Waimanalo Market, A Community Cooperative is committed to developing a self-reliant, self-empowering community by offering an exchange of goods that are grown and produced locally in a sustainable, equitable and responsible manner.

Our mission is to promote, strengthen and maintain community-based economic development in Waimanalo by operating a fresh produce market cooperative that will reinvest profits to support youth and cultural programs while reviving sustainable agriculture.

This project evolved out of a need to regain control of our money that was going out of our community. We felt plagued by imported, unhealthy and costly food that was not supporting our local farmers who are our friends and neighbors. We also felt the need to insure that the money we spent was invested in ways we valued.

We visualize a     community  that is connected at a personal level; face-to-face. The market will bring the community together by offering a venue where people can re-connect and build relationships. We will share nutritional information and promote healthy alternatives that are already available in Waimanalo.

The cooperative approach realizes that one of the greatest values is people working together to meet needs that cannot be met alone. It is an enterprise owned by its members whose purpose is to provide goods, services and other benefits to its member/owners. We value the opinions and voices of all our members and encourage participation and goodwill throughout. The advantages of membership include: having a voice and a vote in what is sold at our market and where our profits are reinvested, supporting our local farmers and giving back to our community.

Our plan is:

1. To operate an interactive website where customers can pre-order produce and products that will be picked up on ‘market day’,
2. To expand our membership, build our relationships and partnerships within the community and,
3. Secure a permanent site for our market store-front.