Episode 9 - Molokai Overview

Chef Mike Lofaro and student of the culture Kainoa Horcajo travel to the island known as ‘aina momona, the island of abundance, Moloka’i, an island fiercely protective of its resources and where you’ll still find kupuna guiding the younger generations in the ways of their ancestors.  They meet the Solatorio ‘ohana, who has lived in Halawa Valley for dozens of generations.  Greg Solatorio takes them on land to search for pepeiao on fallen trees, then in the stream for prawns, only to also find what’s so hard to find on other islands these days, ‘o’opu.  All the while they are watched over by Greg’s father, Uncle Pilipo.  Mike and Kainoa then drive west to the sand dunes of Mo’omomi and get a lesson on pono fishing practices by caretaker Mac Poepoe, who grew up with this gorgeous coastline as his playground and food basket.  During his “lesson,” the young man Mac mentors leaves and returns in minutes with a net of ‘aholehole – not too many, but just enough for dinner and friends.  And what a dinner Mike creates in a hibachi imu as well as on the stove.