School: Ka Waihona o Ka Na’auao Public Charter School
Grade Level: 3-8
Teacher: April Kalt and Kuhi Rowland
Driving Question: How can we as Hawaiians show our aloha ʻāina and utilize resources from mauka to makai to market and sell haumāna made products while building and strengthening healthy interpersonal relationships?
The Aloha ʻĀina PALS group participated in school and community-based projects like beach clean-ups and school beautification projects. Many different guest speakers shared their manaʻo on topics ranging from native plants to owning a small business that revolves around culturally-based products. The students learned how to make kapa, lei, lei poʻo, pāpale, lauhala accessories, and handbags. Building and strengthening relationships was a natural byproduct of time, effort and teamwork naturally build into the projects.