May. 21, 2019

Contributed by Nadine Lagaso

Budding young entrepreneurs at Kamehameha Schools Hawai‘i Elementary School created and sold responsibly sourced products at a recent Papa ‘Ekolu Marketplace.

The event was the culmination of a year of studying native forests and the concept of responsible sourcing – making sure that products are made in ways that do not negatively impact farmers, communities or the environment.

Haumāna used their research results to inspire their ideas for products which included everything from T-shirts and games to mamaki tea and hōʻiʻo salad. Parents, staff members and peers poured into the marketplace to purchase the hand-made goods.

KS Hawai‘i haumāna, staffers and parents shop at the Papa ‘Ekolu Marketplace for products created by the campus’ third graders as part of a lesson on native forests and the importance of responsible sourcing.