>> Hōkūalaka‘i | >> Living
Laboratory | >> He
Lani Ko Luna
Māla (farm)
Ma ka hana ka ‘ike, “in working one learns,” best describes the māla (farm) of the He Lani Ko Luna, He Honua Ko Lalo, Community Based Learning Center a 7-acre living laboratory for experiential learning. Created in 1998, the māla began as a series of contained experiments concentrating on soil regeneration. The experiments, Lepo Ola (The Soil Lives) and Kīpulu (To Compost), were intended first to rejuvenate the organic matter of the soil by raising appropriate soil horizons in the soil profile therefore restoring the soils life and to secondly produce a rich composting aggregate that could be used as a natural fertilizer.
Both were accomplished by recycling 80% of the organic waste produced at the māla site back into the soil. These waste materials included shredded paper of which an abundance was available from the adjoining school and support offices, animal wastes, namely that of the pigs which were a part of the animal husbandry project, and lastly plant wastes from throughout the māla site. Having done so for over seven years the resultant māla grounds are an extremely rich, live soil base that allows for native plants to thrive within its fertile gardens.
Today our principle mahi‘ai (farmer) is Mr. Isaia Kealoha of Kalapana. Known to students and staff as ‘Anakala Isaia (Uncle), Mr. Kealoha has a lifetime of knowledge in the fields of Hawaiian subsistence farming and herbal medicines. A greenhouse on the property is dedicated specifically to medicinal herbs. Through the Ka Haka ‘Ula O Ke’elikōlani College of Hawaiian Language of the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, ‘Anakala Isaia regularly conducts Hawaiian herbal medicine classes.
Throughout the 7-acre farm visitors can find the staple foods of the daily Hawaiian diet, kalo (taro), ‘uala (sweet potato), niu (coconut), mai‘a (banana), and ‘ulu (breadfruit). Plants commonly used in the construction of ocean going canoes can also be found, koa, used for the hulls, mast, and boom; hau, used for the cross pieces and floats; and the hala, used for making mats and sails. Utilitarian plants such as milo and kou, used for bowls; kukui, used as candles; pōhue or ipu used for gourds; and ‘ōhi‘a used as timbers in the construction of house, idols and religious structures are also located on the mäla site. The hale imu (cook house) allows for the preparation and cooking of foods in a traditional earth oven.
With permission, a visit of the project site can be arranged by contacting the He Lani Ko Luna, He Honua Ko Lalo, Community Based Learning Center at helani@ahapunanaleo.org.