2024 Festival of Pacific Arts
Our Mohala i ka Wai haumana had the incredible opportunity to attend the Festival of Pacific Arts in Hawai'i, where we celebrated the rich cultural heritage of the South Pacific nations. This gathering deepened our understanding of how wai (water) connects us all across the vast Pacific Ocean, linking our histories, traditions, and future. Through this experience, we engaged with indigenous knowledge that emphasizes the vital role of wai in sustaining life, culture, and community. Our participation reaffirmed our commitment to honoring these connections and promoting the preservation of water and cultural practices throughout the Pacific.
Mohala i ka Wai 2024
Kahu-a-ola
Preserve & Perpetuate as stewards of this ʻāina
Nurture and cultivate our culture, ʻāina, and the natural resources that provide for our community.
"Mōhala i ka wai ka maka o ka pua," a guiding ʻōlelo nōʻeau (Hawaiian proverb) that became the heart of our summer ʻōpio (youth) program launched in 2023. This Hawaiian proverb beautifully captures the essence of our mission: just as flowers bloom and thrive with water, our people flourish when nurtured and cared for. Our haumana (students), spanning from Kaʻaʻawa to Kahuku, Oʻahu, immersed themselves in the waters of Hauʻula, exlopring its moʻolelo (traditional oral stories) through oli (chant), mele (song), hula (dance), and hana keaka (theatrical acting). They leared the art of self-introduction in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language), forging deeper connections to our Hawaiian culture, wai (water), community, and ʻāina (food source).
Together, we empower our ʻōpio to embrace and foster environmental stewardship, planting the seeds of knowledge and responsibility for a more sustainable and connected future.
Testimonials
“I love the fact that the kids learn in Hawaiian. It gave my kids a different perspective on learning. A different perspective on life really. They would have something new to tell me or something they've learned. Our ohana loved it! Learning the Hawaiian language was definitely the best. Learning something completely different and new like the Hawaiian language was I think very humbling for my kids. I loved how they learned about our ocean and about the water we drink, and about exploring the ʻāina we live on. I honestly loved every bit of it. The drop off and pick up was very convenient! I loved the fact that it was free with free lunch and snacks every single day! This was by far the best program I could ever put my kids in. Learning the Hawaiian language has always been a must for our ohana and for our community. I just want to thank everyone who has made this program possible for our keiki, for our community. Mahalo!!” ~Tyrah Padeken, Makua
“My kids absolutely loved Mohala i ka wai. I have a 14 year old and a soon to be 10 year old that both attended this program this summer and they came home and shared a lot of the moʻolelo they learned from this program; learning about the sea creatures in our ocean and they learned all about the ʻāina, and they had many field trips. They were so excited to come to this program after the first day, they kept wanting to come back when they came home. I absolutely love this program and everybody that I talk to, I encourage them to sign up their children for next summer.” ~ Melissa Kaonohi-Camit, Makua
“My kids absolutely loved Mohala i ka wai. I have a 14 year old and a soon to be 10 year old that both attended this program this summer and they came home and shared a lot of the moʻolelo they learned from this program; learning about the sea creatures in our ocean and they learned all about the ʻāina, and they had many field trips. They were so excited to come to this program after the first day, they kept wanting to come back when they came home. I absolutely love this program and everybody that I talk to, I encourage them to sign up their children for next summer.” ~ Melissa Kaonohi-Camit, Makua