Mai Ho'omāuna i ka 'Ai (Do nothing that mistreats our food): A deeper analysis into practices making up the macrocosm that is a mahi'ai

Speaker: Ka‘iana Runnels

Ka'iana Runnels is a mahiʻai from the mokupuni of Moku o Keawe, in the moku of Hilo Akau, and the ahupuaʻa of Laupāhoehoe. He and his wahine have four kamali'i that help them grow and mālama 'āina. His passion is to collect, identify, document, cultivate, preserve, and spread the mea kanu of my kūpuna. His specific focus is on kalo, ʻawa, maiʻa, and kō. The ʻike he holds stems from a variety of kūpuna and hoa. He first and foremost recognizes all those kūpuna who gave freely of their time and priceless naʻauao. Along with his kuleana to these mea kanu Hawaiʻi, he works full time as the Mahiʻāina Supervisor for The Kohala Center where he manages a waihona of kūpuna crops. His passion is to educate ʻohana about food cultivation and the importance of ʻai pono in our everyday lives.

Logistics:

• When: Thursday, July 11, 2024 at 5:30 pm (Talk starts at 6:00 pm)
• Where: Hale Pulelehua, Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden, 82-6160 Mamalahoa Hwy (please park at the Garden Visitor Center and walk in)

Followed By: Ethnobotanical Pupu Potluck

Note: Please bring an ethnobotanically-relevant pupu and be prepared to explain the origin and significance of the plant(s) to be devoured. May contain meat: a card will be provided to list main ingredients.