Akua ‘Āina
A self-sustaining and evolving learning environment
The Story Behind Akua Aina
This wood fired cob oven is where we cook our food for various gatherings. Pizza, tajine’s, fish, and marshmallows are a few of our favorite dishes!
Prior to 2005 this property was fertilized for decades by grazing cattle which resulted in the foundation of the extraordinarily fertile soil. Many properties in Hamakua were planted in sugar cane for years which stripped the soil of vital nutrients but not this one! The long history of animal grazing (cattle, wild pigs, turkeys, and various wild birds) has played a significant role in it’s evolution into what is essentially an organic permaculture farm. We continue to maintain the health and resilience of the Aina to promote the already rich microbiome by nourishing it regularly with fresh “duck soup” (manure tea) ecstatically provided by our Peking ducks, biochar and bokashi along with various sources of extremely rich compost. Just below the barn, our chickens are hard at work pecking all around and transforming the bugs, grasses and weeds that they enjoy into rich manure which we add regularly to our composts. Of course they also provide us with rich and delicious eggs. Our sheep manage the grass in the pastures and transform it all into rich manure that helps us to maintain the farm. We have discovered and work with various styles of compost systems where we recycle “waste” by alternating layers of nitrogen enhancing legumes (ie. moringa and madre de cacao) and carbon material that we apply regularly to amend our garden beds and fruit trees.
Since 2005, Akua Aina has evolved as a uniquely beautiful botanical garden and is home to tiny homes which offer shelter for our ohana and friends. At approximately 1800 feet above sea level on the Hamakua Coast of the Big Island, we generate enough solar energy to sustain the farm and harvest enough rain to maintain 18 catchment tanks. At a time in which so many people are reliant on external resources simply to survive, we feel especially grateful to be sustained by renewable resources here on this beautiful Hawaii Island.
