The Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) Board of Trustees has approved the acquisition of Makaweli Poi Mill in Waimea. The mill is the latest nonprofit subsidiary on OHA’s limited liability company known as Hi‘ilei Aloha. The new company will be
The Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) Board of Trustees has approved the acquisition of Makaweli Poi Mill in Waimea. The mill is the latest nonprofit subsidiary on OHA’s limited liability company known as Hi‘ilei Aloha. The new company will be called Makaweli Poi LLC.
In an agreement with current owner John Aana, OHA will pay $185,000 for business assets and will manage daily operations.
The acquisition of the poi mill by OHA is intended to preserve the cultural aspects of poi-making and promote economic opportunities for taro farming and high quality poi production.
“Poi is not only a dietary staple for Native Hawaiians,” OHA Administrator Clyde Namu‘o said. “Cultivation of taro nurtures the mind, spirit and body of all people throughout Polynesia. OHA looks forward to supporting a thriving poi business that will serve both commerce in West Kaua‘i and poi consumers statewide.”
OHA has worked since 2006, led by Kaua‘i Trustee Don Cataluna, on the purchase of the Makaweli Poi Mill. Makaweli Poi LLC is the second subsidiary of the Hi‘ilei Aloha LLC, the first subsidiary being Hi‘ipaka LLC, which will operate Waimea Valley. OHA formed Hi‘ilei Aloha in Sept. 2007 and purchased Waimea Valley with other partners in 2006.
Plans for the poi mill include expanding the size of the taro fields from 12 acres to 25-30 acres. Makaweli Poi LLC will support the establishment of a Waimea taro farmers’ cooperative with a purpose to expand taro production.
The taro fields will be used as “an outdoor classroom” to raise cultural awareness of the value of taro in Hawaiian life.
Makaweli Poi LLC will utilize its nonprofit status to secure grant funds from state and federal agencies.
As demand for poi has risen in recent years, production is down, leading to periodic shortages of community-sold poi. This problem is blamed on bad weather and the apple snail, an invasive pest known to have hurt local farmers in poi harvest, according to the Hawai‘i State Department of Agriculture. Another factor is expanded development leading to less land space.
