CDFI Nourishes Hawaii’s Future with Funding for Healthy Food and Agriculture
Client: Mokuwai Piko Poi, Inc.
Client Location: Honokaa, HI
CDFI: Feed The Hunger Fund
CDFI Service Area: California and Hawaii
Provides food and agricultural entrepreneurs with access to capital, technical assistance, and collaborative networks
Fourth-generation taro farmer and owner of Mokuwai Piko Poi, “Kahea” Kaaihili is dedicated to sustaining one of Hawaii’s most culturally significant crops. Taro, a nutrient-rich tuber, is not only a staple food for Native Hawaiians but also the foundation for poi, a traditional dish central to Hawaiian cuisine and culture.
In addition to being a business owner, Kahea is also a community leader. Serving as president of the Waipio Valley Taro Farmers’ Association, she mentors fellow farmers and advocates for the stewardship of Waipio Valley. Her recent land acquisitions, including a new 15-year lease, underscore her commitment to revitalizing underutilized agricultural lands and ensuring the long-term sustainability of Hawaiian farming traditions. She is also part of Hawai‘i Investment Ready’s Food Systems Accelerator, which connects her with institutional buyers and provides business development resources to strengthen her impact.
As demand for locally grown taro and poi has grown — driven by institutional buyers like Costco and community food programs — Kahea envisioned expanding her operations to reduce dependence on imported taro and make poi more widely accessible across the local islands. But when she turned to traditional banks for financing, she faced significant barriers. Existing debt, a lack of collateral, and the need for specialized farm equipment made conventional loans unattainable.
CDFIs Create Partnerships Rooted in Trust
Kahea’s path forward began with a familiar relationship. Through a relationship with staff at Feed The Hunger Fund, a CDFI serving Hawaii and California, and her participation in the Hawai‘i Investment Ready program, Kahea gained strategic guidance and access to alternative financing options.
Recognizing the cultural significance of Kahea’s work, Feed The Hunger Fund provided flexible, mission-aligned capital paired with hands-on technical assistance. Unlike traditional lenders, they understood that Kahea’s farm is a vital piece of Hawaii’s food system and cultural heritage. The CDFI supported Kahea through a layered loan package to help finance equipment and consolidate debt. The partnership also encouraged Kahea to stay rooted in her vision for success.
Growing Jobs, Food, and Tradition
With this investment, Kahea is expanding opportunity for her community. The financing enabled her to sustain two existing jobs and create two more. Her expansion efforts will rehabilitate more than 30 acres of lo‘i kalo (traditional taro terraces), strengthen Hawaii’s agricultural landscape, and ensure greater availability of poi across the islands.
Kahea’s farm now contributes directly to food access programs, such as Kau Kau 4 Keiki, which provides more than 220,000 meals to children each summer, and The Food Basket, Hawaii’s food bank. Her work enhances resilience in the local food system by reducing dependence on imports and securing a culturally vital food source for future generations.
Healthy Communities and Small Businesses Thrive with CDFI Support
Kahea’s journey underscores the vital role CDFIs play in building healthy, equitable communities. By investing in small businesses deeply rooted in culture and community, CDFIs strengthen local economies, preserve cultural traditions, create good jobs, increase access to healthy foods, and nurture resilience.
Visit our small business page and healthy communities page to learn more about how OFN and our network of CDFIs invest in these priorities.
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