Hawaiian issues are near and dear to Mona Bernardino's heart.

As a litigation attorney with Legal Services for Children, such matters formed the bulk of her caseload. So when she moved over to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and later had the opportunity to become executive director of Hi`ilei Aloha LLC — the parent of Hi`ipoi LLC, which operates Makaweli Poi Factory — she jumped at the chance.

The entity is aimed at boosting Kaua`i's community by ensuring that poi production continues on the West Side and helping farmers sell their products. Other goals include serving as an incubator for small businesses run by Native Hawaiians and assisting new nonprofit organizations in getting up and running.

"This is more entrepreneurial than what I've done in the past, so I'm excited about it," Bernardino said.

Hi`ilei Aloha "is a new approach for OHA," Bernardino said. "We've been talking about this in Honolulu for many years and it's based on things we've been told Hawaiians want. Now we're putting staff and money and energy into it."

The idea for Hi`ipoi LLC came into being when John A`ana, the former owner of Makaweli Poi, approached OHA about buying the company, which is supplied by West Side taro growers.

Bernardino said OHA Trustee Don Cataluna, who represents Kaua`i, "was pretty resolute that poi production had to continue for that community. It wasn't just a matter of business, it was a matter of culture and food self-sufficiency."

Now that it's successfully operating Makaweli Poi, Hi`ipoi is exploring ways of making the company more than just a poi producer by possibly expanding it into an educational center that teaches people how to grow taro and make poi, she said.

Other ideas in the cooker include eco-tourism ventures, a farmer's cooperative and initiatives to help farmers expand into other crops "that will help that part of the island with sustainability and the preservation of agriculture, while benefiting the economy," Bernardino said.

Another goal of Hi`ilei Aloha is assisting fledgling nonprofits by helping them get their tax-deductible 501(c)(3) status and then teaching them how to run meetings, keep minutes, manage a board of directors, seek funds and otherwise operate effectively, she said.

Providing start-up services for businesses run by Native Hawaiians is also in the works, she said.

OHA plans to support these ventures by securing federal funding "no one else is going after," she said.

"We're really looking forward to working with the community and providing a value by having local control over food," Bernardino said.

Those who want more information or would like to get involved in the planning process can contact Kanani Perry, executive director of Makaweli Poi, at 338-1199.