Our Mission
Lepo ‘Ula champions sustainable and responsible rural development to uplift and empower historically underserved and socially disadvantaged communities, while safeguarding and perpetuating Native Hawaiian identity and our inseparable connection to place.
Our Purpose & History
Lepo ‘Ula South Ka‘ū Rural Enterprise and Innovation Hive (or “Lepo ‘Ula” for short) was established as a nonprofit organization under the laws of the State of Hawai‘i with its headquarters in Ocean View (South Ka‘ū), Hawai‘i.
Lepo ‘Ula (meaning “Red Earth”) is also the name given to this ‘ili (subdivision) in the ahupua‘a (watershed land division) of Pōhue-Kahuku in the moku (district) of Ka‘ū, an epithet once used to describe the hardworking people of Ka‘ū who toiled in the red volcanic soil to carve out their unique way of life.
Lepo ‘Ula exists to ensure the self-sufficiency, resilience, and cultural integrity of South Ka‘ū by transforming our hardships into opportunity and our unique challenges into the strengths by which we will persevere.
Founded by a Native Hawaiian descendant of Ka‘ū, whose family has called this place home since time immemorial, Lepo ‘Ula was created to reclaim the future of Ka‘ū through bold, place-based action. In a district marred by isolation, scarcity, displacement, and rising inequities, we see not an end—but a new beginning.
We dare to imagine thriving farms where others see only lava deserts. We see jobs, food, and health rising from the ground up—cultivated by our own hands. Our purpose is to create opportunities that allow our people to stay, to grow, and to lead—not despite the land, but because of it.
Lepo ‘Ula is our spark for catalytic change for our better future together.
Our Vision
Our vision at Lepo ‘Ula is to cultivate thriving, self-sufficient, and culturally vibrant rural communities by reinvigorating the living traditions and revitalizing the deep-rooted ancestral knowledge of the Native Hawaiian people – honoring those who came before, uplifting those here now, and advancing those yet to come.
We aspire to be a beacon of innovation and resilience, inspiring and empowering these communities to achieve sustainable prosperity, celebrate their unique identities, and lead with confidence into a future defined by equity, opportunity, and shared success – where no one is left behind because of where they live, what they have, or who they are.
Perpetuating Our Native Hawaiian Identity
Our rural communities are some of the last bastions of intact Native Hawaiian ‘āina-integrated cultures and should serve as strongholds of knowledge and wisdom from which these cultures are perpetuated.
Preserving Our Unique Rural Character
We strive to protect, preserve, and restore the unique rural and country character of our communities in the face of rampant urbanization that has outpaced our state’s capacity for sustainable development.
Bolstering Our Resilient Communities
We believe in the power of community-driven-and-led solutions that enhance the strength and adaptability of our rural populations. Through effective collaboration, time-earned expertise, and local resourcefulness, we strive to equip our communities with the tools and knowledge needed to navigate challenges, recover from setbacks, and thrive amidst challenges and change.
Advancing Sustainable Development
Conscious of human impact on the natural world, we are guided in our approach to grow and thrive without compromising the integrity of our fragile ecosystems and finite natural resources, and without depriving the ability and capacity of future generations to meet their own needs.
Elevating Responsible Innovation
We endeavor new, bold, far-seeing, and creative ideas to address long-standing and emerging challenges in ways that protect, preserve, and perpetuate the identities, character, entities, and principles upon which we were founded and serve.
Engaging In Meaningful Economic Opportunities
Mindful of Hawai‘i’s oppressive cost of living and the unique challenges and disparities faced by our rural communities, we are determined to develop our economy in ways that are strategically planned, culturally responsible, and provide economic opportunities that affords families financial stability, and the capacity to live comfortably.
Dedicated to Sustainable Agriculture
We are committed to conquering food insecurity, supply chain vulnerabilities, and the myriads of other disparities that have stood in the way of equitable access to nutritious and culturally relevant food. By supporting agriculture and bolstering agricultural enterprise, we aim to cultivate beneficial change that has a lasting impact on our community from here to perpetuity.
Securing Our Right to Clean, Abundant Water
We believe that access to fresh, clean water is a basic human right—not a privilege. In our most rural and off-grid communities, stable water access remains out of reach. We are determined to change that. Clean water fuels health, enables food production, strengthens resilience, and sustains life. Our vision is to ensure every family, farmer, and ‘āina in our community has reliable access to this essential resource.
Upholding Environmental Justice and Rural Dignity
Our rural lands are not vacant, forgotten, or disposable. We are not the backyards of the urban core, nor the dumping grounds for waste, sewage, or unwanted development. We stand united in asserting the value of our communities, our people, and our places—and in demanding decisions that honor our dignity, protect our environment, and respect our right to live well.
Achieving Energy Justice for Our Future
Our rural communities have borne the burden of hosting energy infrastructure while rarely receiving the benefits. We envision a future where our people have equitable access to affordable, renewable, and reliable energy—where clean power strengthens, not sacrifices, our communities. We believe energy sovereignty is key to resilience and self-determination.
Closing the Digital Divide
In a world driven by connection, too many of our rural families remain offline and left behind. We envision a future where broadband access is no longer a barrier to opportunity. From education to enterprise, from telehealth to civic engagement, we are committed to securing fast, affordable, and reliable internet that reaches even the most remote corners of our communities.
Championing Better Health Through ‘Ai Pono and Community Wellness
We recognize that true health is shaped not only by access to care, but by the conditions in which we live, work, grow, and eat. In the face of limited healthcare access and rising disparities, we are committed to strengthening the foundations of wellness in our communities—cultivating ‘ai pono (nutritious, culturally rooted food), encouraging active, land-connected lifestyles, and addressing the broader determinants of health that impact our people every day.
Meet Our Team
Join the Swarm
Z. Ka'apana Aki
President / Hivebuilder-in-Chief
Z. Kaʻapana Aki is a Native Hawaiian and father of five brilliant rascals. He has a Master of Agriculture in Agricultural Science and a Juris Doctor, specializing in Environmental Law and brings over two decades of experience as a professional advocate before all spheres of governance. He has served his community in both the public and private sectors, once working as a Walt Disney Imagineer on Native Hawaiian culture and representation.
A life-long hānai ʻai (Native Hawaiian cultural food producer-practitioner), Zuri has dedicated his career to advancing food security, economic opportunities, and sustainability for rural and remote communities across Hawaiʻi. A respected leader and descendant of chiefly lineages, Zuri is deeply rooted in South Kaʻū, where his family has lived since time immemorial, and remains committed to uplifting the community through cultural stewardship and innovative solutions.
Māhealani Traub
Director, Community Outreach & Engagement / Swarmcaller
Māhealani Traub is a Native Hawaiian and māmā of two rascally boys. She brings with her a lifelong connection to South Kaʻū and an unwavering dedication to uplifting Native Hawaiian communities through education, cultural restoration, and wellness. Born in Kealakekua and raised in South Kaʻū, Māhealani is a first-language speaker of ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi and holds a degree in Hawaiian Studies from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, where she trained in traditional lāʻau lapaʻau under renowned healer Levon ʻOhai.
In addition to her work with Lepo ʻUla, she teaches second grade at one of Hawaiʻi’s highest-performing charter schools, where she instills cultural knowledge and pride in the next generation. Passionate about health and healing, Māhealani is also developing her own line of plant-based wellness products. Her work reflects a deep commitment to reestablishing the connection between ʻāina, language, health, and community.