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The Report Summary reads:

The third grade project at the farm during school year 2010-2011 was definitely a success. Both students and teachers in all 4 classrooms enjoyed Wednesdays at the farm and had an opportunity to learn a great deal.

For the one classroom where substantial “academic” gains on existing Department of Education academic measures in mathematics were also realized, an effort was made to identify the teaching strategies and organizational structures that lead to these successes.

It is hoped that these instructional practices and organizational supports can be replicated in other classrooms where teachers and students have opportunities to take part in project-based, hands-on experiences in community settings like the farm at Hoa ‘Aina O Makaha.

To view, print or download the entire report click here

We are happy to present our story of what transpired this year on the farm. Last year, we used this consolidated format for the first time rather than submitting individual program reports to funders. Feedback on this format was very positive, readers noting that they especially enjoyed seeing all programs presented together. In reviewing our report, they had a better sense of the entire scope of Hoa ‘Āina O Mākaha’s program offerings. So we are doing it again. We hope you will enjoy experiencing our overview of all the programs and how they fit together to serve the children of O‘ahu and Mākaha in particular. In addition to “the facts” we have provided both staff and participant reflections of their experiences as that is one of the primary ways we look to evaluate our program success. Programs and staff are closely integrated. Nā Keiki O Ka ‘Āina, Ho‘oulu I Nā Keiki (3rd Grade Immersion Program), Mālama Mākaha Credit Work and the Container Garden programs work together to serve the children, teachers and families of Mākaha Elementary School. Our Ke Ala program allows children from the more urban communities on O‘ahu to experience lessons of the farm—its land, staff and animals so generously shared. This past year the farm welcomed more than 19,000 visitors as participants in our programs and activities.

We received generous support from our foundation partners and private donors. Seventy-five percent of Hoa ‘Āina O Mākaha’s funding is provided by private sources. It is in these relationships, each one personal and precious—that we are allowed to thrive and continue to develop innovative approaches to improving the lives of the children and families of Mākaha. We also owe thanks to the generosity of the Catholic Diocese of Honolulu who allows us to work on this land.

Our THIS YEAR ON THE FARM annual report covers the following topics:

• Highlights of the Year
• Program Reports
• Overall Challenges
• Upcoming Plans
• Key Team Members

To view and print the entire report click here

THE MOSAIC THAT IS HOA ‘AINA

The activities that compose the days at Hoa’Aina are like the small pieces of a giant mosaic. When we look at a mosaic, we look at the big picture, and that is fine, but very rarely do we observe the little pieces. If we study them one by one, it will take long time but we know that each one of them is important. Without each of the tiny pieces, the mosaic would not be complete. Every day we add, refine, invent some new small pieces to the big picture of Hoa’Aina.

The artists of this mosaic are mainly the children.
600 from Makaha elementary supported by wonderful, energetic teachers,
6,000 students from other schools who come to visit the farm and feel that this is the best fieldtrip they ever had.

They create the pieces of the mosaic
…when they chant before entering the farm knowing that is a special place,
…when they plant,
…when they hold the seeds and the seedlings in their hands to give them energy, before planting,
…when they lay the seeds in the ground and say ”goodnight seeds” to them,
…when they pull those weeds and with pride they look at their garden with new eyes,
…when they harvest more than 3,000 pounds of vegetables like these past few months,
…when they take home these vegetables to be cooked and eaten,
…when they visit the animals and express their joy with laughter and screams, watching the reactions of those animals they feed and observe,
…when they raise their eyes in awe of the beauty of the land they care for.

The other artists of this mosaic are the parents who participate in the “Caring for the Land” days.
They come to support their children- between 50 and 70 at the time.
They create very special pieces of the mosaic that are shaped by working with their children.
Unique pieces molded by deep love.

More artists are the ones who come to visit Hoa’Aina
People from different countries with whom we exchange experiences as we learn from each other.
People from Italy, Japan, Philippines, Hong Kong, Indonesia…..
People from our community who gather for our Open House –last May more than 1,000.
Friends who come together for special celebration like this past December 5, for a “Sharing of
the Light” to remember those loved ones who passed away.
People who come to give a hand and feel that Hoa’Aina is part of their life too.
People from various foundations and organizations whose generosity allows us to engage all.
The artists with their support, their help, their friendship, their ideas, their commitment, their example.

And finally there are the daily composers at Hoa’Aina:
Our staff, the Board of directors, the Administration and Teachers at Makaha Elementary.
They are very special because they are the ones who know that to create a mosaic,
…we need a vision and a dream,
…we need the right tools and the right people who know how to use them in order to make the mosaic visible and meaningful,
…we need the right place, a beautiful area’,
…we need people with heart, humbleness and sense of humor to explain this mosaic,
…we need people with patience and great compassion to continually improve it.

We are lucky to have all of these people at Hoa’Aina!

If you read these thoughts to the end, you are a special artist-friend who is working with all of us to make this MOSAIC THAT IS HOA’AINA , a reality

Mahalo,
from all of us at Hoa’Aina o Makaha

A wonderful recollection of the farm’s 30-year mission and story as seen through the eyes of these children, their parents, and their teachers.

Through the Eyes of Children shares stories and reflections about planting seeds, caring for the land and animals, learning about relationship and practicing Hawaiian culture and values. The book recounts the efforts of the children, their parents, the collaboration with the teachers and administration of Makaha Elementary School and the work of Hoa Aina staff to perpetuate a legacy.

Ed Gerlock’s photographs help to capture the soul of the farm and the activities of the children who make the farm come alive.

How to Order

Each copy of Through the Eyes of Children costs $24 including shipping in the USA.

To order, please send a money order or check to:

Hoa ‘Aina O Makaha
84-766 Lahaina Street
Wai’anae, Hawai’i 96792

If you have any questions, send an email to contact@hoa-aina.org or call (808) 695-8978.

William Aila and Gigi Cocquio

William Aila Presents is a weekly series dedicated to Hawai’i to help develop a sustainable future and to help improve social, economic and environmental well-being.

To watch William Aila’s interview with Gigi Cocquio, click here.

Gigi Cocquio shares his knowledge of corn harvesting with students from Kapolei Elementary School

Gigi, Gigi, Father Gigi, What does your garden grow? 

Nestled in the heart of Makaha on five acres of once-barren land grows a garden of fruits, vegetables, plants and animals. But Hoa ‘Aina O Makaha, or “The Farm” as it is affectionately known by community residents, is also an eden for children to plant roots in friendship, stewardship and aloha. 

“We grow people,” says executive director Luigi “Gigi” Cocquio. “If we learn virtually how to grow ourselves – understand who we are – the rest comes. But the main thing is to offer the possibility.” 

Born in the small village of Uggiate, Italy, Cocquio settled in Makaha 31 years ago shortly after being deported from the Philippines in 1976. The Catholic priest had been in the country since 1971 struggling for social justice in Tondo, the largest slum shantytown in Southeast Asia where more than 200,000 people lived in poverty. 

A year into his five-year mission, former president Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law, stripping away the freedom to organize or to engage in free speech. Cocquio and his fellow priests provided their church as a gathering place where people could safely reflect on politics and oppression. But soon Marcos and his regime came knocking. 

“People were killed and tortured and would disappear, and I couldn’t keep my mouth shut,” Cocquio remembers. “I wasn’t organizing, I was just staying with the people. And that didn’t go too well with the president, and also with the church. Eventually, they picked me up from the house, brought me to the airport, straight on a plane back to Italy, like this – T-shirt, pants and sandals, that’s all I had. 

Ceny San Pedro explains where bananas come from

“And I had one peso in my pocket,” he adds. “I had two pesos, but when they arrested me this poor lady came to me and asked for money to buy milk for her family, so I gave her one peso. And that was really very painful for many years. I wished they killed me instead of kicking me out because the work was so beautiful, the people so incredible, I felt so at home.” 

His passion for human rights continued in Hawaii. Soon after his arrival he became involved with advocating for leprosy patients of Hale Mohalu in Pearl City and with the Church of the Sacred Heart in Waianae Valley. It was at the parish where he met Sister Anna McAnany of Maryknoll, who took the young priest out to a piece of deserted land in Makaha leased by the Roman Catholic Church Diocese of Honolulu and offered up a simple challenge. 

“This nun said, ‘We have to do something,’” says Cocquio. “And you cannot say no to an older nun, so I said sure, let’s do something.” 

Soon after their conversation Cocquio moved into one of three Quonsets on the property, barracks left over from World War II. He was joined by Brother Ed Gerlock and Eric Enos of Ka’ala Farm, who came with a group of at-risk youth from the Waianae Rap Center to help transform the land from wild brush into a place of peace. 

Kacey Walker, 7, is surprised by the pecking of a goose

“There were no plans. The ‘plan’was, let’s clear a piece of land and see what happens,” Cocquio says. “I didn’t know about irrigation, I didn’t know about farming, I didn’t know about building, I didn’t know about cooking. Honest. So I had to learn everything, and that’s what we did – just put down the first pipe and start planting.” 

As The Farm was steadily growing, teachers from neighboring Makaha Elementary School also began to show interest in the lot. Cocquio allowed them a small vegetable patch to maintain with their students. One day, principal Hazel Sumile approached Cocquio with a proposition. 

“She said, ‘Why don’t you work with all the kids?’ And I said sure. That’s what I told the nun, and that’s what I told her. I always said sure,” Cocquio says in his even, patient tone. “I never knew what I was getting into, but that’s how it goes.” 

Today the keiki of Makaha Elementary cross the threshold to Hoa ‘Aina every day, but not before respectively stopping to chant for permission to enter. They visit to tend to their gardens; take care of the goats, rabbits, ducks and chickens that live there; learn Hawaiiana, hula and about the ancient ahupua’a system; conduct science experiments and learn about alternative energy; and, most importantly, they visit to gain knowledge within themselves. 

“In education, the word itself means ‘to lead out’ from Latin, the little Latin I remember,” Cocquio says. “It means that the thing is already inside the person, and we have to help; we’re helping each other take it out so we can understand.” 

From there Na Keiki O Ka ‘Aina was born. Each year more than 6,000 students, teachers and parents from schools both private and public come to The Farm to toil in the soil. Cocquio reveals that this year alone 23 schools had to be put on a waiting list because of time constraints. 

The field trip is such an anticipated journey that when schools have to cancel because of rainy weather, children throw tantrums, so heartbroken and even offended that they do not get to see Mr. Gigi and his farm. In fact, The Farm also has been known to ruin trips to other botanical gardens on the island. Even the zoo pales in comparison. 

“Many of the schools come from town, and this is the first time sometimes that they see these kinds of things,” says Cocquio, whose family – son Pomaikai, stepsons Buddy and Scott, and wife Judy – all at one point lived and worked on The Farm. 

“Here they plant, they harvest, they touch, they feel, they taste the fruits and play with the animals,” he adds. “To me that’s a very powerful experience.” 

Under the guidance of Bishop Joseph Ferrario and the Hoa ‘Aina board of directors, Hoa ‘Aina O Makaha became a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization in 1992 to ensure that keiki and visitors from all over the world could experience this connection for years to come. 

“It doesn’t matter how much we plant, how much we harvest, but it’s how much we together with the children can be able to relate to each other, to relate to the land and have feelings for this experience,” Cocquio says. 

“Anything that comes from an experience comes from the heart. If it comes from the mind, really if it involves a lot of thinking, sometimes it is not easy to figure out, especially for our children. But if it comes from the heart, easy to recognize.”