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E kūpaku ka ʻāina

restore the breath of the land 

We are as much an organization as the active process of recovery for the land, the knowledge that comes from it, and as Hāloa teaches us, caring for each other.

We are guided by the long visions of kupuna (elders) and 'āina (land), and the near term needs of our community. 

Our Vision

Bringing severely degraded lands back to places of ecological health and abundance

because if the 'āina is not well, neither are we.

And, because it is possible.

Our Mission

To foster wellbeing and an economy of abundance through the critical business of land restoration and the art of traditional cultural practice.

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Our Team

Here comes the sun. Kalo leaves basking in the sun

Penny Levin

Founder
Executive director/  project coordinator

Penny Levin has worked in tropical agriculture and food sovereignty, community-based conservation and habitat restoration internationally and locally for over four decades.  A specialist in Hawaiian kalo, she held space for kalo biodiversity on the state Taro Security and Purity Task Force during its tenure, and is an advisor for Hawaiian crops conservation efforts statewide.  Penny remains a life-long student of ʻāina and Hāloa, Hawaiian culture, agriculture and island ecologies.  She resides in Wailuku, Maui and has been raising kalo for 35 years.

Kekoa Plauche

Resources coordinator

Kekoa Plauche came to EKKA with a desire to learn grant writing skills and is now our resources coordinator.  He is also a field crew member with The Nature Conservancy in East Maui and owner of Mopua Farm in Haʻikū, Maui, a native plant and Hawaiian food crop propagation nursery.  His passion for native habitat restoration and interest in kalo is amplified by his role as a husband and father to children of Hawaiian ancestry.

Small white flowers surrounded by green leaves.
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Kalo, (taro) field trials.

Joshua pastrana

Moloka'i project coordinator / field trials supervisor

Joshua Pastrana is a Native Hawaiian kalo farmer, fisherman and hunter on the island of Molokai where he is deeply involved in growing food for his family and his community.  Josh managed the Hawaiian taro collection and EKKA research projects at the Hoʻolehua Applied Research and Demonstration Farm for six years and is a key partner in EKKA’s lunar response in kalo research on his own farm.

Ipolani mae

field assistant

Ipolani Mae is one of our favorite Molokai interns.  She has a passion for kalo and growing microgreens and her own food.  Initially joining us in 2019 under Sustainable Molokai’s agriculture training program, Ipo continues to be an important part of our Lunar Response in Kalo project.   

Ears of a kalo leaf.
A grove of pink and white speckled flowers.

Tori valdez

Intern

Tori Kiliʻohu Valdez is from Kailua, Oʻahu and Waimea, Hawaiʻi.  She attends the University of Hawai'i at Hilo, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in environmental science and Hawaiian Studies.  At E kūpaku ka ʻāina she is researching ʻuala (sweet potato) through Hawaiian Language resources and archives to discover what Hawaiians of 150 years ago can teach us about Hawaiian ʻuala varieties, planting practices, and places.

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Our Board

Kanaloa

Anna Palomino

President

EENaioea Kalo

Lyn Scott

Vice President

ohelo

Juenlee Brown

Treasurer

Ti

Deborah ward

Secretary

Our Commitments

E kūpaku ka ʻāina was established in 2004 and is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization on Maui.

EKKA Principles

Hawaiian Crops Protocol

'Uala Working Group Principles

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