Waimanalo is rich in so many AWESOME resources. Heres one for you :) WHAT IS A CO-OP AND HOW DOES IT HELP MY COMMUNITY? A few years ago I watched in sadness when Mel’s Market closed their doors for the very last time... The community quickly launched into a thinking mode, sharing their ideas and collaborating their efforts to formulate a plan that could keep the ownership of that market in the hands of the Waimanalo community. Thus, the Waimanalo Market Co-op was born. What is a Co-op and how does it help my community? A co-op is a business that is owned by the people that it serves. It is a unique business structure in which the business is owned and operated by its’ members. Who benefits from this business? We do! It is our answer to living in a sustainable manner where we depend on each other to provide the basic necessities of life, functioning in a way similar to the ahupua’a practices of our wa kupuna (ancient ones). Local economic viability, greater access to healthy and FRESH local foods, a Waimanalo-owned asset that promotes ethical business practices, and a Waimanalo-owned business that promotes local entrepreneurship are a few of the benefits to having a food-co-op in Waimanalo. The Waimanalo Market Co-op will serve all people of Waimanalo, including our neighboring communities and beyond. You don’t have to be a member to shop at the Waimanalo Market Co-op however, if you would like to become an owner then you need to be a member. Since the Waimanalo Market Co-op has opened the doors of the former Mel’s Market LIFE exists again within that historical place. Kupuna (elders) bring in their crafts to sell, entrepreneurs receive the help that they may need for a successful business, small farmers have a place to sell their FRESH product and the people of the community have the access to these fresh products and the opportunity to truly support local. In the market you may learn a recipe or two amongst the conversations and relationship building that occurs. Come see for yourself, aloha exists in that place. The Co-op signed a 10 year lease with its wonderful landowners with the hope of purchasing the property in five years. It currently has the financial backing of 115 member/owners who have given the market the equity needed to open the doors. Opening the doors is just the beginning. We have over 10,000 residents in Waimanalo! Can you imagine if one-half of our population became members!? Imagine walking into a store that you own; a store that sells the arts, crafts, and local foods from within your own community. That’s people helping people. That’s community making community a strong economic hub where we invest in ourselves. What is a Co-op? A Co-op gives us the opportunity to be owners of our future, of our lives and of our community. How does it help my community? By investing in the Co-op we indeed invest in our farmers, our entrepreneurs, and ourselves; living a healthier life style, creating a place where we work together towards a future that our children and grandchildren will own and have opportunities to prosper and live a healthy and happy life. Throughout this 2015 year, the Waimanalo Market Co-op will be recruiting members to join this forward movement toward an economical and viable Waimanalo. Membership is $100 for an individual and $200 for a family. The future is in our hands; lets seize the opportunity and pave the path in which the generations after us may follow. Eō Waimanalo!
Posted on: Sun, 11 Jan 2015 00:19:14 +0000
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