Seeing the light: The power of culturally conscious cooperatives

November 2021—Designed as a place-based framework of desired learning outcomes for the Hawai‘i Department of Education, Nā Hopena A‘o, or HĀ, can also guide Hawai‘i-based businesses in deepening pilina with their place and local communities. To us, Ho‘āhu Energy Cooperative Molokai was a perfect place to introduce the HĀ framework. They serve Molokai’s renewable energy needs and offer affordable alternatives for a community impacted by the highest electricity costs in the United States. We facilitated a day-long strategic planning session that began with a HĀ grounding exercise to identify the unique values and qualities of their island community. With a vision for “resilient, sustainable, equitable, culturally conscious energy for all,” Ho‘āhu continues to move forward with further training in HĀ for its workforce. For more information about our cooperative business development services, please contact Teresa Young.