School: Nānāikapono Elementary School
Grade Level: Grades 3-6
Teacher: Kahealani Paogofie and Charimhel Rarallo
Driving Question: How do we, as artists, learn culture through art so that we can connect our backgrounds to the present?
What did the students DO?
The Aloha ʻĀina group has been actively engaged in a variety of creative and community-centered projects that uplift both the environment and school spirit. From tie-dye t-shirts to mural design, their work combines art, sustainability, and ʻike kūpuna (ancestral knowledge) to foster a deeper connection to ʻāina and community. These haumāna are leading by example—using recycled materials and native plants to inspire mālama ʻāina values through hands-on activities.
- Creative Collaborations: Students partnered with the Ponobots robotics team to design and create vibrant tie-dye t-shirts for their tournaments. Embracing the concept of upcycling, they gifted extra shirts to other teams and supporters as a gesture of aloha and sustainability. The group also began a collaborative mural project on the school library wall, working alongside a local artist from Waiʻanae to develop culturally grounded themes and visuals.
- Community Engagement: The group helped beautify the school’s museum and hula mound by planting a variety of donated HECO plants. Each plant was labeled with an index card to educate others and inspire continued stewardship. In a gesture of aloha and mahalo, the students also handcrafted gratitude cards using recycled paper, which were gifted to faculty and staff across campus.
- Artistic Expression: Artistic creativity blossomed through watercolor canvas paintings and decorative planter pots made from reusable glass bottles. These projects emphasized resourcefulness while highlighting the connection between aesthetics and sustainability. Students also created games like tic-tac-toe and jacks from recycled materials, fostering teamwork, cultural play, and innovative thinking.
The Aloha ʻĀina program continues to cultivate a strong sense of kuleana (responsibility) and creativity among haumāna. Through their art, gardening, and upcycled projects, students are learning how small acts of mālama can lead to large-scale community impact. By connecting Hawaiian values with modern sustainability practices, this group empowers students to be agents of change—uplifting their surroundings while deepening their connection to ʻāina and each other.
