Wow! It's been four years since Joseph & Josephine's LLC first filed it's Articles of Organization. Here's a quick look at what we've learned and accomplished since September 2015.
There's a lot that can happen in a wa'a. One summer day while paddling an outrigger canoe, I had the good fortune of having Kekoa Enomoto as my steerswoman. As we rested between sprints on the waters of Kahului Harbor, it took little time to discover that we both had a meaningful connection to the Marciels of Kaupo. As a leader in the Keokea Homestead Farmlots Association, she invited me to share our "J&J" story at the Kekoa Farmers Market. I am so honored that our neighbors in the Kula ahupua'a took the time to join us. Special thanks to Grace and the Maui Business Brainstormers for capturing these precious moments.
This blog post might have been delayed but itʻs definitely never to late to reflect and share! This summer I (Hiʻilei Casco) interned through the Kamehameha Schools Kapili ʻOihana Internship Program with the Nature Conservancy Maui. As a field technician, I spent most of my days on the slopes of Haleakalā in Waikamoi Preserve conducting fence checks, leading hikes, exercising our hunting dogs, and removing invasive species. As a student in the environmental field, it was critical that I engaged in field experience in order to 1) boost my resume but more importantly, 2) feel what hands-on conservation work is really like. Although I can go on endlessly about the synergistic team I worked with, the relationships I developed with the ʻāina, and the importance of field work to the larger mission of conservation, I will not. There are simply not enough words to express and encompass my experiences and what theyʻve meant to me. I am so grateful to Kamehameha Schools for supporting me as alumni, and also to TNC Maui for hosting me with the utmost aloha. Here is a visual representation of parts of my journey this summer:
 Sharing our freshly-harvested, certified-organic fruit with others is pure joy! And there's no better place than the Upcountry Farmer's Market in Kulamalu. I met so many kind-hearted customers and vendors at J&J's debut appearance. Mahalo to Neil and everyone who stopped by to say hello and purchase our products - nearly sold out on our first day!
 Every harvest captures the unique flavor and energy of the season. Bright and bold, our lemons express the intense purity of the Kaupo landscape. By preserving the harvest at it's peak, we can savor that fresh and vibrant goodness all year round.
Robert G. Rose wrote this biographical commentary in "Huakai Maikai a Kaupo, Maui," in regard to the collaboration of Kenneth Emory, Thomas Maunupau, and Joseph V. Marciel. Let us be reminded that hospitality in scholarly pursuits is a family tradition!  "A story is the shortest distance between people." -Pat Speigh From a legacy perspective, we tell our stories for ourselves and as a gift to future generations.
We invite each and everyone of you to use this forum to share your stories and join us in connecting past and present to the future. To help us get started, please enjoy this collection of short stories from cousin Aldei "Kawika" Gregoire. Mahalo Kawika!! 
Mahalo nui loa to Nohili Thompson (Cornell '18) for designing these original Kaupo Grown t-shirts! Sales of these shirts help to support the ongoing maintenance of our beautiful property, and educational and cultural visits. Shirts will be available soon on our website. Email [email protected] for more information! |
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