Growing Our Future

Living Pono Project is a Maui-based nonprofit creating opportunities where culture and sustainability meet.

The Living Pono Project is a Native Hawaiian-led nonprofit based in Maui, Hawaiʻi, dedicated to advancing food justice, climate resilience, and youth development through Indigenous knowledge and ʻāina-based practices. Grounded in the traditional ahupuaʻa system—an integrated land and resource management model—our work connects environmental restoration, food production, and community well-being. 

LPP operates a set of interconnected programs that prioritize youth engagement and education. Through our Mahiʻai Basket Program, we distribute culturally relevant foods such as poi, kalo, ʻulu, and ʻuala to over 700 families weekly, ensuring keiki have access to nutritious foods that reinforce cultural identity while supporting local farmers. 

Our Kupaʻāina Explorations Program and youth diversion partnerships with schools, the Maui Police Department, and Family Court systems provide hands-on learning experiences where youth grow, harvest, and prepare Indigenous foods. These programs integrate cultural education, environmental stewardship, and workforce development—helping youth build identity, confidence, and pathways into agriculture, conservation, and food systems careers.

LPP’s work also addresses climate change impacts on Hawaiʻi’s food systems by promoting regenerative agriculture, restoring traditional loʻi systems, and developing innovative local food infrastructure. Through these efforts, we are not only feeding families but equipping youth with the tools and knowledge to lead a more resilient and self-sustaining future.