JASH x ANI Workshop 1: Edible World-Nature that Connects Us

On Saturday, October 9, the Japan-America Society of Hawaii co-hosted the virtual workshop “Edible World: Nature that Connects Us” with the ʻAkahiao Nature Institute (ANI). Back in July, JASH’s 33rd Asian-Pacific Children's Convention (APCC) Junior Ambassadors (JAs) travelled to ANI’s Huʻehuʻe Ranch in Kona for an overnight retreat to learn about the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, the project theme for this year's APCC Bridge Virtual Summer Camp. While immersed in nature, the JAs learned about Hawaiian culture and mālama ʻāina (environmental sustainability), which they would go on to share with other students in Fukuoka, Japan and from around the Asia-Pacific region during the APCC's virtual workshops. They also learned how to care for their own mental health through awesome, interactive, and immersive programming.

Inspired by our JAs’ memorable weekend on Hawaii Island, JASH was thrilled to collaborate on virtual workshops with ANI’s program team, including Julie Rogers, Jeff Fuchs, and Liana Macdonald-Kainoa. During October’s workshop, Julie, Jeff, and Liana took attendees on an exclusive virtual tour of their māla food garden, introducing the wide variety of plants growing at Huʻehuʻe Ranch and their perspectives on sustainable, environmentally-conscious agriculture. Walking through the lush garden forest at the Ranch, attendees from Oahu, New Mexico, and even Tokyo learned about tamarillo tree tomatoes, māmaki, chaya tree spinach, chayote squash, and other uncommon fruits and vegetables. The workshop wrapped up with a brief question and answer session, including a discussion on tea from expert Jeff Fuchs.

Liana shows off a kabocha growing in the garden

Jeff introduces viewers to tree spinach

You may watch the recording of the October workshop on our JASH YouTube by clicking here. To learn more about ANI, visit their website at akahiao.org. Their team is passionate about connecting people of all ages back to the 'āina, and they host a number of programs at Huʻehuʻe Ranch in Kona throughout the year.

The second and last workshop in this series, “Edible World: Nature that Nurtures Us,” will be on Saturday, November 13, from 10-11am (HST). Please click here to register.