CocoNoni Magic

Maui’s Most Trusted Healing Product.

 Mai pono hana ‘oe aka e hana pono – don’t work carelessly, but work carefully. The idea of sustainability was adopted by the Native Hawaiians long before the concept existed. From unique irrigation systems to intricate agricultural techniques - the Native Hawaiians knew that the key to being sustainable was through respect and careful cultivation of the ʻāina (land). In addition, they were also medical experts (kahuna) who believed in patience and the interconnection between the mind, body and spirit. Many of their healing remedies involved plants and one of the most well-known healing plants of them all was noni.

Now you might be asking yourself, why are we talking about ancient Hawaiian medicine and how does this relate to me? Well, the answer is simple – we learn from the past. Our purchasing decisions certainly go beyond the realm of fashion. And, in the grand scheme of things, being a conscious consumer is about more than picking the clothes or accessories that go on your body –it’s also about how you care for it too. Living a healthier (and more sustainable) lifestyle often comes from taking knowledge from those who were kind enough to pass it on, and making it work for you. That’s exactly what Bonnie Jean Blackmore did when she created the magic we know as CocoNoni, a sustainable healing product derived from the noni plant.

CocoNoni is a healing product. Used to heal scars, itchy skin, abrasions, lesions, acne, sore muscles – oh, and did we mention it’s vet recommended. It comes in two forms -- the CocoNoni Sacred Salve and the CocoNoni Anointing Oil. The salve is made from the Noni Leaf, virgin cold pressed coconut oil and cosmetic grade beeswax (from sustainably farmed bees). The oil is made from fair-trade organic, cold-pressed and processed avocado oil infused with Noni Leaf, Spikenard Root and Royal Hojari Frankincense resin.

CocoNoni is made exclusively in small batches using fresh, organic and whole ingredients that are at their peak freshness. Blackmore’s process includes using only two or three leaves from select trees, a pint of fair trade cold pressed organic coconut oil and sustainably harvested cosmetic quality beeswax that she gets locally. The result? FLOW – fresh, local, organic and whole. Blackmore’s philosophy and standard for anything that goes in and on her body.

“I operate on win-win-win philosophy.  To me ‘acceptable limits’ are unacceptable unless they are zero.  Not only is CocoNoni ‘acceptable’, with no side effects … it’s actually good for the planet.  The earth likes noni leaf too.  Coconut oil and beeswax are both whole foods found in nature in their relative wholeness.  If I spill some oil on the counter the ants will commit insecticide drowning themselves trying to drink the goodness of the spill.”

When we had the chance to sit down with Bonnie and learn more about her product, it was clear that doing good was the sole reason CocoNoni exists. “I had a woman want to order 128,000 units. I just laughed.  I said I could do 128. My greatest fear is that someone is going to think they can get rich making CocoNoni and destroying noni trees or using trees that are not healthy and using inferior ingredients that are cheaper so they can make more profit.  Then they mass produce and add toxic preservatives for a longer shelf life.  My goal has never been nor will ever be geared toward money.” Says Blackmore. It’s simple, CocoNoni feels good on your skin and does good for the planet. But after our interaction with Blackmore, the HOKU team realized that we could learn more about sustainability from this product than we ever thought was possible.

 It’s with complete transparency that we say CocoNoni embodies the basic principles that we want you to get out of reading HOKU Magazine – what does it mean to be a true conscious consumer? One: Support local, always. By supporting local you become more invested in the well-being of your community and it’s future.  Two: Less is more. Bonnie creates CocoNoni in small batches because she understands that mass production isn’t necessary when you’ve got a damn good product that does the job right. The same goes for clothes, by making purchasing decisions based off of clothes that make us feel totally unstoppable, we realize we don’t need to buy a new outfit every week. Three: Go with the FLOW. Products that are fresh, local, organic and whole are almost always more effective and much healthier to put in and on our bodies! Finally, always have good intentions! Our role as human beings on this planet is much more important than our role as consumers. Your choices matter – YOU matter.

Bonnie’s products are available at CocoNoni.com

Photographer: Kiana Kanoa

Words: Kiana Kanoa