Pilina Bake Events

Once a month we host "Community Pilina Bake" events at our home bakery space in Waimea. These are "buy or barter" events where the community is invited to bring homemade or homegrown items to trade for Makani Mills' bakery goods. We have an assortment of breads and bakery items available for trade or for purchase during these events, which run 9am-1pm on the last Saturday of each month. 

But really, the purpose behind these events runs deeper for us. It is one day we set aside to put community over profits. It is an opportunity to see our community through the lens of abundance rather than scarcity. We have a lot of abundance amongst us—in the things we grow, the things we make, and the gifts, talents and time we put into creating, growing or building. These Community Pilina Bake events are about sharing in our collective abundance with each other. 

There's really no monetary value we can attach to this kind of exchange that fosters connections to the land and to each other. So try not to overthink what to bring or its monetary value. Past traded items include things like fruit, vegetables, pickled items, herbs, flowers, eggs, honey, homemade candles, homemade lotion bars, baked goods from other local bakers, fish, meat, etc. 

Chances are, you will walk away from the event with more than you thought you would, or maybe even should leave with. It can feel uncomfortable at first. But we encourage everyone to embrace the spirit of the event and take part in both the giving and receiving that happens on these days. 

Come. Connect. Share. 

We welcome trade-ins from other local bakers for these events as well. We accept any individually packaged and properly labeled bakery items that meet Hawai'i's cottage food laws. We also encourage that bakery items emphasize local ingredients/flavors when possible. We are happy to display your product and bake stand/brand information with your items to help promote your work. If you are interested contributing bakery items to these Pilina Bakes, reach out to us via email, makanimills@gmail.com or DM us on Instagram (@makanimills) by the Wednesday before the Pilina Bake Day if possible to discuss what you might like to contribute. This helps us coordinate and set our menu to avoid too much overlap of similar bakery items.