Imu blessing marks step toward dream of food sustainability…North Kohala inaugurated a commercial imu
North Kohala inaugurated a commercial imu in a ceremony in late November that advanced a years-long dream of local residents to help make the community food-sustainable, tapping a grant that had its origins in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, when Native American Billy Mills staged an upset victory in the men’s 10,000-meter race.
Seventeen-year-old Kapaau resident Aukea Ka’aekuahiwi received a $10,000 grant from Running Strong, the organization established by Mills to support Native American youth and others, and used the funds to build the imu on a 5-acre family owned property in Kapanaia. The imu — an underground oven using volcanic rocks — will be available to families in the community for pig roasts for their relatives and for commercial sale of foods such as lau lau and kalua pig.
