School: Ka Waihona o Ka Na’auao Public Charter School
Grade Level: Grades 3-6
Teacher: Valerie Manoa, Hiilani Shibata
Driving Question: How can our knowledge of cultivation create gifts that contribute to our economic ecosystem of our community?
What did the students DO?
This PALS group has been deeply engaged in mālama ʻāina through gardening and traditional crafts within the mala spaces at KWON, under the guidance of Kumu Manoa. They have explored the use of natural materials such as hala fibers to create cordage and lauhala lei, connecting hands-on work with ʻike kūpuna (ancestral knowledge). The students actively prepare for their upcoming presentation at Hoʻike, where they will share their journey, cultural practices, and environmental stewardship with the community.
- Program Initiation: The group officially began their work in January during the second semester, marking a renewed commitment to Hawaiian cultural practices and ʻāina-based learning.
- Gardening & Traditional Crafts: Haumāna have been nurturing native plants within the mala spaces, learning about mālama ʻāina and Hawaiian environmental values. Alongside gardening, they practice kapa making, natural dyeing, and weaving—traditional crafts that embody ʻike Hawaiʻi and perpetuate ʻōiwi cultural heritage.
- Natural Materials Exploration: Students engaged in hands-on learning by harvesting and processing fibers from the roots of the hala tree. Through this process, they created ʻāʻī (cordage), honoring time-honored methods of utilizing native resources sustainably and respectfully.
- Crafting Efforts: The group crafted lauhala lei from locally sourced leaves, demonstrating skill, patience, and aloha for the ʻāina’s gifts. These creations serve both as cultural expression and tangible connections to Hawaiian identity.
- Presentation Development: In preparation for Hoʻike, students developed a comprehensive slide presentation that chronicles their experiences, including the Pā Lehua huakaʻi and native plant restoration days. This presentation intertwines storytelling with cultural education, exemplifying ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi and mālama ʻāina values.
- Community Engagement: In alignment with Hawaiian values of kuleana and lāhui, the group prepared additional fibers and hū (woven items) to share at Hoʻike and sell at the school’s upcoming celebration. These efforts foster a strong sense of community care and cultural pride.
This beautiful PALS hui offers haumāna an immersive, ʻāina-centered education that bridges traditional Hawaiian craftsmanship with contemporary environmental stewardship. By working intimately with natural materials and engaging in native plant cultivation, students develop a profound connection to their cultural heritage and a sense of responsibility to mālama their ʻāina. The process of preparing for Hoʻike not only enhances their technical skills but also nurtures reflective practices, ʻōlelo hoʻomaikaʻi, and confidence in sharing their ʻike with the broader community. Through this holistic approach, students emerge as empowered stewards of Hawaiian culture, values, and land.
