No Panic...go organic

Ma'o Organic Farms is located on the island of O'ahu. They exist to help people who live in the Wai'anne region. Residents there have struggled due to scarce resources. Ma'o Organic Farms says the youth are struggling to achieve their socio-economic goals.

"The statistics suggest a bleak future for many native Hawaiian youth with the State’s highest rates of teen pregnancy, school suspensions, incidents of substance abuse, and juvenile arrests. In addition, Wai‘anae is recognized as the most food insecure region of Hawai‘ with native Hawaiians having the highest rates of preventable disease including diabetes, heart disease and some cancers."

Ma'o has established a new movement to try to help. Their goal in the beginning was to build a strategy that would impact five critical areas of need: out-of-school youth, sustainable economic development, agriculture, health, and Hawaiian culture.

Now, Ma'o is involving the youth and developing the area's resources. They say, "Over time, it is our hope that the ‘opio will once again identify themselves to the ‘aina that nourishes them, re-building a strong sense of stability, security, and belonging to the ‘ohana nui (larger community)."

More info: http://www.maoorganicfarms.org