BUILDING AN IMU

This is how the KEY Project stokes the fire for its Thanksgiving imu:

Layer A layer or platform of untreated wood pallets goes on

1 the bare ground. This provides air circulation and

keeps next layers off of potentially damp ground.

2 A substantial layer of shredded paper acts as a “fire

starter,” collected from area schools and businesses.

3 Two or more layers of untreated wood pallets will

serve as kindling.

Additional kindling comprises smaller sticks or

4 branches of wood such as guava, mango, lychee,
avocado or citrus.

Dense, hot-burning logs, usually mangrove, come from

5 fishpond and wetland restoration projects, as well as
kiawe from various sites.

Porous rocks — softball size and up — retain heat but

6 tend not to have air pockets, so they don’t explode.

The fire is lit and allowed to burn down for several hours until rocks are red hot.

A layer of sliced, diced, shredded banana stumps

7 holds plenty of moisture and creates steam.

A layer of banana leaves forms the hali‘i, or bed for

8 the food.

9 Food packets are well wrapped in foil.

10 More banana leaves and ti leaves cover the food.

11 Wet burlap bags cover the whole mound.

12 Layers of soaked cotton dropcloths add more moisture.

One or two whole sheets of heavy plastic are weighed

13 down and sealed at the edges with sandbags to keep
oxygen out so the fire smolders.