Mālama da Farmer Grantee: Naaman Toko

Kalo. ʻAwa. ʻĀina

Naaman’s ʻohana has farmed kalo in Waipiʻo Valley for generations, guided by practices handed down through their kūpuna and now passing them on to the next generation. They also helped bring ʻawa back to the valley, sharing an aloe propagation method that now supports a growing network of farmers. Maintaining the loʻi isn’t easy for a two-person team. Little Fire Ants and pigs pose a challenge, and aging equipment slows the work. With grant support, the farm is addressing these barriers by controlling fire ants, expanding fencing, repairing tools, and starting a youth internship to pass on loʻi and ʻawa knowledge.