FAQ: Mālama ʻĀina, Build Abundance
Understanding Kapa Hawaiʻi — A Currency Rooted in Aloha
Lōkahi • Pono • Kuleana
The Kapa Promise: Economic Security & Cultural Regeneration
Kapa Hawaiʻi is a community-led economic system for Hawaiʻi Island that integrates Universal Basic Income (UBI) with a local complementary currency (Kapa). Rooted in the Hawaiian values of Mālama ʻĀina (caring for the land), Aloha (mutual respect), Lōkahi (unity), and Pono (righteousness), Kapa creates economic resilience while honoring cultural heritage and ecological stewardship.
Members receive daily UBI payouts calculated at approximately 1% per day on their contributions. Revenue comes from regenerative farms, cultural programs, and sustainable assets that honor Mālama ʻĀina.
Example: A $500 contribution generates ~$5.00 daily, totaling $1,825 in year one (+365%) and $5,475 in three years (+1,000%). This model provides a predictable economic floor while supporting community regeneration.
Kapa refers to the traditional Hawaiian cloth made from bark — a symbol of resilience, craftsmanship, and connection to the land. Like the cloth that was woven with skill and intention, the Kapa currency weaves together community members, local businesses, and cultural values into a strong economic fabric that keeps wealth circulating within our island ʻohana.
Mālama ʻĀina: Sustainable Stewardship & Community Resilience
Our commitment to Mālama ʻĀina means we invest only in regenerative agriculture — organic methods, soil healing, native reforestation, water conservation, and biodiversity. Treasury funds support farms that restore degraded land, creating thriving ecosystems while generating sustainable revenue. A portion of transaction fees supports community land trusts for cultural site preservation and native restoration.
Revenue flows from multiple sustainable sources aligned with Hawaiian values:
- Regenerative Agriculture: Fresh produce sales and value-added products (preserves, dried goods)
- Cultural Education: Agro-tourism, farm stays, workshops on Hawaiian traditions and sustainable living
- Hana Noʻeau (Skilled Crafts): Support for local artisans preserving traditional Hawaiian crafts
- Ecological Services: Potential carbon credits and ecosystem restoration grants
Lōkahi means unity and collaboration. Kapa strengthens community by keeping wealth local — when you spend Kapa at registered island businesses, you're directly supporting your neighbors. The currency creates a closed-loop economy where every transaction builds collective prosperity rather than extracting value to distant corporations. A portion of harvests also supports local food security and nutrition programs.
Kapa Currency — The Currency of Aloha
Kapa is a complementary local currency that circulates exclusively within the Hawaiʻi Island community network. Members convert UBI payouts or contributions into Kapa to spend at registered local businesses — farmers, artisans, service providers, and cultural practitioners. This keeps purchasing power local and strengthens the island economy.
When you convert USD from your UBI balance or contributions into Kapa, the exchange rate is generous: $1 USD → 2 Kapa. This instant 2x multiplier dramatically increases your local purchasing power and incentivizes spending within the community network.
Example: Convert $50 USD → receive 100 Kapa to spend at farmers markets, workshops, or local services. Your money goes twice as far while supporting island businesses.
Kūpuna Honor: Verified kūpuna (elders) may receive an enhanced rate ($1 → 2.5 Kapa) to honor and support our senior population.
Spend Kapa at any registered business within the Kapa network:
- Fresh organic produce from regenerative farms
- Traditional Hawaiian crafts and hana noʻeau (skilled handwork)
- Cultural workshops and ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language) classes
- Health & wellness services from local practitioners
- Farm stays and agro-tourism experiences
- Any goods or services offered by Kapa network members
Grow the Network: Invite local merchants and service providers to join. The more businesses accept Kapa, the more places you can spend it — creating a thriving local economy rooted in Lōkahi (unity).
All Kapa transactions are recorded transparently and auditably, reflecting our commitment to Pono (righteousness and transparency). Converting back to USD may be subject to policies designed to preserve the local-first economics of the system. Check our governance pages or contact support for current conversion rules. All policies are community-governed by kūpuna, farmers, and local stakeholders.
Your Kuleana: Participation & Collective Invitation
Your journey is a cycle of abundance rooted in Kuleana (responsibility):
- Join & Contribute: Make an initial contribution that funds regenerative land projects
- Mālama (Nurture): Projects plant and tend farms using regenerative practices
- ʻUlu (Grow & Harvest): Revenue from sustainable harvests and cultural programs
- Māhele (Distribute): Daily UBI payouts (~1%) flow to all members
- Hoʻoulu (Expand): Reinvestment in land health and community programs
- Aʻo (Learn & Engage): Participate in governance, workshops, and cultural education
We promise Pono (transparent operations), Ho ʻokipa (accessible entry for all), and Kaona (deep cultural purpose). Kapa Hawaiʻi bridges financial empowerment with ecological reverence and cultural preservation. Join us in building an economy rooted in Aloha — where your contribution plants seeds of possibility, healing, and collective abundance for generations to come.
E komo mai — Welcome. Plant more than wealth. Plant a future rooted in Aloha.
We're currently operating a three-year pilot program with secured funding through December 31, 2028. During this period, the 1% daily model remains in place. Our goal is to evaluate, refine, and extend the program — building toward long-term sustainability and increased payouts for all members as the regenerative systems mature.
Our long-term vision is to provide every member with a minimum of $1,000 per month, regardless of contribution size, to advance community health and resilience. As the treasury grows through expanded regenerative farms, cultural tourism, value-added products, and community partnerships, we expect to reach this target. The pilot program guides our path toward this abundant future for all island ʻohana.
To receive your welcome gift of 50 Kapa, new members are encouraged to complete a short online module covering basic Hawaiian values (Mālama ʻĀina, Aloha, Lōkahi, Pono) and sustainable island living practices. This ensures all participants understand and honor the cultural foundation of the Kapa system and can participate meaningfully in our community-governed economy.