Hoʻopili ʻAi – Uniting Keiki & Hawaiʻi Food Crops

Farm to school connects kids with their food and with the ‘āina, that which feeds and nourishes us all – fostering the next generation of healthy, caring stewards. Our new Hoʻopili ʻAi Campaign – Uniting Keiki & Hawaiʻi Food Crops is a partnership with the Hawaiʻi Farm to School Hui that provides students, teachers, school staff and parents with the resources needed to build lifelong relationships between youth and Hawaiʻi-grown staple foods!

Watch the full Hoʻopili ʻAi video series below to follow three different crops – kalo, ʻuala, and palaʻai – from the farm to the fork. This series is geared for K-5 students but can be adapted for older grades.

“Great mini lesson. The children were all willing to be risk takers and take a bite. Majority of them loved it!” – Waikiki Elementary Teacher

E Hoʻokamaʻāina I Ke Kalo: Get to Know Kalo!

Follow kalo in its journey from farmers’ loʻi and mālaʻai across Hawaiʻi Island to the market where it is sold to a food hub and farmer cooperative before ending in a chef’s kitchen in delicious kalo cheeseburgers!

E Hoʻokamaʻāina I Ka ʻUala: Get to Know ʻUala!

Follow ʻuala in its journey from Kohala’s traditional dryland field system to the market where a food hub and farmer’s cooperative processes it, and then to a chef’s kitchen where we learn how to make sweet and savory ʻuala mochi!

E Hoʻokamaʻāina I Ka Palaʻai: Get to Know Palaʻai!

Follow palaʻai in its journey from a Hawaiʻi Island farmer’s compost pile to the market where a food hub and farmer’s cooperative processes it to finally be used in a chef’s kitchen for Palaʻai and Bacon Mac n Cheese! Find the full recipe here.