are plentiful. One day in early 2006 on MA‘O Organic Farms a couple from Arizona shared that “mesquite” – the cousin of kiawe – was a staple of all the Southwest native people. They said it was a sweet, nutritious and diabetic-friendly food. At that time the Wai‘anae community was in the throes of a diabetic epidemic. Imagine: a sweet, nutritious diabetic-friendly food growing in our backyards… Vince was called. We believe it is no accident that the concentration of kiawe and diabetics are in the same place.

Since then we traveled to Arizona to take the Desert Harvesters’ mesquite milling training in 2009, and in 2012 to Argentina to visit with the Wichi people who continue to eat kiawe daily as they have been for hundreds of years.

We are blessed to be joined in this endeavor by our Elementary to High School youth; by some of our houseless people; by cultural practioners; by aunties and uncles; by passionate cooks, chefs and bakers; by our friends here, on the continent and in Argentina; by our families and many many lovers of our ‘aina.

He ali‘i ka ‘aina, he kauwa ke kanaka. – The land is chief, people its servants. Olelo no‘eau 531

Contact:
Vince Kana‘i Dodge
Tel. 808-478-6492
Email: aipohaku@hotmail.com

Also see Star-Advertiser: Kiawe Flour, Other Local Products Make Winning Snack

Filed under: Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

Courtney Lelepali, Rainbow Wahine.

Courtney Lelepali, of Waianae, is a serving and libero/defensive specialist. She has emerged as a steady and effective server on the team and has played a key role in the team’s success. The senior, who is majoring in Hawaiian Studies, will be closing out her three-year volleyball career with the Rainbow Wahine in the NCAA Volleyball Championships. She is the daughter of Kaui and Jo Ann Lelepali of Waianae, O‘ahu.

The Wahine postseason journey begins this Friday at the Stan Sheriff Center. Hawaii (24-4) plays Big Sky champion Idaho State (23-11) in Friday’s (12/6/13) second match. Brigham Young (22-6) takes on Arizona State (19-13) in the 5 p.m. opener. The second-round match is at 7 p.m. Saturday, with the winner advancing to the Southern California regional, Dec. 13-14.

“I’m so proud of Courtney Lelepali and all that she has accomplished as an athlete and a student,” said Senator Shimabukuro. “She brings honor and pride to the Waianae Coast. I wish her and the Rainbow Wahine the best in the NCAA Championships.”

Watch Courtney Lelepali’s senior class interview on YouTube (11/22/13). Click the image.

Lelepali is a 2009 graduate of Punahou School in Honolulu, O‘ahu, where she was a three-year letterwinner. She helped the Buffanblu to second-place finishes at states as a sophomore and senior, and a third-place finish at states during her junior year. She was a two-time team member of the USA High Performance A2 club team.

Before transferring to UH, Lelepali played one season at Southern Utah University, where she played in 29 matches in 2009. She led the team with 390 digs and ranked No. 2 on the team with 30 service aces. She finished in the top ten of the Summit League with 3.63 digs per set during the year. She was named Best Libero at the University of Denver Tournament. Lelelapli tallied a season-high 22 digs against Delaware State (Aug. 28) and South Dakota State (Oct. 3) and finished second on the team with 59 set assists.

Lovin’ Every Minute of It [Courtney Lelepali]

By Ann Miller
Star-Advertiser, 29 Aug. 2013.

Courtney Lelepali came back from the mainland to play for the program she grew up with — and she couldn’t be happier

What sets Courtney Lelepali apart in this 2013 avalanche of Hawaii volleyball seniors is she has been here from the beginning.

“It was always my dream to be a Rainbow Wahine,” Lelepali said. “I was that little girl who came to every game. I’ve had idols before. Just to see how this program developed, I wanted to be part of it.”

Continue reading →

Filed under: Uncategorized | Leave a comment »

Click images to enlarge.

Filed under: Uncategorized | Leave a comment »