HONOLULU (KHON2) — Keiki at Tūtū and Me Traveling Preschool received a special gift to celebrate the end of the school year — a one-pound bag of fresh poi.
More than 700 students statewide were gifted the treat, which not only fed families on each island but also helped support local kalo farmers.
Months of planning with local farms went into sourcing poi made from kalo grown on the recipient family’s home island.
Participating farms included Hua ‘Āina Kalo (Molokaʻi), Kākoʻo ʻŌiwi (Oʻahu), Aloha Poi (Maui), Aloha ʻĀina Poi Company (Kauaʻi) and Hawaiʻi Fresh Specialties (Hawaiʻi).
Officials said the initiative represents a significant investment in both cultural education and local agriculture.
Check out
more news
from around Hawaii
“What an amazing opportunity and privilege it was to be a part of feeding the hearts, minds and bodies of our keiki and their families,” said Kawehi Carpio, site manager of Tūtū and Me’s Waimea and Honokaʻa locations. “The poi distribution was a great success, with heartfelt gratitude evident on the faces of keiki and caregivers alike.”
Download the free KHON2 app for
iOS
or
Android
to stay informed on the latest news
Integrating Hawaiian culture-based education, Tūtū and Me Traveling Preschool provides early childhood education and parenting/caregiver support to families with keiki. There are more than 24 locations throughout the state.
“Aunty Malia used to always say, ‘It doesn’t matter if you are Hawaiian or not. If you live in Hawaiʻi, you have the kuleana (responsibility) to be educated about Hawaiʻi and to take care of it,’” Ishigo said.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2.
