Our Story

Pono Collective was born from a shared belief: that the future of learning about Hawai‘i’s food systems depends on cultivating a more just, resilient, and locally grounded approach to agriculture and education. In 2018, a group of educators, industry leaders, and changemakers came together around a simple but powerful vision — to uplift communities through hands-on learning that reflects the spirit of pono — doing what is right in thought and action.

We saw a need for more than textbooks and lectures. We saw an opportunity to bring learning to life in the very places that sustain our communities — farms, mills, roasteries, and beyond. What began as a pilot project to connect students to Hawai‘i’s specialty coffee industry quickly grew into something larger: a movement to bridge education, agriculture, and local leadership.

Today, Pono Collective brings people together through immersive, hands-on learning rooted in our local values. We’re not just teaching — we’re helping build a future where knowledge, culture, and sustainability grow side by side.

This is our story — and it’s still being written, with every learner and partner who joins us.