10/11/2026
Kauai always feels like a older cousin to me- cooler, wiser, been around da block a few times. And still the practices stay steeped in tradition and time old ike kuuna. Im so grateful to have the privilege to taste the paakai that comes from these loʻi. To be blessed with the strongest most foundational pale that our kupuna gave to us. To know the moolelo of Hiiaka. To know hiiaka THROUGH this wahi. He wahi leo mahalo keia no na ohana paakai, na ohana i malama mau ia i keia ike waiwai no KAKOU A PAU! It only felt pono to show up in what small way we could, to be one more set of hands in the long line of people who deeply care for ko hawaii pae aina. What a joy to learn from this aina and these people. Mahalo again kauai, for letting us in. For letting us take part. Every huakai we make home safe is an opportunity for reflection for me.
Today i also remembered that when you call, they will come. ❤️🩹💪🏽🫡 stay paa, Hawaii.
(For context, because i believe its important for us to all know whats going on in da pae aina, the recent storms washed over the berm for the loi paakai (salt beds) where hawaiian salt is still made in traditional ways by ohana that carry the mookuauhau of ike to do so. This salt is one of the purest gifts in our pae aina. This knowledge is one of the purest gifts that survived modern history. The clay here makes this specific kine paakai. When all the sand and water came into the loʻi area, it impeded on the ability to make paakai. The ohana that steward this wahi made a big, brave, awesome decision to allow the lahui to come and help restore the space where salt is made. HUNDREDS of people showed up to auamo kuleana ❤️ and while there is still work to do, we truly hope the ohana know they are not alone in that work. E ola mau loa na ohana paakai!)