Building Youth. Building Leaders. Building Communities.
Our Mission
Our mission is to empower and build youth, leaders, and communities by fostering growth in health, cultural, economic, and intellectual realms, with a particular focus on individuals of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Island lineage in underserved areas. Central to this mission is our commitment to connecting deeply with culture, ensuring that our programs honor and perpetuate Hawaiian traditions, values, and practices. We achieve this through three pillars rooted in Hawaiian values:
EHUOLA
Promoting Health and Well-being
We prioritize well-being through intentional movement and health initiatives, deeply rooted in Hawaiian culture. Our approach fosters holistic health that nurtures physical, mental, and spiritual wellness while strengthening community ties and empowering individuals.
WAIOLA
Building Propserity
We nurture wealth by empowering cultural practitioners and building community members to become stewards of our culture, elevating their economic opportunities while preserving the history, customs, arts, and traditions of our Native Hawaiian culture. By equipping future generations with resources and tools, we ensure abundance through various means.
KAHU-A-OLA
Preserving Hawaiian Culture and Resources
We steward and perpetuate Hawaiian culture, ensuring that our history, customs, and traditions are woven into the fabric of our community. By nurturing our ʻāina (food sources) and natural resources, we aim to benefit both present and future generations, fostering a lasting prosperity deeply rooted in our cultural identity.
Make a Donation to Support Our Programs and Make a Difference from Keiki to Kāpuna
Mahalo for your generosity and helping our cause. When you donate to our organization, you become part of our ʻohana and help fund our programs that directly serve our youth, our future leaders, and our Hawaiʻi communities, especially our Koʻolauloa communities.
BACK TO SCHOOL BASH AT A GLANCE
Backpacks Provided Since 2023
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Free Haircuts Provided
Native Hawaiʻian Organizations Teaching Culture
Join Us In Lifting Our Youth
Invest in our tomorrowʻs leaders: one backpack, one ʻohana, one future at a time.
Nurture and cultivate our culture, ʻāina, and the natural resources that provide for our community.
"Mōhala i ka wai ka maka o ka pua," a guiding ʻōlelo nōʻeau (Hawaiian proverb) has become the heart of our summer ʻōpio (youth) program launched in 2023. This Hawaiian proverb beautifully captures the essence of our mission: just as flowers bloom and thrive with water, our people flourish when nurtured and cared for.
From Kaʻaʻawa to Kahuku
Our haumana (students), immersed themselves in the waters of Hauʻula, exploring its moʻolelo (traditional oral stories) through oli (chant), mele (song), hula (dance), and hana keaka (theatrical acting).
They leared the art of self-introduction in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language), forging deeper connections to our Hawaiian culture, wai (water), community, and ʻāina (food source).
I love the fact that the kids learn in Hawaiian. It gave my kids a different perspective on learning. A different perspective on life, really. They would have something new to tell me or something they've learned. Our ohana loved it! Learning the Hawaiian language was definitely the best. Learning something completely different and new like the Hawaiian language was I think very humbling for my kids.
I loved how they learned about our ocean and about the water we drink, and about exploring the ʻāina we live on. I honestly loved every bit of it. The drop off and pick up was very convenient! I loved the fact that it was free with free lunch and snacks every single day! This was by far the best program I could ever put my kids in. Learning the Hawaiian language has always been a must for our ʻohana and for our community. I just want to thank everyone who has made this program possible for our keiki, for our community. Mahalo!!”