The people of Moloka‘i have a clear vision for the island’s future based on the values of pono and aloha ‘āina (love of the land). The land is not viewed as a commodity; rather, it is the foundation of our cultural and spiritual identity. At the heart of the culture are skills and values that center on the growing and gathering of food from the land and sea. The Moloka‘i kūpuna play an essential role in keeping the integrity of the Hawaiian culture. Cultural knowledge, including place names; fishing ko‘a; methods of fishing and gathering; and the reproductive cycles of marine and land resources, have been passed down from one generation to the next through training in subsistence skills. Subsistence is an important part of Molokai’s hidden economy and a key to food security and self-sufficiency. This economy thrives on Molokai today, as 38% of our food is acquired through subsistence activities. The skills needed to perpetuate a subsistence economy are based on cultural knowledge, traditions, and rights.

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Subsistence is critical to the persistence of traditional Hawaiian cultural values, customs,  and practices. The sharing of foods gathered through subsistence activities has continued to reinforce good relations among members of extended families and with neighbors. It is our kuleana (responsibility) to help protect these resources for future generations, as well as to kōkua and give and give back to our community. This promotes not only a  strong individual identity, but also a greater identity within our ‘ohana, community, islands,  and world.