Place-Based Metrics

Makaliʻi Metrics LLC

Place-Based Metrics

Weaving Indigenous innovation with modern analytical tools to create new pathways toward food security and sustainability in Hawaiʻi.

Honolulu, HI, USA

United States

For-profit, including B-Corp or similar models

Native Hawaiian land management once sustained nearly a million people without imports. Today, Hawaiʻi imports nearly 90% of its food. The collapse of plantation agriculture disrupted not only local food production but also the cultural practices that connect community health to ʻāina (land). Between 2017 and 2022, Hawaiʻi lost 10.4% of its farms—more than 700 operations and over 300 producers—according to the 2024 USDA Census. Small farms (under 10 acres) saw the sharpest drop, falling by 13% overall. Despite nearly half of Hawaiʻi’s land being zoned for agriculture, only a fraction is actively cultivated. Presently, a new generation of ʻāina stewards—Indigenous farmers, educators, and conservationists—are working to restore relationships with land. But they face a major barrier: access to timely, culturally relevant agricultural data. Most soil and crop analysis is performed on the continent, disconnected from Hawaiʻi’s unique conditions, and requires shipping samples thousands of miles—exporting revenue, slowing insights, increasing costs, and limiting access. Makaliʻi Metrics addresses this by developing locally rooted, culturally grounded data infrastructure, empowering communities to manage resources through ancestral knowledge and modern analytical tools.

Makaliʻi Metrics provides community-rooted, technologically advanced agricultural analyses tailored to Hawaiʻi’s unique ʻāina and cultural context. First, we are establishing a local analytical headquarters to eliminate the logistical, regulatory, and cost barriers associated with sending samples off-island. This hub removes the need for permits and inspections required for shipping to continental labs and drastically improves turnaround time. Second, we’ve built a user-friendly digital interface to replace rigid CSV-style reports with intuitive, actionable visualizations that empower decision-making. Third, all samples are analyzed using standard extraction methods to meet immediate service needs—and also scanned using mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy. We have developed our own machine learning model, trained specifically on Hawaiʻi’s diverse and unique soil types, to rapidly and accurately predict soil organic carbon. As we grow our regional dataset, we will continue building additional models to assess which other parameters can be reliably predicted using this approach. Lastly, where invited, we aim to integrate moʻolelo, place-based knowledge, and traditional practices into our reporting ecosystem—demonstrating to policymakers and practitioners the measurable value of Indigenous regenerative agriculture.

Makaliʻi Metrics serves a diverse range of communities across our pae ʻāina (archipelago), with a primary focus on supporting local producers. By providing timely, relevant agricultural analyses and insights, we enable farmers to enhance the efficiency and yield of their products. By incorporating soil carbon assessments, we offer holistic management strategies that address both soil fertility and soil health.​ Our commitment to data sovereignty ensures that we work alongside cultural stewards dedicated to restoring traditional food systems rooted in ancestral practices. The outcomes of these practices extend beyond crop yields, fostering cultural revival and education. We apply metrics to deepen our understanding of the successes inherent in the ahupuaʻa system of management.​ Additionally, our initiative builds capacity in ʻāina-based sciences within Hawaiʻi, providing opportunities for individuals passionate about this field. Our efforts strongly align with Hawaiʻi’s current legislative initiatives that require analytical benchmarks, such as the State's goal to double local food production by 2030, achieve carbon neutrality by 2045, and bolster ʻāina-based education programs in schools.