Kūkulu Kumuhana o Kalae Momona Tuition
A two-week long, fully immersive youth education experience set in the sacred landscape of Waipiʻo Valley. Rooted in ʻike Hawaiʻi this program embodies ‘Ma ka hana ka ʻike’ - learn by doing. This phone-free immersion serves as a reset and reconnection to mauli ola through hands-on learning across the ahupuaʻa, from mauka to makai. Participants engage in daily practices grounded in observation, contribution, and ancestral intelligence.
A two-week long, fully immersive youth education experience set in the sacred landscape of Waipiʻo Valley. Rooted in ʻike Hawaiʻi this program embodies ‘Ma ka hana ka ʻike’ - learn by doing. This phone-free immersion serves as a reset and reconnection to mauli ola through hands-on learning across the ahupuaʻa, from mauka to makai. Participants engage in daily practices grounded in observation, contribution, and ancestral intelligence.
A two-week long, fully immersive youth education experience set in the sacred landscape of Waipiʻo Valley. Rooted in ʻike Hawaiʻi this program embodies ‘Ma ka hana ka ʻike’ - learn by doing. This phone-free immersion serves as a reset and reconnection to mauli ola through hands-on learning across the ahupuaʻa, from mauka to makai. Participants engage in daily practices grounded in observation, contribution, and ancestral intelligence.
KŪKULU KUMUHANA is not just an educational retreat—it’s a return. A return to collective memory, indigenous intelligence, and reciprocal relationship with place. Participants leave with deeper ʻike, restored senses, and renewed kuleana for the living systems that sustain us.
Program Highlights:
Nānā ʻĀina: Learn to read environmental cues—such as water currents, wind, and clouds—to understand conditions in both upland and coastal areas.
Canoe Culture: Introduction to basic canoe practices, including use in riverine environments and transitions to shore.
Estuary and River Care: Engage in the protection, restoration, and stewardship of river systems and estuarine habitats.
Fishing and Feeding: Explore ancestral fishing practices, feed and care for local species, and understand the delicate balance of loko iʻa and nearshore ecosystems.
Maoli Ola Village Life: Participate in the daily rhythms of communal living—cooking, cleaning, sharing moʻolelo, and collective responsibility.
Cultural Site Visits:
Napoʻopoʻo terraced loʻi
Pakaʻalana Heiau
Lokoiʻa Lalakea
Nānāue Waterfall
Ala Kahakai
Deynna Honi Pahiʻō Tagabi
PROGRAM LEAD
Honi serves as the Head of Operations for Hōʻā Hawaiʻi, skillfully guiding the organization's daily activities with a steadfast commitment to excellence and cultural integrity. Notably, she stepped into the role of Interim Director during Lanakila Mangauil's travels associated with the Mauna Kea movement, showcasing leadership and adaptability during critical times. Honi currently leads the Kūkulu Kumuhana o Kalae Momona initiative in Waipiʻo Valley, focusing on cultural revitalization and sustainable community development. Her extensive experience includes directing the Hāmākua Youth Center in collaboration with KALO (Kanu o ka ʻĀina Learning ʻOhana) and running impactful programs for at-risk youth through the Hawaiʻi Department of Education. As the youngest daughter of esteemed community leader Kaʻiulani Pahiʻō and a lifelong friend of Lanakila Mangauil, Honi continues a family legacy of service, community empowerment, and cultural stewardship.