Poʻo of Holomua Outreach: Moʻi Kawaakoa

Moʻi Kawaakoa, Poʻo of Holomua Outreach, is a lineal and generational descendant who has embraced her kuleana to uplift and protect the houseless descendants of her moku. Guided by ancestral responsibility and ʻike kūpuna, she leads with a commitment to restore dignity, connection, and pathways forward for her people.

What began with a focused commitment to Holomua Road has grown into a Maui-wide movement of care and action. Through consistent outreach, Moʻi and her hui provide food, water, hygiene care, medical support, and essential resources to both sheltered and unsheltered community members across Pāʻia, Haʻikū, Hāmākua, Wailuku, Lahaina, and beyond. She has helped hundreds navigate systems by securing photo IDs, accessing SNAP benefits, and obtaining medical insurance—removing barriers to stability.

Through strong pilina, she has built a network of trusted partnerships with organizations such as Maui Rapid Response, Maui Medic Healers Hui, Maui Rescue Mission, Ohana Strong HI, and many grassroots allies—creating a coordinated system of care that shows up consistently for the community, especially in times of crisis.

Under her leadership, Holomua Outreach has expanded into workforce development, launching Environmental and Food Systems Cohorts that provide hands-on training, certifications, and paid opportunities. Participants—many with lived experience—are now leading environmental restoration, non-displacing cleanups, fire mitigation, abandoned vehicle coordination, and locally sourced hot meal production. This work not only restores ʻāina but builds purpose, stability, and leadership within the community.

Moʻi has also been at the forefront of disaster response, activating alongside partners during events like Kona Low storms—providing supplies, supporting emergency shelter operations, and advocating for trauma-informed approaches that allow people to remain safe and supported with dignity.

At the heart of her leadership is the vision of building a Puʻuhonua—a culturally grounded, trauma-informed sanctuary where people can heal, rebuild, and step into self-determination. Through advocacy, outreach, workforce development, and community organizing, she continues to challenge systems that displace and instead builds solutions that restore balance.

Alongside her ʻohana and a dedicated collective of supporters, Moʻi ensures that those most vulnerable are not forgotten, but uplifted—with access to resources, guidance, and pilina that open pathways toward healing, empowerment, and generational resilience.

This is her kuleana. This is Holomua.