Generational safe spaces of abundance
for food, medicine, and healing

Fiore Anderson perches on a roughly carved wooden bench under a corrugated roof in the Mahi ʻĀina garden.  Her spaghetti-strap, black camisole top and faded pareau accentuates her bronze skin, and the coconut pāpale that rests on her head frames a face that tells a remarkable story of strength and resilience.

Over five years ago before joining Hoʻoulu ʻĀina’s garden crew, Fiore visited Waipiʻo Valley on Hawaiʻi Island.  It was one of the milestones in her life.  The abundance of native plants and wai was overwhelming for her.  “There wasn’t a time when I was there that I wasn’t wet!” she laughed.

Eventually she learned about Hoʻoulu ʻĀina and saw the many similarities.  Finding ʻāina on Oʻahu that compared to Waipiʻo lifted her spirit and helped her connect to wahi pana on her own island.

Working at Hoʻoulu ʻĀina has helped Fiore begin the process of healing herself and her ʻohana.  Generational trauma affects many families where unresolved emotions and traumatic events are transferred from one generation to the next.

Fiore is very open about her own situation.  “So I was raised watching my parents go through a lot of trauma,” she says as tears begin to flow. “They are emotionally and physically and mentally sick. So I had to find a solution for my kids. And that's why I do what I do today to hopefully inspire my children to peel away generational trauma.”

For Hawaiians, the disconnection to land and culture has affected thousands.  History has shown that kanaka maoli have been displaced as a result of social, political, and cultural subjugation in their ancestral lands.  That is why Fiore is adamant about raising her family in a place where ʻāina is accessible.

“I want to leave my moʻopuna a safe space, like Hoʻoulu ʻĀina,” she says intensely.  “A place where food and medicine is abundant.  Where there are natural resources for them to thrive in their culture.  To grow their family.  To help them heal.  And to remember me as a strong-willed, loving, protective…” her voice trails off.

I finish the sentence for her.  “Fierce ʻĀina Warrior.”  She laughs, “Yah!”