An Impact Model for ʻAina Aloha & Regenerative Economy in Hawaiʻi

We designed a graphic of our organization’s impact model and vision: “Abundance through just transition to a regenerative, locally resilient ʻĀina Aloha economy in which all of life (land, people, communities) thrives.” This includes many components of the “Together We Thrive” narrative.

We hosted five listening sessions with diverse audiences representing five of Hawaiʻi’s seven islands – Kauai, Oʻahu, Molokai, Maui, Hawaiʻi Island – including participants from urban, suburban, and rural communities. We asked: What does an ʻĀina Aloha Economy look like to you? What will it take for these narratives to become dominant or mainstream?”

What We Learned

• When people share stories of hardship, struggle, and scarcity, they take these conversations seriously and carry a lot of pain. We already work in a trauma-informed way, yet were reminded of how many folks are actively working through the trauma (both lived and generational) of settler colonialism.
• Language shapes authentic connection, with one participant sharing: “I feel like it’s crucial to interpret concepts in a way that resonates with our community. Terms like “social enterprise” or “co-op” can feel foreign, but if we frame them through familiar Hawaiian concepts—like ahupuaʻa economics—it helps our people connect to the ideas. (It makes) them feel like they are a part of the change, not outsiders looking in.”
• Our discussion about dominant/mainstream narratives seemed to spark interest and curiosity around narrative change and finding specific strategies to shift mental models and identify dominant narratives that folks would like to change.