Kamaile Pahukoa

Kamaile Pahukoa, Ke’anae Market, Maui, Hawai’i

Ke’anae Market was created by Kamaile Pahukoa, granddaughter of one of the church members of Ke'anae Congregational Church on the island. The market offers local vendors, farmers, and artists the chance to sell their products on the heavily traveled tourist road to Hana. Vendors at the market include farmers, local artists, bakers (the area is famous for banana bread), and candy makers.

Due to the legacy of colonization, generational poverty, and racism in Hawai’i, The church is in danger of losing their property; funds from the market will help with church expenses, maintenance and restoration. Lanakila ‘Ihi‘ihi O Iehowa O na Kaua Church, known as Ke‘anae Congregational Church, was built in 1860 and is the only building in the area to survive the tsunami in 1946. Restored in 1969, the church holds history and significance for this community and its people.

A native Hawaiian, Kamaile moved to the mainland and attended Grand Canyon University in Arizona. She returned to the island to care for her kupuna, her grandmother, after she suffered a stroke. Her grandmother is one of the remaining members of the Ke'anae church. It was then she became aware of the plight of the church.