Kakoo Lahui

Kako'o Lahui is a Kanaka Maoli-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to indigenous self-determination, women's safety, leadership development, and environmental justice.  We strengthen indigenous communities through advocacy, education, mutual aid, and ground up organizing. Grounded in Hawaiian values, Kako'o Lahui has been working to protect Hawaiʻi’s lands, waters, cultural practices, and sacred places for many years while supporting Native Hawaiian communities facing displacement, environmental racism, and the ongoing impacts of colonization and occupation.  Our group organizes on the grassroots level across all islands.  We do free educational workshops on various topics like immigration, the prison industrial complex, Hawaiian language, clean water, and more and work with dozens of organizations.  

PIKO GATHERING

Our annual Piko Gathering of intergenerational frontline, indigenous environmental advocates, healers, artists, and activists from across Hawai'i convenes 100 community members and leaders to learn and share ancestral knowledge and new skills for the frontline while providing rest and respite through dozens of workshops. The gathering integrates a culture of care led by healers as we connect and learn together about topics indigenous Hawaiians are wrestling with right now. This grassroots and peaceful gathering allows participants to network andbuild relationship with each other, our 'āina (land), and ocean.

Last year's participants, including kūpuna (elders), makua (parents), ʻōpio (youth), and keiki (children) from all islands, engaged in discussions on environmental justice, land back, clean water, healing and women's safety. Participants are chosen on a first come first serve basis depending on who applies.  We keep the cost down to nominal and move the event to different islands. We have had turn away participants last year so we are hoping to increase the number of participants we can acommodate up to 150 for the upcoming gathering September 17-20, 2026 in Naue, Kaua'i where we will learn about the land struggles that have happened there as well as what is going on in other islands.  We are hoping to raise $5,000 for our next Piko Gathering to acommodate for expansion of this program.

'ONIPA'A PEACE MARCH

Kako'o Lahui has been supporting and is one of the lead organizers of the the 'Onipa'a Peace March through our sister organization (Ka Lahui Hawai'i - an NGO) for a decade commemorating annually the illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian Monarchy.  Dozens of Hawai'i schools attend every year along with thousands of community members followed by a rally with educational booths, music and art on the grounds of 'Iolani Palace.  Because this next year we will be expanding this one day event to a week long list of educational events working with half a dozen other organizations we are hoping to raise $3,000 to help with costs that include tents, supplies, stipends for educators, and food.  All our 'Onipa'a Peace March events are free and open to the public.

NATIVE LED RESPONSE TO WATER RELATED CRISIS

Kako'o Lahui leadership was one of the first community responders for families on O'ahu who were affected by the flooding caused by the Kona Low's providing clean drinking water.  We also provide clean drinking water and support for families affected by the Red Hill spill and Lahaina families via our sister organization Ka Lahui Hawai'i.  Because we are part of trusted community networks we are able to respond fast and with commpassion to communities who are in need of clean water right away.  We are hoping to raise $2,000 for our clean water crisis fund.

TRANSFORMATIVE JUSTICE WORKSHOPS & WOMEN'S SAFETY

Every year we work with community leaders and scholars to host transformative justice training and provide additional resources for women in the movement who have experienced harm.  This year we focused on Transformative Justice and Community Accountability as approaches to harm and taught curriculum designed by Queer, Trans, Black, Indigenous, Hawaiian, Disabled Women and Sex Workers of color who offer a trauma-informed, survivor centered, abolitionist paradigm that strives to change the underlying conditions which enable and pertuate cycles of violence and abuse in ways that do not rely on the settler state, the police, or the prison-industrial complex.  We are hoping to raise $2,000 for monies to bring in the experts who have written the curriuclum on Transformative Justice to Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiians).