School: Waiʻanae High School
Grade Level: Grades 9-12
Teacher: Damaris Alvarez and Annie Grainge
Driving Question: How do we as Seariders connect with our indigenous roots in order to preserve and advance our culture, indigenous traditions, and methods for today and future generations to come?
What did the students DO?
Guided by their driving question, this La Raza PALS group has been actively reconnecting with their indigenous roots through cultural celebration, mālama ʻāina, culinary exploration, sewing, and service. With a foundation grounded in both Hispanic/Latinx traditions and Hawaiian values, students have woven together cultural identity, language, art, and sustainability into their collective work. From volunteering at Hoa ʻĀina O Mākaha to creating traditional altars for Día de los Muertos, to attending heritage festivals and crafting handmade goods, La Raza continues to uplift their cultures while planning for future generations.
- Celebrating Día de los Muertos and Latin Heritage: Students designed and created a vibrant altar installation at WHS to celebrate Día de los Muertos. They also hosted activities such as face painting and lunch events to share cultural practices with classmates during Latin Heritage Month.
- Participation in Latin & World Language Festivals: La Raza proudly participated in the Latin Heritage Festival and the World Language Festival at Moanalua, engaging with other multilingual and multicultural student groups to celebrate their heritage through art, language, and performance.
- Volunteering with Hoa ʻĀina O Mākaha: Students gave back to the land and their community through regular volunteering at the monthly U-PICK program at Hoa ʻĀina O Mākaha. This hands-on work integrated the value of mālama ʻāina (care for the land) with their identity as cultural stewards.
- Learning and Fundraising with ʻĀina Bars: La Raza partnered with Uncle Vince to learn how to prepare ʻāina bars — a nutrient-rich local snack made with kiawe flour — and used them for a school fundraiser. This connected them to place-based sustainability and the local economy.
- Sewing Projects and Upcycled Fashion: Students learned foundational sewing skills and created useful items like scrunchies for fundraising. They also visited the Goodwill Outlet to source materials for upcycling, blending sustainability with self-expression through fashion.
- Culinary Exploration Through Hispanic Recipes: The group explored the culinary roots of Spanish-speaking cultures by preparing traditional items such as agua fresca. These cooking sessions connected students to ancestral knowledge, cultural flavors, and the importance of food traditions.
- Huakaʻi to Kaʻala Farm and Makua Valley: Students immersed themselves in Hawaiian culture and history through visits to Kaʻala Farm and Makua Valley. These experiences grounded them in local ʻike, expanded their awareness of land-based learning, and deepened their connection to the cultural and historical significance of place.
- Continued Cultural Fusion and Collaboration: Throughout the year, La Raza has honored their heritage while learning from and with the people and land of Hawaiʻi. They continue to meet, sew, cook, and plan ways to support their group and share their ʻike with the school community.
La Raza is a powerful example of how students can honor multiple cultural identities while becoming leaders in service, creativity, and heritage preservation. Through ʻāina-based learning, hands-on projects, and joyful celebration of Hispanic and Hawaiian practices, this group models what it means to be global citizens rooted in indigenous values. Their work fosters a sense of kuleana, pride, and responsibility to both their own cultures and to the land and community they call home.
