Established in 2009, Māmaka is a Hawaiian-owned and certified DBE specializing in community relations, resource management, and ʻāina stewardship. Born, raised, and living in Hawaiʻi, we have a vested interest in our communities, we know our people, and we have established strong ties across the islands — working in, with, and for Hawaiʻi. Rooted in Hawaiian values with indigenous wisdom and local expertise, we deliver services designed to protect, preserve, and perpetuate Hawaiʻi — our moʻolelo, wahi pana, and ʻāina. Practicing what we advise, our 10,000-square-foot homestead and satellite sites serve as living laboratories for zero-waste circular economics, grounding our professional services in daily action.
PILINA: we foster genuine relationships and deep reciprocity between communities, stakeholders, and ʻāina. Our work is rooted in building trust and enduring partnerships that honor both people and place. Through active listening, cultural understanding, and collaborative engagement, we create connections that support collective growth, resilience, and mālama. Pilina is the foundation of meaningful work—strengthening the bonds that sustain our islands and ensuring that every relationship is rooted in respect, responsibility, and shared kuleana.
MĀLAMA: at the heart of our work is Mālama — a deep, ongoing commitment to caring for ʻāina, community, and culture. We actively nurture these relationships through responsible stewardship, ensuring that every project we undertake honors the health and vitality of our islands. Whether through sustainable resource management, cultural preservation, or community engagement, we prioritize actions that sustain and revitalize our ʻāina for future generations. Our daily practices—harvesting native materials ethically, cultivating native plants, and fostering community partnerships—embody this enduring spirit of care, ensuring that our efforts leave a positive, lasting imprint on Hawaiʻi’s land and people.
HOʻOMAU: rooted in resilience and unwavering dedication, Hoʻomau drives us to persevere through challenges and uphold our kuleana to protect Hawaiʻi’s cultural and natural heritage. We demonstrate this through continuous innovation, adaptive resource management, and steadfast community support. Our commitment to mālama ʻāina and community is a lifelong journey — persevering in our efforts to restore, preserve, and pass down ʻike and practices that sustain our islands. Through resilience, hope, and persistent action, we ensure that the legacy of Hawaiian culture and environmental stewardship endures for generations to come.
LOGO HŌʻAILONA
A Māmaka is a horizontal stick for carrying burdens over the shoulders that is unique to Hawai’i. The Hawaiian word Mā- is a prefix indicating quality or state, and is also short for the word Maka, which has various meanings: eye of a needle; tip of a spear; face; presence; sight; mesh of a net; stitch in sewing; source; or initiate.
The Māmaka balances the weight of a pūʻolo kalo (bundle of taro) and a kōkō ʻumeke (calabash in carrying net). The huluhulu, kalo, hā, and lau — roots, corm, stalk, and leaves — of mature and young kalo are representative of the diverse kanaka (human) and ʻāina (environment). Unified and cohesive yet individualistic, the pūʻolo kalo being symbolic of kaiāulu — our communities. The ʻumeke is contained within a kōkō of native and natural fibers. The calabash is versatile in function and applicability, and the carrying net is efficient and durable. The kōkō ʻumeke is interpretive of our current and future clients, project goals and deliverables within a Hawaiian context.
The Māmaka represents dedication, strength, skill, and precision. It is the balance, the brace, the link, and the bridge. Māmaka reminds us of our pilina (connection) and kuleana (responsibility) to Hawaiʻi, and speaks to our commitment to mālama (steward) our kaiāulu.
CERTIFIED HUBZONE + DBE
Māmaka is certified by the Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE), and is also certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE). After passing rigorous review processes, these certifications demonstrate that Māmaka meets the requirements to do business with large corporations, local, state, and federal agencies, and airport concessionaires as a ACDBE and MBE. Māmaka can assist with public relations objectives and help your project meet DBE participation goals.
Māmaka is also certified by the U.S. Small Business Administration to participate in the Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) Program. The HUBZone program helps small businesses in urban and rural communities gain preferential access to federal procurement opportunities, and provides Māmaka with access to federal set-aside and sole source contracts allowing us to bring our expertise in community relations to our clients in a more direct and strategic way that meets demand and contributes to the economic development of our communities.
Connect with us
