integrating a love for land & sustainability
Aloha ‘Āina Program
The Hawaiian word ‘āina is generally translated as “land” and the direct translation is “that which feeds.” Together, aloha (love, respect, care) and ‘āina, Lāna‘i Culture and Heritage Center works towards a sustainable Lāna‘i. At one point in the island’s history, the land fed 6,000 Hawaiians.
Lāna‘i Culture and Heritage Center’s Aloha ‘Āina Program offers values educational opportunities for students, the greater Lāna‘i community, and visitors to learn more about and engage with Lāna‘i’s natural landscape. Our program incorporates traditional Hawaiian values including community stewardship with an emphasis on protecting and nurturing the island and its people for future generations.
The Hawaiian word ‘āina is generally translated as “land,” but the direct translation is “that which feeds.” Together, aloha (love, respect, care) and ʻāina, we work towards a self-sustainable Lāna‘i and remember our past, which at one point in the island’s history fed 6,000 Hawaiians.
Lāna‘i Culture and Heritage Center’s Aloha ‘Āina Program offers values educational opportunities for students, the greater Lāna‘i community, and visitors to learn more about and engage with Lāna‘i’s natural landscape. Our program incorporates traditional Hawaiian values including community stewardship, with an emphasis on protecting and nurturing our island and its people for future generations.
strengthening relationship with the Land
Aloha ‘āina workshops
Lāna‘i CHC organizes a number of ‘āina-based educational workshops and activities for K-12 students each year. These activities blend mo‘olelo, Hawaiian culture and values, and information about Lānaʻi’s natural landscape into hands-on lessons that inspire students to take a deeper interest in the natural world and to become active stewards of their island. Lāna‘i CHC works with teachers to tailor these workshops to fit with each grade level’s curriculum, including Next Generation Science Standards.
Volunteer Events
Lāna‘i CHC hosts a variety of community volunteer events throughout the year. These events focus on caring for Lāna‘i’s wahi pana or cherished places of the past. Event locations include Hi‘i Agricultural Heiau, Kānepu‘u Dryland Forest, and Ka Lanakila Church and Waia‘ōpae Fishpond in the historic Keōmoku coastal village. Additionally, Lāna‘i CHC hosts several volunteer events around Memorial Day, including a cemetery clean-up, to honor all of those who have come before us.
Lāna‘i Culture & Heritage Center’s Plant Nursery
Lāna‘i CHC manages a 2,000 square foot nursery at the Pūlama Lāna‘i Community Gardens. The nursery serves as a place to propagate native and Polynesian-introduced plants and non-native, non-invasive species for a number of projects. The nursery also serves as an outdoor classroom where students gain hands-on experience working with dozens of plants found in Hawai‘i. For more information and/or if you would like to schedule a huaka‘i (field trip) to the nursery, contact Kari Bogner.
Annual Kupulau Festival
Join us for the 3rd Annual Kupulau Festival, a vibrant celebration of Lāna‘i’s rich natural and cultural landscape, held on the last Saturday of April at the Lānaʻi Culture & Heritage Center in Lāna‘i City. This free, public event takes place on April 26 from 10 am to 1 pm. Attendees can explore educational booths showcasing Hawaiʻi’s native flora and fauna, participate in hands-on activities to learn traditional Hawaiian practices, and take home native and Polynesian-introduced plants available for sale or giveaway. The Kupulau Festival is not just a fun day out; it’s an opportunity to engage with and support local conservation efforts while gaining insights into Lāna‘i’s unique ecosystem and cultural heritage.
Lāna‘i Community Stewardship Program
Initiated in July 2021 through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s (NFWF) Kuahiwi a Kai Lāna‘i Watershed Conservation Program, this program engages local hunters to reduce ungulate pressure across 20,000 acres of windward Lānaʻi while also providing a platform to inform hunters about the damaging effects of uncontrolled ungulate populations on Lāna‘i. This free program provides unlimited axis deer and mouflon sheep hunting opportunities within the Kuahiwi a Kai project area to Lānaʻi residents. For questions or to register for the program, visit the LCSP hunting office (730 Lāna‘i Ave, Ste 131) between 5 to 6 pm, Monday through Friday, or call the Stewardship Office at 808-563-3307.
