Kakoo Oiwi
Kākoʻo ʻŌiwi is a Hawaii-based nonprofit that restores lo'i kalo taro terraces in He'eia, sells fresh and frozen poi, kulolo, and merchandise through a weekly farm-pickup e-commerce shop, and delivers cultural-educational visits and workshops to schools, community groups, and visitors on Windward O'ahu.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersKāneʻohe, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Kakoo Oiwi does
Kākoʻo ʻŌiwi is a Hawaii-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates a sustainable taro farm in He'eia on Windward O'ahu, restoring traditional lo'i kalo (flooded taro terraces) and other agroecological systems since 2010. The organization runs a certified kitchen and Poi Mill (broke ground 2020) that converts farm-grown taro into fresh and frozen value-added products, including fresh poi in 1-lb and 2-lb bags ($7-$14), frozen poi, frozen kulolo ($10/lb), frozen steamed lau, and a premium "kulolo crunch" ($25 for four pieces). It also sells branded merchandise (long-sleeve shirts at $45, hoodies at $60) and recently introduced an "Imu Educational Experience" cultural-educational event.
The business model blends direct e-commerce (online shop with weekly Wednesday ordering window and Friday drive-by pickup at the farm, plus newly enabled contact-based shipping), fee-based educational visits for schools and groups, paid cultural workshops, charitable contributions via PayPal, and an above-market taro purchasing program that sources inputs from regional Windward O'ahu farmers to support rural livelihoods. Its customer base spans three segments: local Hawaiian community members seeking farm-fresh traditional foods, schools and educational groups (e.g., Punahou School 7th-grade visits, Kahiau partner), and visitors interested in authentic Hawaiian cultural experiences. Distribution is intentionally tight: primarily own e-commerce plus a YouTube channel (@Kakoooiwi2025) and earned media such as the 2024 Noelo cover story on circular economy. With 8 employees and a board-led governance structure (President Alice Hewett, Executive Director Kanekoa Kukea-Shultz), the organization pursues a dual mission of cultural preservation and environmental restoration, including habitat recovery for endangered waterbirds on the farm site.
Kakoo Oiwi firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Kakoo Oiwi
- Legal name
- Kakoo Oiwi
- Website
- https://kakoooiwi.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Kākoʻo ʻŌiwi is a Hawaii-based nonprofit that restores lo'i kalo taro terraces in He'eia, sells fresh and frozen poi, kulolo, and merchandise through a weekly farm-pickup e-commerce shop, and delivers cultural-educational visits and workshops to schools, community groups, and visitors on Windward O'ahu.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Kakoo Oiwi industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Specialty Hawaiian Food Products
- NAICS
- Frozen Food Manufacturing (31141)
- SIC
- Agricultural Production-Crops (100), Canned, Frozen & Preservd Fruit, Veg & Food Specialties (2030)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Other Starch Root & Tuber Farming (Yams, Taro, Arrowroot) (AFAGAEAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (Fair Trade, Food Access, Regenerative) (BPAGALAD)
Keywords
Where Kakoo Oiwi is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Kāneʻohe
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Kakoo Oiwi business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Farm Product Sales: Direct sales of farm-fresh produce including poi, kulolo, frozen products, and merchandise through online shop with drive-by pickup and shipping options
- Educational Visits: Paid educational visits for schools and groups to learn about Hawaiian agriculture and culture
- Cultural Workshops: Fees from cultural workshops offered to visitors and community members
- Imu Educational Experience: Underground oven cooking experience offered as educational fundraiser events
- Charitable Contributions: Donations accepted through PayPal to support mission of perpetuating Hawaiian culture through land restoration
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Fresh Poi - 1 lb bag |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Fresh Poi - 2 lb bag |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Frozen Kulolo - 1 lb |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Kulolo Crunch - 4 piece |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Merchandise - Long-Sleeve Shirt |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Merchandise - Long-Sleeve Hoodie |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Kakoo Oiwi product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Kākoʻo ʻŌiwi is a nonprofit farm and cultural organization that grows taro (kalo) in restored lo'i (flooded terraces) in He'eia, Windward O'ahu, and sells traditional Hawaiian food products such as fresh and frozen poi, kulolo, frozen steamed lau, and kulolo crunch through its own online shop with drive-by farm pickup. It also offers paid educational visits, cultural workshops, and imu (underground oven) educational experiences to schools, community groups, and visitors.
Product overview
Kākoʻo ʻŌiwi is a farm-to-consumer sustainable agriculture operation offering a unified portfolio of fresh and frozen taro products alongside merchandise. Their core product line centers on poi and kulolo (traditional Hawaiian taro-based foods) available in various formats: fresh poi in 1-lb and 2-lb bags, frozen poi in 1-lb and 2-lb bags, frozen kulolo, frozen steamed lau, and kulolo crunch. These products are grown on their Heʻeia farm and processed through their certified Poi Mill and kitchen facility (launched 2020). The company also sells branded merchandise including long-sleeve shirts and hoodies. Online ordering opens weekly (Wednesday 5:01 PM HST through Wednesday 5:00 PM HST) with Friday farm pickup.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Fresh Poi (1-lb bag) Fresh poi made from locally grown kalo (taro) harvested on demand and sold in 1-pound bags via the organization's online shop with Friday drive-by pickup; no additives or preservatives.
- Fresh Poi (2-lb bag) Fresh poi made from locally grown kalo, sold in 2-pound bags; rich, velvety fresh poi with naturally sweet undertones, with no additives or preservatives.
- Frozen Poi (1-lb bag) Locally grown poi packaged in 1-pound bags and frozen for extended shelf life while preserving freshness.
- Frozen Poi (2-lb bag) Locally grown poi packaged in 2-pound bags and frozen for extended shelf life while preserving freshness.
- Frozen Kulolo (1-lb) Traditional Hawaiian taro and coconut dessert sold frozen in 1-pound units for extended shelf life.
- Frozen Steamed Lau (1-lb bag)
- Kulolo Crunch (4 piece / 8oz) Traditional kulolo with a buttery macadamia nut crust and sweetened whipped cream, sold in 4-piece packs (approximately 2"x2" each); full pans of 24 pieces available for pre-order.
- Kākoʻo ʻŌiwi Long-Sleeve Shirt Branded long-sleeve shirt featuring the Kākoʻo ʻŌiwi logo, sold as merchandise to support the nonprofit.
- Long-Sleeve Hoodie Long-sleeve hoodie in woodland brown featuring the Kākoʻo ʻŌiwi branding, sold as merchandise to support the nonprofit.
- Educational Visits Paid on-site educational visits for schools, youth groups, and community organizations to learn about Hawaiian agriculture, lo'i kalo cultivation, and traditional culture; includes documented visits by Punahou School's 7th grade and partner organization Kahiau.
- Cultural Workshops Paid cultural workshops offered to visitors and community members on Hawaiian traditional practices, hosted on the farm.
- Imu Educational Experience Underground oven (imu) cooking experience offered as an educational event and fundraiser for the nonprofit.
Quantifiable outcome
- Restored several acres of lo'i kalo and other agroecology since 2010
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Kakoo Oiwi
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Kakoo Oiwi technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Kakoo Oiwi partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Kakoo Oiwi competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- O'o Farm: Maui organic farm offering farm-to-table tours and value-added crops sold directly to consumers. Same farm-direct e-commerce + educational tour combination, but on a different island and operated commercially.
- Kualoa Ranch: Family-run commercial agricultural operation on Windward O'ahu offering tours, educational visits, and on-site food experiences. Comparable model of monetizing O'ahu farmland through immersive, educational experiences, though operated commercially rather than as a nonprofit.
Broad incumbents
- Local Roots NYC: Direct-to-consumer farm product distributor. Not a perfect competitor (different geography and operating model) but illustrates scalable online ordering and shipping mechanics for small-farm produce.
- Imperfect Foods: Direct-to-consumer subscription service delivering farm-sourced produce and specialty foods. Useful as a benchmark for farm-direct e-commerce, scaled shipping logistics, and frozen specialty SKUs.
Direct peers
- Hui Kū Maoli Ola: Native Hawaiian nonprofit operating native-plant nurseries and landscape restoration with educational programming. Comparable Indigenous-led nonprofit combining land stewardship, restoration, and community education.
- Ma'o Organic Farms: Wai'anae-based nonprofit organic farm that runs youth leadership and workforce development alongside commercial agricultural production. Closest peer combining a Hawaii nonprofit farm, value-added sales, and educational programming.
- Waipa Foundation: Hawaiian nonprofit on Kauai that operates lo'i kalo restoration, cultural education, and community agricultural programs. Direct nonprofit peer with the same cultural-preservation + taro-cultivation + education mix in a different island geography.
- ʻĀina Hoʻokupu o Kīlauea: Kauai-based community agricultural nonprofit focused on food self-sufficiency, cultural connection to the land, and educational programs. Same nonprofit-farming + cultural + education overlap as Kākoʻo ʻŌiwi.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Kakoo Oiwi social profiles
Digital presenceKakoo Oiwi financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Kakoo Oiwi leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Kakoo Oiwi funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Kakoo Oiwi M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Kakoo Oiwi
What does Kakoo Oiwi do?
Kākoʻo ʻŌiwi is a nonprofit farm and cultural organization that grows taro (kalo) in restored lo'i (flooded terraces) in He'eia, Windward O'ahu, and sells traditional Hawaiian food products such as fresh and frozen poi, kulolo, frozen steamed lau, and kulolo crunch through its own online shop with drive-by farm pickup. It also offers paid educational visits, cultural workshops, and imu (underground oven) educational experiences to schools, community groups, and visitors.
Is Kakoo Oiwi a public or private company?
Kakoo Oiwi is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Kakoo Oiwi founded?
Kakoo Oiwi was founded in 2006. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Kakoo Oiwi based?
Kakoo Oiwi is headquartered in Kāneʻohe, United States, in the North America region.
How does Kakoo Oiwi make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Farm Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are educational Visits, cultural Workshops, imu Educational Experience and charitable Contributions.
Who are Kakoo Oiwi's main competitors?
Regional players on record are O'o Farm and Kualoa Ranch. Broad incumbents are Local Roots NYC and Imperfect Foods. Direct peers are Hui Kū Maoli Ola, Ma'o Organic Farms, Waipa Foundation and ʻĀina Hoʻokupu o Kīlauea.
Does Kakoo Oiwi have an API?
No public API is recorded for Kakoo Oiwi.
What industry is Kakoo Oiwi in?
Kakoo Oiwi's product category is Specialty Hawaiian Food Products. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAGAEAJ, Other Starch Root & Tuber Farming (Yams, Taro, Arrowroot), with a secondary code of BPAGALAD, Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (Fair Trade, Food Access, Regenerative). Its NAICS code is 31141 and its SIC code is 100.