School: Wai’anae Elementary School
Grade Level: Grades 3-6
Teacher: Kacie Fujino
Driving Question: How do we as global citizens and empowered keiki, nourish and uplift our community through agriculture, ʻāina and mala?
What did the students DO?
This ʻŌhiʻa Lehua Crew PALS group combined gardening with culinary and lei-making activities, contributing to their school and the wider community through the Lei of Aloha initiative while continuing to plant and re-pot in their garden.
- Community Engagement: Students participated in a plant scavenger hunt at the Waiʻanae Coast Comprehensive Health Center to gather inspiration for their own māla. They donated ti lei to The Covenant Church and School in Nashville, Tennessee, as part of the Lei of Aloha initiative—sharing messages of peace, aloha, and unity across the ocean.
- Gardening Activities: Haumāna harvested greens from their māla and created a healthy salad to share with their ʻohana and school community. They planted herbs and cleared out a new garden box, exploring native plants and deepening their connection to ʻāina.
- Culinary Creations: Students cooked family-style dishes, including bacon with garden spinach, hibiscus tea, and chocolate-dipped strawberries. They also made herb salts using garden-fresh ingredients, following a tutorial by Aunty Terri—blending traditional knowledge with hands-on learning.
- Cultural Practices: Haumāna learned to make ti lei in class and continued lei-making activities during their PALS time. These practices reinforced cultural traditions and offered opportunities to express aloha through handmade gifts.
This program allowed students to explore the full cycle of gardening, from planting to harvesting, while incorporating hands-on activities like cooking and lei making. Their participation in the Lei of Aloha initiative fostered a deep sense of community and empathy, demonstrating the power of small actions in contributing to global messages of peace and unity. The variety of activities ensured that students developed practical skills while connecting with their culture and environment in meaningful ways—strengthening their kuleana to care for ʻāina and each other.
