Our journey and exploration with Place-Based Cultural Projects began in 2007, with PALS - our afterschool program - with a grant from the US ED NHEP (Native Hawaiian Education Program). Our mission was to explore strategies that students would find engaging, culturally relevant, and meaningful – during out-of-school time (OST). We wanted to explore whether engaging and culturally relevant learning opportunities afterschool can impact students’ school performance. Yes, it can impact school performance. But, we learned so much more. As we developed relationships with community organizations, it became apparent how alive students became when they were engaged with community organizations; when they learned more about their community – their place. So together we all explored and learned of the incredible depth and wealth of cultural capital, intellectual capital, and spiritual capital. The more students were able to access this capital, the more curious, engaged, and positive they grew. During the first year, we served one school and 35 students. We grew each year.