Eat The Invasives
MAKANA WAIPĀ: Eat the Invasives 2025
Mahalo nui to all of our amazing practitioners, chefs, community members, sponsors, friends and ʻohana who came out to ETI 2025. Invasive species were eaten, the bounty of our ʻāina was celebrated, beautiful mele was heard and the night was danced away! We are so grateful to the many hands the contributed to the success of the evening. Your support will help to further our work with our community keiki and internship programs and to continue cultivating the ahupuaʻa. The photos are in from Sebastion Romero, click the link below to view the entire gallery. You can find him @sebassromero on Instagram! Also keep scrolling for candids and a link to our Instagram @waipa_ohana for some sweet moments throughout the night!
Mahalo nui to our 2025 Sponsors!
About Makana Waipa: Eat the Invasives
Launched in 2016 as a partnership between Kona Brewing Hawaii and the Waipā Foundation, MAKANA Waipā: Eat the Invasives has become our most anticipated and significant fundraising event. It has grown into a unique culinary journey that celebrates mindful mea`ai, local ingredients, aloha for abundant healthy ‘āina and the beloved space and community that Waipā has cultivated. Chefs from Hawaiʻi pae `āina work with our team of hunters, fishers, and foragers, staff and community volunteers to prepare delicious culinary creations highlighting invasive species threatening our `āina. In this especially challenging time, proceeds from this event will provide critically important funding to ensure that Waipāʻs community programming can continue.
Why Eat The Invasives?
As Hawai`i imports 85-90% of our food, terrestrial and marine ecosystems throughout the islands –including Waipā– are decimated by invasive species ranging from birds and snails to plants, animals and insects. This event will remove thousands of invasive species from our ‘aina and give cultural food plants and native species a fighting chance.
If you can’t beat em, why not eat em?
Programs Supported by Eat the Invasives Fundraiser
Our programs have been transformational in connecting people, ‘āina and food, and have inspired a new generation of community leaders. The proceeds from this event will provide valuable support to our:
‘Āina Education: Waipā hosts year round educational field trips & group visits that connect thousands of learners annually from Kauaʻi, Hawaii & beyond
Youth Programs: Over the last 23 years Waipā has worked to ensure children of families rooted in Kaua’iʻs North Shore communities continue to practice and steward with the knowledge of their ancestors.
Summer Intern Programs: Waipā provides valuable career development and networking opportunities for high school & college students to return to ʻāina.
Food Justice: With help of our dedicated volunteers, Waipā produces 750 pounds of poi weekly which is distributed at & below cost to our communities, ensuring keiki and kupuna continued access to this healthy traditional staple.