Hoʻolehua Homestead Makeke

Left to right, Tricia Mersberg, Kanoe Dudoit and Kilia Purdy show some products and produce for sale at Ho’olehua Homestead Makeke. Photo by Léo Azambuja

By Léo Azambuja | Interim Editor

The Hoʻolehua Homestead Makeke, a small community market on homestead land, has become one of Molokai’s hidden gems. Usually held twice a month in tandem with a Hawaiian arts workshop, the market offers locally grown produce, plants, snacks, drinks, a thrift shop and a place for ‘ohana to hang out.

“It’s the Hoʻolehua Homesteaders Association, the Molokai Arts Center, and then us as Hoʻolehua homesteaders that want to see our economics grow and have a space for people,” Hoʻolehua homesteader Kilia Purdy said.

The Makeke, or market, operates on a piece of land besides Purdy’s Mac Nut Farm in Hoʻolehua. It is held on the same dates of the plant workshops held by the MAC’s Hawaiian Arts Program, usually two Sunday afternoons per month.

The last Makeke was held during the first of a two-part lauhala workshop taught by Mokihana Paleka Jackson, when more than 20 people attended the workshop. The Makeke was also busy, with at least 10 homestead vendors and a lot of people shopping, hanging out or just playing games.

“We have Malia Bentley, who is selling bread. And then Tricia with her famous oranges that make the bright orange juice,” Purdy said, describing a few vendors. “The Hoʻolehua Homesteaders Association is here selling corn. We’ve got Auntie Kekau selling her ginger, my mom selling her knickknacks, my girls doing their baked goods, the ʻOhana Puaʻa, they’re selling clothes. And then youʻve got Mokihana Paleka on that side. She’s the artist doing the lauhala workshop.”

HĀ Program coordinator Kanoe Dudoit said the focus is to get more homesteaders to farm, while providing them a venue to sell their produce and products. 

“Everybody is happy, healthy. And the kids too, you see it in the kids when they run around. That’s what we are striving for, a healthier, happier community for generations,” Dudoit said. 

Hoʻolehua Homesteaders Association vice president Tricia Mersberg was selling a plate lunch with meatloaf, corn and rice. She also had lasagna with homemade bread. She said the Makeke gives exposure to the homestead association, plus shows the board is trying to help the homesteaders to grow more food.

“When I was young, we farmed. I grew up on a farm,” Mersberg said. “Every homestead had some kind of farm or garden in their yard.”

She added they are trying to bring farming back to younger generations so that they can learn to become sustainable.

“If the stores shut down or the barge doesn’t come, what are you going to eat? Go in your yard, you’ve got a lot of food in there.”

Cammie Purdy only opens her thrift store, Tutu’s Treasures, together with the Makeke. An avid traveler, she is always bringing back new products to sell in her store.

“I have lots of great signs that have really good messages. I have nice paintings and a lot of pictures, all different kinds of clothing,” she said, adding she usually brings back two suitcases full of stuff for her thrift store whenever she travels.

Last year, the Makeke and the HĀ workshops operated Saturday mornings. This year, they shifted to Sunday afternoons. Since the shift, the attendance and the number of vendors grew noticeably. 

Dudoit said it is nice to see the Makeke slowly growing, how families are coming, and how different generations are showing up, whether they are participating in the workshops or just hanging out, selling produce or just playing games. 

“It’s a nice family environment. People can come out and just enjoy each other’s company and just be stress-free,” Dudoit said.

The Makeke is at 2240 Lihi Pali Ave., behind Molokai High School and just east of Purdyʻs Mac Nut Farm. It opens from 3 to 6 p.m. whenever the HĀ workshops are held. The next one is Feb. 15. The workshops are usually held twice a month from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.

The plant-themed workshops are presented by MAC’s HĀ Program in collaboration with the Hoʻolehua Homestead Makeke and the Hoʻolehua Homesteaders Association.

The workshops are free, but donations are encouraged. Visit molokaiartscenter.org or hoolehuahomesteaders.org for more information. You can sign up for the MAC’s newsletter on their website to find out when the Makeke and the HĀ workshops will happen.